There's no question that emotion is important in high school football, but how important?
We'll find out tomorrow when Andover hosts local rival North Andover in a bragging-rights season opener.
On paper, with 11 starters back, North Andover might rate a slight edge, but the Golden Warriors are hyped up under new coach E.J. Perry. There's new enthusiasm on Shawsheen Road and I'm guessing that, at home, that will carry onto the field.
North Andover should score at least one touchdown but, without Brandon Walsh directing the attack, perhaps no more against an experienced Andover defense.
The Andover offense is unproven, but it'll be good enough for Perry's opener.
PICK: Andover 20, North Andover 14
TOMORROW'S GAMES
Bishop Guertin (1-0) at timberlane (0-1)
If you compare scores from the first week of play, this doesn't look good for the Owls.
PICK: Bishop Guertin 47, Timberlane 6
Pinkerton (1-0) at Nashua South (1-0)
The Astros will need to find a way to stop South QB Keith Farkas, who threw for 270 yards and five TDs last week. It's not going to be easy.
PICK: Nashua South 26, Pinkerton 21
NASHUA NORTH (0-1) at LONDONDERRY (0-1)
North, which was ahead 21-0, is still smarting from its overtime loss to Winnacunnet last week.
PICK: Nashua North 27, Londonderry 13
Marlboro (0-0) at Central Catholic (0-0)
Marlboro enjoyed a tremendous season in 2009, going 12-1 and not losing until the Central Mass. Division 1 Super Bowl. But most of its key players were seniors. The Raiders should get some revenge for their 14-0 loss in the rain last year.
PICK: Central Catholic 20, Marlboro 15
LAWRENCE (0-0) at LYNN ENGLISH (0-0)
Both teams have plenty of speed, so this should be highly entertaining. The pressure may be on the Lancers' secondary. English is ranked 23rd overall in Eastern Mass. with an elite pass-catch duo in Tyllor MacDonald to Travonne Berry-Rogers, who Boston College is high on.
PICK: Lynn English 25, Lawrence 20
IPSWICH (0-0) at NORTH READING (0-0)
At this point, with so many new faces, this is a total guess. Ipswich is feeling good about itself after snapping a 31-game losing streak on Thanksgiving.
PICK: Ipswich 19, North Reading 12
Greater Lawrence (0-0) at Somerville (0-0)
The Reggies should be a Commonwealth Conference contender, but Harry Marchetti's Highlanders are expecting their best season in years. They went 4-6 playing in the Division 1 Bay State League last fall. Marchetti, incidentally, is the vice-principal at Greater Lawrence.
PICK: Somerville 27, Gr. Lawrence 22
Manchester Central (1-0) at SALEM (0-1)
After getting blasted by Bishop Guertin, Salem needs to regroup in a hurry. The Little Green got 228 rushing yards and 2 TDs from KK Haliburton in its 21-10 win over Alvirne.
PICK: Salem 34, Manchester Central 20
PELHAM (0-0) at Con-Val (0-1)
This will be a challenging season for the Pythons and they need to get off to a good start.
PICK: Pelham 20, Con-Val 18
WHITTIER (0-0) at Southeastern (0-0)
Whittier graduated a ton of talent, but the Wildcats remain highly regarded. However, Southeastern, which went 6-6 last fall including a 42-16 loss to the Cats, may be as good if not better.
PICK: Whittier 26, Southeastern 22
METHUEN (0-0) at PLYMOUTH NORTH (0-0)
This could be one of the best opening-day games of the season. Methuen, which is ranked ninth in all of EMass., may be the best team in the MVC while Plymouth North has a new coach, 23-year assistant Dwayne Follette, and some good skill players returning from a 6-5 squad.
PICK: Methuen 24, Plymouth North 22
SATURDAY'S GAMES
MARBLEHEAD (0-0) at PENTUCKET (0-0)
Pentucket will need to prove that it can score points against a Marblehead team which went 10-3 and lost in the EMass. Division 3 Super Bowl.
PICK: Marblehead 20, Pentucket 6
Bishop Brady (1-0) at Sanborn (0-1)
Bishop Brady wasn't sharp in its opener, but it will be sharper against Sanborn.
PICK: Bishop Brady 35, Sanborn 6
Windham (1-0) at St. Thomas (1-0)
St. Thomas, which whipped Campbell 34-0 in its opener, boasts the trifecta — talent, experience and the home field advantage.
PICK: St. Thomas 27, Windham 13
Haverhill (0-0) at malden (0-0)
I'd love to see the Hillies win their opener under new coach Tim O'Connor, but Malden has one of the biggest and best lines in the state and the Hillies have a lot to prove.
PICK: Malden 26, Haverhill 13
GEORGETOWN (0-0) at St. Mary's (0-0)
St. Mary's is expecting one of its better teams led by Todd Collier and Nick Day, who combined for 21 TDs last year.
PICK: St. Mary's 27, Georgetown 6
Season record: 2-2
Stoglin's frustrations boil over following Duke loss-2/12
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
La Salle vs. St. Louis Highlights - 2/11
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Collins takes the blame for the Sixers' final possession
Sixers vs. Clippers highlights
Sixers defensive effort not enough vs. Clippers
Post game plus crew on the Sixers loss
Rose and Zumoff recap the Sixers last second loss
Penn vs. Harvard highlights
Stefon Diggs chooses Maryland, Randy Edsall comments-2/10
Cal Ripken says the Orioles will go as far as their pitching-2/10
Sandusky makes a statement
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
Marcus Johansson Caps lone goal in loss to Bruins-2/5
Matt Hendricks throws down with the Bruins' Adam McQuaid--2/5
Vinatieri, Law, Brown recount Super Bowl XXXVI
