AREA LEADERS
Rushing
Player, School Att. Yards TD
1. J. Fabiano, Masco. 140 969 15
2. Z. Hurd, Man. Essex 81 825 11
3. H. Beuttler, Swamp 92 686 9
4. J. Gilbert, Essex Tech 101 574 6
5. J. Allen, Gloucester 87 547 4
6. C. Schrock, Ham-Wenham 114 534 2
7. R. Ryan, Salem 61 516 5
8. O. Shanbar, Danvers 87 492 6
9. C. Piaseczynski, Pingree 54 466 4
10. D. Patturelli, Bp. Fenwick 69 418 6
PassingPlayer, School PC-PA Yards TD
1. A. Bernal, Salem 52-103 977 9
2. C. Vargas, St. John’s 52-84 852 13
3. J. von Barta, Swamp 77-117 846 10
4. D. Pierce, Beverly 77-131 814 5
5. L. Maglione, Peabody 80-123 755 7
6. D. Gustafson, Masco 60-109 678 6
7. J. Spear, Pingree 45-98 678 6
8. B. Clifford, Fenwick 35-75 557 9
9. J.C. Tarasuik, Essex Tech 34-66 496 4
10. V. Winter, Ipswich 28-52 472 4
ReceivingPlayer, School Rec. Yards TD
1. M. Barlow, St. John’s 16 386 6
2. J. Richardson, Pingree 17 412 5
3. R. Ryan, Salem 20 313 3
4. N. Branciforte, Essex Tech 18 273 3
5. O. Fernandez, Salem 11 269 1
6. C. Weidman, Masco 22 264 6
7. R. Selvais, St. John’s Prep 19 249 2
8. L. Keaney, Swampscott 25 249 1
9. J. Marino, Swampscott 17 241 6
10. R. Kwiatek, Beverly 11 217 5
BY THE NUMBERS
+120: Difference between the combined points scored (2,116) and points allowed (1,996) by the 15 high school football teams in The Salem News and Gloucester Times readership areas through the first seven weeks of the 2024 season. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of their plus-minus in terms of points scored vs. points against:
School PF PA Margin
T1. St. John’s Prep 213 78 +135
T1. Bishop Fenwick 198 63 +135
3. Manch. Essex 185 72 +113
4. Masconomet 202 104 +98
5. Marblehead 179 89 +90
6. Swampscott 166 103 +63
7. Salem 163 128 +35
8. Gloucester 138 110 +28
9. Pingree 134 113 +21
10. Peabody 127 147 -20
11. Essex Tech 140 210 -70
12. Danvers 71 152 -81
13. Beverly 103 216 -106
14. Ipswich 55 186 131
15. Ham-Wenham 35 225 -190
GAMES TO WATCH
Masconomet (5-1) at Marblehead (4-2) Friday at Piper Field, 7 p.m.: With scant few exceptions, Marblehead has dominated the Northeastern Conference gridiron scene for the last decade-and-a-half. That’s particularly true when it comes to big games on their home turf. So can a powerful and very hungry Masconomet squad come into town and win the Northeastern Conference Dunn championship? No doubt they’ll be feeding workhorse back Jack Fabiano the rock repeatedly; how effective the Magicians can mitigate that damage defensively should ultimately determine the winner.
Danvers (2-4) at Peabody (3-3) Friday at Coley Lee Field, 7 p.m.: You might not think so looking at the respective records, but this is a Certified Big Game for both the Falcons and Tanners. The playoff fates for both could very well rest in the balance, as Danvers needs to meet the minimum three wins to be eligible for Division 5 consideration, and Peabody can’t risk a loss and falling lower (or out of) the Division 2 postseason race. Can the hosts get their offense untracked? Can the visitors pull off an upset coming off their bye week? We eagerly await the result.
St. John’s Prep (6-0) at Catholic Memorial (5-1) Saturday at O’Connor Stadium, West Roxbury, 1 p.m.: Once again, the annual meeting between the Eagles and Knights is the state’s marquee matchup of the weekend. The playoffs essentially begin now for St. John’s Prep, which not only faces a CM team laden with future Division 1 players this weekend but also taken on unbeaten BC High next Friday. Three keys for a Prep victory: win the battle up front, take an early lead and maintain it, and don’t get caught up in the outside hoopla.
Hamilton-Wenham (0-6) vs. Essex Tech (5-1) Saturday at Hyland Field, Manchester, 1 p.m.: While a new turf project is being constructed at their high school the Generals have been nomadic this fall, playing all of their games on the road. This one is only slightly different in that it’ll be H-W’s only designated ‘home’ game of the season, a chance to wear their whites as they search for their first victory. But the Hawks of Essex Tech figure to come in hot, having lost a 28-point lead last weekend to Pentucket. They’ll do whatever they can to put their second win in the books.
