Traditional grid rivals set to swing into action

It’s Thanksgiving Day in September for a quartet of Northeastern Conference teams on Friday night as Turkey Day rivals Marblehead, Swampscott, Revere and Winthrop will get together in the first of their two scheduled meetings this season.For the Magicians and Big Blue, who will play at Piper Field on Friday (7), it’s a match-up of one team that has blasted through it’s first three opponents in Marblehead against a Swampscott squad that is in desperate need of a victory.Marblehead (3-0) comes into the game fresh off a 40-20 victory over Salem last week that wasn’t as close as that score indicated. Once again, it was the dynamic Magicians offense that was on full display as its three-headed monster of quarterback Spencer Craig, running back Brooks Tyrrell and wide receiver Will Millett led the way.Tyrrell continued his stellar running as he rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns while Craig was once again efficient at the quarterback spot in hitting 8-of-11 throws for 134 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target against the Witches was Millett, who had five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.Marblehead will go up against a Swampscott team that outgained Winthrop, 405-224, last Saturday but couldn’t convert on several good scoring opportunities in a 28-12 loss at Blocksidge Field.One of the bright spots for Swampscott was the play of quarterback Devin Conroy, who rushed for 104 yards and also threw for 140 against the ikings.Revere at WinthropAt Miller Field (7), it’s a battle of teams who had differing outcomes last week.The Vikings (2-0) were outgained by almost 200 yards by Swampscott but they were able to finish off their drives and also returned an interception for a touchdown to get the road victory.For the Patriots, it was a frustrating end against Malden as the Golden Tornadoes returned an interception 80 yards in the late going to provide the winning points in a 14-7 decision.Revere’s Kaleb Silva rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown in the loss and will face a Viking defense that has been vulnerable to the run at times this season.English at SaugusAt Stackpole Field (4), the Bulldogs (0-2) face another stiff challenge in a 2-1 Sachems team that has been running its triple option offense with brutal efficiency this season.In a 36-22 win over Triton last week, the Sachems saw the state’s top rusher entering the game, Dan Cacciola, held to only 31 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries but were still able to pull away from the Vikings.Justin Winn’s 122 yards and three touchdowns were the main reason for that. Fellow back Seth Roy added 97 yards and a touchdown.They will go up against an English team that fell to Wakefield, 32-14, last Friday.Classical at SalemAt Bertram Field (7), the Rams (1-1) come in off a bye week following a win over Gloucester and a loss to Marblehead. They will face a Witches team that sits at 0-2 under first year head coach Matt Bouchard which struggled in a 40-20 loss to Marblehead.Arlington Catholic at FenwickAt Donaldson Field in Peabody (7), the Crusaders (2-0) currently own the state’s longest win streak at 18 games and will face the last team to beat them back in the fall of 2012. Getting win No. 18 in a row proved to be a little more difficult than expected for Fenwick last week as they spotted Essex Tech a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.But thanks to another 200-plus yard and three touchdown game on the ground from Lynn’s Rufus Rushins, the Crusaders closed the game on a 36-8 run to easily pull away from the Hawks.Lynnfield at AmesburyAt Amesbury (7), the Pioneers (2-0) come off a bye week to begin their Cape Ann League/Baker schedule. Lynnfield has been as dominant as any team in the area through its first two games, outscoring the opposition 60-7 to join Winthrop atop the Division 4 North standings a quarter of the way through the regular season.