The people who advocated splitting up the Northeastern Conference in football got their wish if it?s interesting races and potential down-to-the-wire finishes they?re looking for.
Although both the North and South divisions of the NEC have clear-cut front-runners, the potentials down the line ? should anything out of the ordinary happen ? are endless.
This Friday we have a bona fide “big game” in Gloucester when English goes to Newell Stadium to play the Fishermen.
Though the Bulldogs began their season by dropping two of their first three (all non-league games), they?ve won their last four ? including two NEC/North victories. The only other unbeaten NEC North team is Gloucester (though the Fishermen have a non-league loss to Swampscott on their card). A win Friday by either would put them in firm command heading into the final two weeks.
It?s the South that looks to be a little crowded at the top ? especially after Saturday?s 33-30 Marblehead win over Beverly (the Magicians? first win over Beverly in 16 years). That means there are only two unbeaten teams in the South division ? the Magicians and Swampscott, which eked out a win over Winthrop two weeks ago and defeated Saugus Saturday.
Right behind, however, are the Vikings and Beverly, each with one loss. Saugus and Danvers are 0-3 in the league.
A win by Marblehead Saturday over Winthrop Friday night at Piper Field should make things very interesting on Thanksgiving. This the 100th anniversary of the Swampscott-Marblehead rivalry, and the game ? which will undoubtedly be an occasion for plenty of festivities ? will have an extra-added kick to it.
But even if it doesn?t, the combination of undefeated and one-loss teams in the NEC South should make for an interesting Turkey Day nonetheless, with a lot of scoreboard watching and cell phones calling back and forth from various sites.
Of the four teams that look to be in the thick of things heading into Thanksgiving, it should be known that if all other things are equal, one of the tiebreakers ? if all things aren?t settled by any other method – is that the team that?s gone the longest without a post-season berth gets the nod. That would be Marblehead, as the Magicians have never played in the post-season. Beverly?s last appearance was in 1988, Winthrop?s 2006 and Swampscott?s last year.