Classical, English try to avert early meeting

Last October, when many of the Northeastern Conference principals and athletic directors voted against the proposal to change the football playoff system, one of the things they feared was a scenario where teams in the same league would have to play each other multiple times, possibly in meaningless games.Such a scenario has arisen … and according to Classical principal Gene Constantino, it illustrates perfectly the flaws in the playoff system. Because both Classical and English lost their playoff debuts Friday night, they?re slated to play each other this week in a loser?s bracket game. Neither school wants to spoil the 100th edition of the upcoming Thanksgiving game by playing a meaningless “play-out-the-string” game three weeks prior.Both Constantino and English principal Tom Strangie are adamant they do not want to play this week, and English AD Gary Molea has filed for a waiver to get the MIAA to change the game lineup for this week and beyond.?This is the reason why we voted no,” Constantino said. “(This is) the only sport where you are put into a losers? bracket.”If both teams had won Friday night, they?d be playing each other too.Molea said the schools would know at 1 p.m. today whether their petitions to change opponents this week would be granted.Elsewhere, beginning with teams still in the hunt, Masconomet plays at Marblehead Friday (7) and Gloucester at Tewksbury Saturday (1:30) in Division 3 Northeast; Lynnfield will host Bedford Saturday morning (11); and in Division 5, Bishop Fenwick, which defeated Austin Prep two weeks ago, will host the Cougars Friday night (7) at Donaldson Field. However, the Crusaders will have to play the game without junior running back Rufus Rushins, who dislocated an elbow in Friday night?s game against St. Mary?s.In losers? bracket games, starting with Division 1, it?ll be St. John?s Prep at Malden Friday (7), and Andover is at Peabody Friday (7).In Division 3 Northeast, Somerville is at Beverly while Danvers is at Wilmington, Revere is at Dracut and Boston Latin is at Salem.In Division 4, Weston is at Winthrop, Saugus at Arlington Catholic and Swampscott is at Ipswich. St. Mary?s will host Whittier in Division 5 while Tech goes to Marian in Division 6. Schedules will be announced by the home schools.