Football: Prep, Masco ready to open season

One of the most appetizing matchups of the opening week of high school football on the North Shore will take place on Saturday afternoon (1:30) at Cronin Memorial Stadium in Danvers, when St. John’s Prep hosts perennial power Masconomet, weather permitting.The remnants of Hurricane Hanna are set to roll into the area early Saturday, with high winds and heavy rain forecast into Sunday morning.”We’ll probably make that decision (today),” Prep coach Jim O’Leary said about the weather. “We have a brand-new field, and you don’t want to turn it into a mud pit in the first game. You also want the fans to be comfortable.”St. John’s comes into the game trying to break in a boatload of new starters as only six return from the 22 combined on offense and defense. The Eagles’ experience level has taken a hit, as defensive back Chris Cody and linebacker Griffin Cardew will be out with injuries.”Other than our four returning offensive linemen and two defensive tackles, we’re pretty new,” O’Leary said. “And (Masco) has a veteran team.”That veteran team, under coach Jim Pugh, is the defending champion of the Cape Ann League’s Large Division, and it was a Division 2A playoff participant, getting shelled by Gloucester in the semifinals.But Masco returns many of its talented players from that squad, led by dual-threat quarterback Chris Splinter. The senior signal-caller is just as deadly with his legs as he is with his cannon right arm.”He is a very talented player,” O’Leary said. “I was the site director in Lowell last year and got to see him play. He is pretty good.”The Prep also will have its hands full with running back Craig Bunker and wide receiver Clay Cleveland, who are the other main weapons for the Chieftains.”They really spread the field and make you defend,” O’Leary said. “This is not one of those games where you can just show up and play. They’re coming off a playoff season and Jim is a quality coach and they can play.”The Eagles aren’t without experience and skill players as running back Brendon Felder, who teamed with Derek Coppola to form a formidable pair last year, returns to shoulder the ground game.”It’s going to be like any early game. It will come down to turnovers, penalties and staying healthy,” O’Leary said.But the veteran Prep coach is glad to see a neighboring team come down the road to visit Danvers.”There are a lot of people on the North Shore who will scrimmage us, but not play us,” O’Leary said. “And the wonderful thing is that Jim decided to play us. I have great respect for their program over there.”Lynnfield at MatignonAt Somerville tonight (7), the Pioneers begin the Neal Wideman era as he takes over for longtime head coach Bill Adams.”I’m excited, anxious and nervous all at the same time,” Wideman said. “I want the kids to play well, and I want them to have a positive experience and be successful.”The Pioneers come in trying to build off a 3-8 season a year ago, one that saw them compete with the best teams in the Cape Ann League/Small.”We were 3-8 last season, but there was definite improvement,” Wideman said. “And being more competitive week in and week out was good for the kids. But it’s time to cash in those moral victories for real victories.”But Lynnfield’s task won’t be an easy one tonight as the Warriors have a big offensive line and plenty of size in the backfield to deal with.”It’s going to be a good test for us to start out,” Wideman said. “It gives us a chance to kick the season off.”Fenwick at MethuenAt Methuen tonight (7), the Crusaders begin life post-B.T., Bobby Tarr. The all-everything tailback now calls Bentley College home, and replacing him is something that coach David Woods knows won’t be easy.”Anytime you lose someone like Bobby, it’s tough to replace,” Woods said. “He was a great kid and a great leader and to replace something like that is tough to do.”The job of picking up the slack for the Fenwick ground game will fall on Dan Kennedy, Kyle White and Dale Crispin.”They’ve all carried th