Sports
Defending Champ St. John's Prep No. 1 in High School Football Lineup
The Eagles are the favorites to claim another Super Bowl title and repeat this fall as Division I football champions.
The St. John's Prep Eagles are eager to defend their title, and they are the favorites in this fall's lineup of top Division I football teams in Massachusetts, according to recent rankings.
The Boston Globe ranked the top 10 teams this week, placing the Prep in No. 1, ahead of longtime rival Everett. Another poll thsi week by ESPN likewise had the Eagles at the top.
The Globe, ESPN and other high school sports news outlets all say the Eagles, while retaining a strong offensive line, will be looking to senior running back Johnathan Thomas, considered the best overall player in Mass., this year as a pivotal factor in a return to the Super Bowl.
In related news, star senior linebacker Sean Smerczynski will not be playing and has withdrawn from the Prep for personal reasons, reports the Salem News.
St. John's Prep is a private Catholic high school in Danvers. You can find the recent Globe rankings here.
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