MIAA Top 25 Football Rankings: Week 7

Tewksbury jumped a spot in our rankings after scoring 40+ in a win over Chelmsford.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 10/16)

1. Everett (5-0; Last Week – 1 ) Crimson Tide continue to roll the competition, and it was recently announced that Everett and Masconomet will face off at Fenway Park at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve.

2. BC High (6-0; Last Week – 2 ) In coming back to score 20 unanswered points and down St. John’s Prep, 20-13, the Eagles proved that they can play from behind as well.

3. Central Catholic (6-0; Last Week – 3) It was supposed to be a shootout between Central Catholic and MVC rival Lowell, but the Raiders defense was having none of it, as they held the high-scoring Red Raiders to just 7 points.

4. St. John's (Shrewsbury) (6-0; Last Week – 4) Pioneers racked up 524 yards of offense and scored 64 points in their latest demonstration, a 64-24 pasting of a solid Shepherd Hill squad.   

5. Lexington (6-0; Last Week – 5) No issues for the Minutemen in a 56-14 win at Belmont. This appears to be a complete team surrounding dynamic quarterback Sal Frelick.  

6. King Philip (6-0; Last Week – 6) After going down to the wire in Franklin last week, the defending state champion Warriors allowed for no suspense in a 42-0 thrashing of Oliver Ames.

7. Bridgewater-Raynham (5-1; Last Week – 9) This is as complete of a team as Dan Buron has had in several years, and the Trojans have plenty of momentum after rolling past Barnstable in a 40-26 victory on Friday night.

8. Duxbury (5-1; Last Week – 10) Dragons are averaging 47 points per game over their last three wins, as quarterback John Roberts continues to grow more comfortable at the helm of Dave Maimaron’s spread offense.

9. Dennis-Yarmouth (6-0; Last Week – 20) Disrespected as a finesse team that couldn’t possibly hang with a physical opponent, the Dolphins handed it to Marshfield in a 43-16 win to snare the Atlantic Coast League title.

10. Marblehead (6-0; Last Week – 14) Huge 21-12 win for the Magicians over NEC rival Gloucester. They’ll look to clinch the NEC North title with a win over Danvers next Friday.

11. North Attleborough (5-1; Last Week – 13) Impressive 35-21 win for the Red Rocketeers at Stoughton on Friday. 

12. Xaverian (3-3; Last Week – 12) Showing signs of life with a combined 65-6 margin of victory over the last two weeks, the Hawks will look for a huge statement win on the road at BC High next Friday. 

13. St. John's Prep (3-3; Last Week – 8) While the defense couldn’t hold up late, the Eagle offense put on an impressive showing with Matt Crowley at quarterback and Mike Yarin moving outside to wide receiver.

14. Tewksbury (5-1; Last Week – 15) Brandon Winn dominated on the ground, while Tewksbury’s elite secondary helped the Redmen hold on in a 41-21 shootout win over Chelsmford.

15. Lincoln-Sudbury (5-0; Last Week – 16) Facing a tough opponent in Acton-Boxborough did little slow the Warriors vaunted rushing attack, as they rolled to a second consecutive 45-14 victory.

16. Marshfield (4-2; Last Week – 7) Back to the drawing board for the Rams defense after giving up 43 points to a Division 5 opponent at Dennis-Yarmouth.

17. Natick (5-0; Last Week – 17) Idle Redhawks will take another week to prepare to host Wellesley in a battle of contrasting styles. 

18. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (6-0; Last Week – 18) The Spartans cruised past Archbishop Williams, and will close out their regular season in the Manning Bowl against Austin Prep.

19. Masphee (6-0; Last Week – 22) Mashpee has to feel like the kings of the Cape after a win over previously unbeaten Nantucket.

20. Lynn English (6-0; Last Week – 19) Bulldogs hung on in a 13-12 nail-biter over Salem, dropping a spot in our rankings as a result.

21. Billerica (4-2; Last Week – 21) Indians handled Waltham in a non-league contest, and will be highly motivated to host rival Tewksbury in an MVC showdown next Friday.

22. Somerville (4-2; Last Week – NA) Flying under the radar after an 0-2 start, UConn-bound quarterback Elijah Jeffreys and the Highlanders are a team to watch in Division 5.

23. Shrewsbury (5-1; Last Week – 24) Now atop Mid-Wach A, the Colonials have beaten three league foes by a combined score of 90-17, and given St. John's (Shrewsbury) its best game this season. The Colonials will face off with Westboro this week, but a regular-season ending battle with Nashoba looms large on the 27th.

24. Nashoba (6-0; Last Week – 25) With a second consecutive shutout, this time a 42-0 win over North Middlesex Regional, the Chieftans remain undefeated.

25. Lynn Classical (5-1; Last Week – 11) Rams couldn’t overcome a slow start in a road loss at Somerville, which may only be a minor setback for Brian Vaughan’s squad.

Last 10 Out: Norwell (6-0), Catholic Memorial (3-3), Danvers (5-1), Hopkinton (6-0), Mansfield (5-1), Melrose (6-0), Methuen (4-2), Middleborough (5-1),  North Andover (5-1), Millis (5-1)