Normally when a Div. 1 football team faces a team from Div. 6, one would assume the Div. 1 is the heavy favorite.
BC High head coach Paul Zukauskas understands the logic but is quick to dispel the notion that the Eagles should roll against Fairhaven.
“Just watch the film, they are a very good football team with a dynamic player (Justin Marques),” Zukauskas said. “They know what they want to do and do it well.”
Fairhaven returned a solid nucleus from a team that won the Div. 6 state title a year ago. For 2024, teams had an extra week in which to find games. Blue Devils head coach Derek Almeida was looking to challenge his team against a bigger school.
“It just worked out that we had the same opening as BC High,” Almeida said. “It’s a good game against a quality opponent and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
BC High opened the season with a 13-0 victory over LaSalle. The most encouraging aspect from an Eagles standpoint is the zero on the scoreboard. Last year, they allowed at least 34 points in five of their final eight games.
“I can’t say enough about the kids,” Zukauskas said. “It was a great atmosphere down at LaSalle and our guys went out and played physical against a tough opponents. It’s been a lot of fun coaching these guys.”
Fairhaven rolled to a 44-7 win over Durfee as the vaunted ground game amassed nearly 400 yards led by Marques’ 161. Almeida knows the task will be a bit tougher this time around but vows his team is up for it.
“The kids are very excited and you can see it in practice this week,” Almeida said. “It is a challenge playing against (BC High) but the kids are ready.”
Elsewhere on Friday night, Needham faces another Bay State Conference challenge when it travels to Natick. The Scott Boyle Era begins again as Lowell hosts Westford Academy, while Mansfield faces another road test at Duxbury.
Marshfield will be looking to get in the win column when it hosts Methuen, while Milford faces Leominster and its star quarterback Osiris Lopez. Central Catholic squares off with a very tough Springield Central team.
Melrose head coach Tim Morris seeks to become the 58th coach in state history to win 200 games when his team hosts Reading in a Middlesex League crossover tilt.
The best game on the docket for Saturday’s has Carver hosting Nantucket.