Football: Tech has chance to qualify for playoffs

Tech can punch its ticket into the Division 6 North playoffs Saturday with a win over Mystic Valley at Manning Field.The Tigers, 3-2, can clinch a spot with a victory by virtue of finishing second in the Commonwealth Conference/Small. A win will be especially sweet for the Tigers as they missed out last year, and had to travel to Framingham to play Marian in one of the games the MIAA set up for teams playing out the string.Tech?s two losses have come against teams with a combined record of 9-1. Pope John Paul II is undefeated and Essex Tech has lost only once.Tech will face another undefeated team Saturday.The Eagles are 5-0 and tied for first in the CAC/Small with Essex Tech (the two teams will play next week in Middleton). The Tigers wrap up their schedule a week from Saturday night at home against Chelsea (7 p.m.), coached by Mike Stellato, under whom Tech coach James Runner coached at St. Mary?s.After losing 35-0 two weeks ago to Essex Tech, the Tigers came all the way back last week by defeating Minuteman, 35-0.Item Co-Player of the Week Justin Lewis was a defensive stud in the game, with 12 tackles. Also shining for the Tigers was Stefan Gravely, who had two touchdowns.Other games Saturday:English at BeverlyAt Hurd Stadium (2), it?s been a long season for the 1-4 Bulldogs, who have lost two very tough games the last two weeks.Last week, the Bulldogs appeared to have a golden opportunity to earn a comeback win over Gloucester only to have time run out. A week earlier, Swampscott rallied from a 23-7 deficit to win, 29-23.Still, there have been good performances, especially with quarterback Lucas Harris.The Panthers are 2-3, but two losses were to Merrimack Valley Conference teams, Haverhill and North Andover.The other came last week to Marblehead, when the Magicians rambled for 600-plus yards in total offense (they have a bye this week before wrapping things up next Friday at Manning Field against English).Lynnfield at Hamilton-WenhamAt Hamilton-Wenham, the Pioneers have seemingly been unstoppable all season as they seek to motor their way to a second straight Cape Ann League/Small championship.Their weakest offensive output came in Week 1 when they scored 28 points. Last week, it was a 42-7 pasting over Georgetown, where just about everybody got into the act.Jon Knee returned a punt 45 yards for a score, Jason Rourke plunged his way in from the one; and Cam Rondeau caught a TD pass from quarterback Dan Sullivan … and that was just in the first quarter alone.The Generals are 3-2, and – for the moment, at least — sit far out of the post-season running for the Division 4 playoffs.BC High at St. John?sAt Cronin Stadium (1:30), it?s homecoming day for St. John?s, with The Prep?s alter-Eagles coming in for the party.So far, it?s been nothing but eclats for Eagles of the North, as first-year coach Brian St. Pierre?s team is 5-1 and a virtual cinch to make the Division 1 North playoffs (the Eagles are sitting at the third seed, behind Central Catholic and Everett).The Prep?s Oliver Eberth, Item Co-Player of the Week, had a career day Saturday in a 58-31 win over Catholic Memorial.After a half in which the teams matched each other bomb-for-bomb, the Eagle defense pulled away with a 35-7 second half. Eberth, in all, had six touchdown passes, three to BC-bound Jake Burt, who added an electrifying 97-yard pick-six.This will be The Prep?s last game before the playoffs begin. They have a bye next week, and do not play league rival Xaverian until Thanksgiving.BC High is 3-2 and in the seventh spot in Division 1 South.