Football: Schedule is light on Saturday, but games are significant

Due to the fact that two of the region?s football teams — Gloucester and St. John?s Prep — are off this week, we have a light day on tap Saturday.But that doesn?t mean it?s not a significant one. All three games feature at least one team that will either clinch or solidify its spot in the post-season.Of these, perhaps the biggest will take place at Blocksidge Field in Swampscott when Beverly comes to town (1).There?s no danger of Beverly not making the post-season and, similarly, Swampscott (currently ranked 13th in Division 4) would have to leapfrog over five schools to grab the final slot.But an interesting situation has developed, thanks to Beverly?s win over Marblehead two weeks ago. Gloucester is done, with a 3-1 record in the Northeastern Conference/North. Marblehead plays English tonight. By the time Beverly takes the field Saturday, the Panthers will know whether they?ll be fighting for a two-way or a three-way tie in the league (if English wins Friday, a Beverly win would only guarantee them runner-up status as the Panthers lost to Gloucester). But if Marblehead wins, and Beverly follows suit, it would create a three-way tie with each team 1-1 against the other two.That will invoke other tiebreakers to sort this all out. All three will most likely go (and they?re all in Division 3), but one will end up as an at-large.Arlington Catholic at St. Mary?sAt Manning Field (7), the Spartans are still alive in Division 5, currently sitting seventh, and look to be pretty secure with a victory. But they?re also looking to snap out of a two-game losing skid, something that has not happened often since Matt Durgin took over the program.The Cougars are winless in the Catholic Central/Large, and have only one win overall. St. Mary?s, despite the two straight losses, is 3-3, including a season-opening win over Division 4 Swampscott.Newburyport at SaugusAt Stackpole Field (1), the Sachems are tied with Swampscott in the 13th spot in Division 4, and — like the Big Blue — would have a tough time leaping over five teams in front of them. The Clippers are sixth in D4 and it?s a long way down to No. 8 (Amesbury).Weekly pairings from here on out will be available on Sundays, both for those in the playoffs and those who are in non-tournament settings.