Football: Many post-season questions will be answered this weekend

As uncertain as the post-season playoff picture looks now, by Sunday it?ll all be settled and we?ll enter into the Great Unknown … football style.With so many things up in the air, many of Friday?s games take on some pretty big significance. This is obviously what the Massachusetts State Football Coaches association had in mind when it devised a system where so many teams have post-season bids on the line in the final week of the regular season.Three of Lynn?s four teams are in action, and while only one of them (Classical) has a post-season bid sewn up already, English is hanging in at the No, 7 slot, and could really use a win over Marblehead. At the same time, the Magicians would like to be able to claim the championship of the Northeastern Conference/North, and certainly a win over the Bulldogs would help — but not necessarily guarantee — those aspirations.This is also a rare Friday night where Manning Field is not in play. All three of Lynn?s teams are on the road.English at MarbleheadAt Piper Field (7), in terms of post-season ramifications, the game is much bigger for English, where a loss, coupled with wins by Cambridge and Newton South, would tighten things up considerably.But in terms of a league title, the Magicians would dearly love to put themselves in position to win one. They?d have to win, and then hope Swampscott can beat Beverly Saturday afternoon.English has lost two straight (to Gloucester and Beverly) while the Magicians are coming off a bye after falling to the Panthers two weeks ago.Classical at RevereAt DellaRusso Stadium (7), the Rams are in, by virtue of finishing second to Danvers in the NEC/South, so they?ll be playing for positioning. Revere, despite having won its first game last week, is in the hunt at No. 9 (each division has eight slots) in D3. That particular division has no teams in Central or Western Mass., and has been split into four quadrants just the same, with Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest divisions.Last week, the Rams rebounded from a tough loss to Danvers by defeating Winthrop at Miller Field. The Patriots beat Peabody at DellaRusso.Salem at PeabodyAt Coley Lee Field (7), this is one of the most significant of the non-Thanksgiving rivalries dating back to the days of the old Essex County League. Even when the teams were in different conferences (Salem in the NEC and Peabody in the Greater Boston League), there was a healthy rivalry, fueled by the friendship between Peabody?s Ed Nizwantowski and Salem?s Ken Perrone.Peabody is 10th in Division 1 and it would take a lot for the Tanners to move up. But Salem sits at No. 8, in Division 3, just ahead of Revere (by virtue of its win over the Patriots two weeks ago), so the Witches really need the game.Tech at ChelseaAt Chelsea Stadium (7), the Tigers are at No. 12 in Division 6, and would appear to have too many teams to pass in just one week. Chelsea is at No. 7, almost two points up on No. 8 Minuteman, and almost three ahead of Boston English (which is coached by Lynn native Brian Vaughan).Danvers at WinthropAt Miller Field (7), the Falcons have clinched the NEC/South title, and are therefore in automatically. At the moment, they are third in D3 Northeast, behind Tewksbury and Marblehead. Much could change between now and Sunday, however.Winthrop is No. 10 in D4, behind Amesbury (8) and Weston (9).Lynnfield at IpswichAt Ipswich (7), the Pioneers will probably stay at No. 2 in Division 4 unless Pentucket is upset by North Reading. They clinched the Cape Ann League/Baker Division with last week?s win over Hamilton-Wenham.Ipswich is ranked 16th in D4.Williams at FenwickAt Donaldson Field (7), the Crusaders are ranked first in Division 4, almost four points ahead of second-place Northeast Regional. However, the Bishops are fighting for a spot in Division 4 South. Currently they are ninth, behind Dover-Sherborn.Fenwick clinched the Catholic Central/Large title last Saturday with an emotional win over St. Mary?s. It was the 3