Football: Post-season races remain competitive

Even though the regular football season ends next week, there?s still a lot to be determined in some of the races for post-season positioning.A couple of Friday night games could go a long way toward determining positioning and seeding, and both involve Lynn teams. English will host Beverly at Manning Field while Classical travels to Miller Field in Winthrop.Also Friday: Tech is at Mystic Valley, Peabody at Revere, Salem at Danvers, and St. John?s Prep at BC High.Beverly at EnglishAt Manning Field (7), the Bulldogs could really use this game. Otherwise, it could be a steep climb for them in their efforts to make the playoffs.Right now, Marblehead and Gloucester both sit on top of the NEC/Large at 2-1 (with Marblehead holding the tiebreaker advantage by virtue of having beaten the Fishermen). Marblehead has a bye this week and finishes next week at home against the Bulldogs. Gloucester is at Swampscott Saturday, and then is off next week.The Panthers are 1-1 in the league, but if they and the Magicians finish in a tie, they?d have the edge for having won their game last week. Beverly hosts Swampscott next week.The first two finishers in each league automatically go to the tournament. But in the eventuality of a three-way tie, with each team being 1-1 against the other, the teams go through all the tiebreaking procedures until one of them is eliminated (which would put that team in the pool of potential wild card teams). Then, the procedure is done again to determine the runner-up.Last week, English came home from Gloucester the way every other team has this season: with a loss(both the Fishermen?s losses have come on the road). Beverly pulled off the upset of the season last week, beating previously undefeated Marblehead, 17-14, at Hurd Stadium.Classical at WinthropAt Miller Field (7), both teams are coming off tough losses last week. The Rams lost, in their own backyard, to Danvers, 29-26, when a late push to overtake the Falcons fell short. Meanwhile, Winthrop — also at home — lost to Peabody, 30-29, on a late Tanners rally.Danvers is alone atop the NEC/Small at 3-0, with Winthrop and Classical right behind at 2-1.A win Friday would go a long way toward assuring either team an automatic spot in the tournament as opposed to having to sweat out a wild card.Tech at Mystic ValleyAt Brother Gilbert Stadium, Malden Catholic (7), the Tigers lost a disappointing game last Saturday night, 46-12, over Minuteman. A loss would pretty much eliminate Tech from post-season considerations.Neither team has won in its league thus far this fall, and both teams have only won one game overall.Peabody at RevereAt DellaRusso Stadium (7), the Patriots tried mightily to pull one out last Friday over Salem, but couldn?t quite do it and remain winless. Meanwhile, the Tanners scored a big comeback win over Winthrop to grab their second victory of the year on the strength of Doug Santos? last-minute touchdown.Salem at DanversAt Dr. Deering Stadium (7), the Witches got their first victory of the season last week, defeating Revere at DellaRusso Stadium. Danvers has only lost once, in Week 1 to Marblehead. Since then, Danvers has gone 4-0 overall and is undefeated in the NEC/Small.St. John?s at BC HighAt BC High (7), the Eagles got off to a rough start this fall and were 2-2 after four games. But they?ve won their two Catholic Conference games over Malden Catholic and Catholic Memorial.BC High?s only league win came against Malden Catholic earlier this fall. The team still has to play Xaverian next week, and will face Catholic Memorial on Thanksgiving.