Herald Sweet 16: Contenders look to inch closer to Gillette

At this stage only teams still have a shot of reaching Gillette Stadium Now the path gets tougher Countless great programs have reached this point only to see their championship hopes evaporate Which standouts in the field will likely have the best chance to keep rolling during the Round of Nearly all of the candidates won their tournament openers a few more convincingly than others Catholic Memorial and Bishop Feehan had bye weeks in a shrunken -team Div field St John s Prep The Eagles - took care of business in the Round of steamrolling to a - shutout of Framingham However five-star quarterback recruit Chris Vargas was forced to exit the battle in the first half with an apparent leg injury This could be something to monitor St John s Prep remains a favorite this week but will be challenged with Coastal Carolina commit Osiris Lopez and No Leominster paying a visit Springfield Central Things got a bit shaky for a minute but the Golden Eagles - were able to pull away for a - win over No Taunton Next up an even tougher test with an upstart company in No Lowell which is coming off an impressive - win over Methuen King Philip Despite facing an undefeated school in th-ranked Chicopee Comp the Warriors - erupted offensively in their first playoff challenge at the Div level - win The school will face a very familiar foe this week in the quarterfinals as Mansfield will make a brief trip over to Wrentham for an intriguing battle between Hockomock League rivals Xaverian In the latest chapter of one of the state s famous rivalries the third-seeded Hawks - looked unstoppable last week against No Brockton Senior quarterback Will Wood finished -for- passing with yards and four touchdowns leading his group in a - romp Xaverian will look to carry momentum into another home meeting this week facing No Andover Catholic Memorial Will being one of the state s lone schools to have a bye week to the quarterfinals benefit the Knights - You d have to think so in this occurrence as John DiBiaso s group might completely be healthier by the time this top seed clashes with No Wellesley in the Div tournament Winchester Ronan O Connell fired three more touchdown passes while Gianni DePrimeo kept his own hot streak going with two touchdowns rushing as the fourth-seeded Red and Black - cruised to a - romp of No North Quincy in the Div field A matchup against No Lincoln-Sudbury lurks Tewksbury The No Redmen - certainly looked like one of the state s best last week bowling to a - rout of No Middleboro One of the top schools to watch in Div Tewksbury has an fascinating opponent as seventh-ranked Ashland makes a long trip north to Doucette Field for a quarterfinal showdown Shawsheen Jake Banda carries yards rushing three touchdowns turned in another epic performance as the top-seeded Rams - dominated No Salem in the opening round of the Div playoffs Still in possession of the state s longest current winning streak games Shawsheen will take on No St Mary s in the quarterfinals Bishop Feehan The second-seeded Shamrocks - enter as one of the top teams to watch in Div after enjoying a bye week to the Round of Bryan Pinabell s crew will have an gripping matchup in the quarterfinals facing a Chelmsford company that has won four straight Medfield Another week another big match for Brady McCormack Last week the senior running back had yards and three touchdowns rushing Still undefeated at - the No Warriors will host fifth-ranked North Reading in the Div tournament Friday Archbishop Williams It was not easy but Hudson Garrity yards passing two total touchdowns and a stiff defensive performance powered the No Bishops - to a - win over No Swampscott This week they will face third-ranked Hanover Archbishop Williams coach Mark Landolfi and assistant coach Chris Landolfi began their respective coaching careers together with the Hawks over a decade ago Scituate The top-ranked Sailors - had a sluggish start in their Div Round of event but eventually cruised to another accomplishment Grayson Foley returned from a latest leg injury with force rushing for yards to go with four total touchdowns in a - win over No Tantasqua Scituate awaits No Walpole Natick James Mortarelli continued to put up big numbers yards rushing two touchdowns as the fourth-seeded Redhawks - dominated a Bay State Conference rival in No Weymouth - in Div play and will look to hold off No Central Catholic in the quarterfinals Milton Patrick Collins had one of his best games of the season in the opening round of the Div tournament for the No Wildcats - firing three touchdown passes to key a convincing - win over No Reading Now it s on to No Masconomet in the quarterfinals Barnstable Jayson Dyer yards rushing had a pair of touchdowns as the second-seeded Red Hawks - staved off a feisty Doherty band to open the Div playoffs Now they will take on the state s reigning champion in No North Attleboro Foxboro Jack Martinelli s squad appears poised for another deep Div playoff run as the second-ranked Warriors - toppled No Norton in the Round of - Seventh-seeded Gloucester could pose a practicable threat in the quarterfinals On The Sideline Randolph Amesbury Central Catholic Canton Burlington Lincoln-Sudbury North Attleboro Lowell Abington Cohasset