Non-qualifier tilts on slate for Rams, Bulldogs, Spartans

We?re into Week 2 of non-qualifier high school football playoff games, and there are 14 of them Friday night, including three Lynn teams.Now that English won?t be compelled to play Classical, the Bulldogs are up at North Andover (7) to play the Scarlet Knights. The only real history the two teams have is that English defeated the Knights, in North Andover, to clinch their share of the Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League Tier 1 championship in 2011.In last week?s loss to Haverhill, English quarterback Jordan (Javier) Lark injured his knee.Whittier at St. Mary?sAt Manning Field (4:30), this is the first of a Friday night doubleheader, scheduled so that Manning could be free for the rest of the weekend to host sectional finals in boys and girls soccer.Last week, the Spartans hung tough against Bishop Fenwick for about a half before the Crusaders, the top seed in Division 5, began pulling away.Whittier lost, 36-0, to Austin Prep.Cambridge at ClassicalAt Manning Field (7:30), the game is later because since Fraser Field is being refurbished with new artificial turf, it is not available for either the Rams or the Falcons for warmups.Classical lost a tough game last Friday to Lincoln-Sudbury while the Falcons lost a heartbreaker to Reading, 29-28.Swampscott at IpswichAt Ipswich (7), the Big Blue won a shootout over Arlington Catholic last week, 54-40, thanks to the quarterbacking of Brendan McDonald, one of The Item?s players of the week.The Tigers, meanwhile, eked out a 40-39 victory over Saugus. Both were non-qualifier games.Saugus at Arl. CatholicAt Arlington High (7), the Sachems have been snakebitten all season, and it would be hard to imagine it getting any worse than it did last Saturday, when they led Ipswich, 33-28, after three quarters only to see the Tigers score two fourth-quarter touchdowns to win by one.The Cougars, meanwhile, were on the losing end of a 54-40 game with Swampscott.St. John?s at MaldenAt Macdonald Stadium (7), about the only thing these teams have in common is that both have lost to Everett. In fact, the Golden Tornados have done it twice this season (including last Friday night).The Prep has seen its hopes crumble in the wake of withdrawals, suspensions and injuries.Boston Latin at SalemAt Bertram Field (7), the Witches have a couple of dress rehearsals before the grand opening of the new and improved football field on Thanksgiving against Beverly.They won their second game of the season over Revere … their only two wins of the season.Revere at DracutAt Dracut (7), the Patriots will try to rebound from a tough loss last Friday night to Salem.Andover at PeabodyAt Lee Field (7), the Tanners are looking for win No. 4 of the season against what is generally one of the stronger teams in the Merrimack Valley Conference.However, an early-season three-game losing streak put Andover into the non-qualifier bracket in Division 1.Beverly at SomervilleAt Dilboy Field, Somerville (7), the Panthers lost to Gloucester for the second time this season last Friday night while the Highlanders fell to Tewksbury last Saturday afternoon.Danvers at WilmingtonAt Wilmington (7), the Wildcats were trounced by Marblehead in their Division 3 Northeast quarterfinal game while the Falcons suffered a similar fate at the hands of Masconomet, 30-0.Weston at WinthropAt Miller Field (7), the Vikings will try to rebound from a disappointing loss to North Reading last week.