Danvers High Football Hosts Masco Friday to Begin Playoff Run

The Danvers High Falcons' football team enter the postseason this week with only one loss under its belt to conference opponent Marblehead.

The Falcons posted a turnaround season this fall, achieving a 6-1 record and claiming their first league crown in eight years. On Friday, they defeated Winthrop, 39-27.

That was also the first time the team played since the death of 24-year-old math teacher Colleen Ritzer last week. Both teams wore a special tribute to Ritzer on their helmets for the night -- a blue sticker with white lettering, the initials "CR" and the phrase "In Loving Memory."

The American flag was also flown at half-mast and pink balloons were released to the sky during a pregame ceremony.

This coming Friday (7 p.m.), Danvers hosts longstanding powerhouse Masconomet in a quarter final game in the Division 3 Northeast bracket. The winner will then play either Marblehead or Wilmington in the next round -- those two teams also play Friday.

The losing teams in Friday's games will also play each other in a non-playoff contest next week, following the new state tournament format.

In terms of the bracket for Danvers, the Falcons (with a power rating of 16.57) are seeded 3rd, behind Tewksbury and Marblehead, and automatically qualified for the playoffs due to their NEC South title.

Across town, the Eagles are still hoping for a repeat Super Bowl title, although they've struggled this season and are playing without their star running back. Peabody's Johnathan Thomas is out for the season with a torn ACL.

St. John's Prep is seeded 4th in Division I North and will host Lowell on Saturday (2 p.m.) in a quarter final game. The Eagles are 4-3 this season and have a power rating of 12.57. They trail Everett, Central Catholic and Acton-Boxboro in their bracket.

If the Eagles win this weekend, they will play the winner of Friday's Everett/Malden game in a semi-final contest. Conversely, the two losing teams will also play each other in a non-playoff game.