One step remains between the nine remaining South Shore schools in the MIAA’s football playoffs and a trip to Gillette Stadium.
It has been an exceptional start to the playoffs for the South Shore, after seeing 18 area teams enter the playoffs, half of those teams are still alive in the state semifinal round.
The playoffs have had everything a football fan could dream of thus far. Shootouts (see Rockland vs Winthrop), come-from-behind wins (see Marshfield vs Lincoln-Sudbury), and even a few upsets en route to a fairy tale run (see Randolph).
It’s all led to a huge slate of games this weekend, one guaranteed spot at Gillette, and the potential for three separate South Shore vs South Shore Super Bowl match ups.
On Sunday night, the MIAA released the date and times for all of its semifinal matchups, which will be played at neutral site locations across the state.
We’ve compiled all the information on your South Shore representatives below.
(4) Marshfield vs (1) Catholic Memorial
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Marciano Stadium (Brockton)
Division: 2
Marshfield is riding high off of their incredible win over Lincoln-Sudbury. The Rams snapped the states second longest winning streak as they came from behind in the fourth quarter to score a 27-23 win. What do they get for their efforts? A date with the most dominant team in the state—Catholic Memorial.
(1) Scituate vs (4) Grafton
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Marciano Stadium (Brockton)
Division: 4
The Sailors represented the South Shore’s lone number one seed in the state tournament, and did that ranking justice with a thrilling victory over Ashland Friday night. Scituate now heads into a game with an undefeated Grafton squad who has put up 10 touchdowns in their first two playoff games.
(2) Duxbury vs (3) Foxboro
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Veterans Stadium (Quincy)
Division: 4
Duxbury gave casual onlookers a bit of a scare last week when they went into halftime trailing Danvers 14-13. But anyone who panicked just doesn’t know Duxbury.
The Dragons put up 26 unanswered to cruise to a 39-14 victory and set up a date with the third-seeded Foxboro Warriors. Each team has suffered just one loss this season, both to teams ranked in the top five in the state.
(2) Abington vs (3) St. Mary’s (Lynn)
Date: Friday, Nov. 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Veterans Stadium (Quincy)
Division: 6
Abington didn’t face much of a test in their quarterfinal matchup against Sandwich, and gained a fortunate opportunity to rest Drew Donovan and Tommy Fanara—two of their offensive stars who were dealing with minor injuries.
Both should be back this week with a much stouter test awaiting in the form of St. Mary’s of Lynn. Both teams moved up from Division 7 last year, and have each been to Gillette in recent years.
(4) Rockland vs (8) Blackstone Valley RVT
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Walpole High School
Division: 6
The Bulldogs made us sweat on Thursday night before narrowly hanging on for a 37-34 win over Winthrop. On Friday, they watched as Blackstone knocked of the top-seeded Stoneham to set up a semifinals showdown.
Despite their seeding, Blackstone is no slouch. The Beavers made back to back Super Bowl appearances in 2017 and 2018, before losing to eventual state runner up Leicester in the 2019 playoffs.
(6) Cohasset vs (7) Mashpee
Date: Friday, Nov. 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Carver High School
Division: 7
This will be the most stress-free game for South Shore fans outside of Cohasset or Mashpee. Both teams went on the road and pulled off quarterfinal upsets to earn a second shot at one another in the semifinals.
Their efforts also guaranteed the South Shore League would have at least one representative in a Super Bowl come December.
When these two teams met earlier this year, Cohasset demolished the Falcons, picking up a 42-6 win. Mashpee hasn’t lost since, though, scoring 35 points per game while holding opponents to 10.5 points per game over their last four games.
(4) Hull vs (1) Hoosac Valley
Date: Friday, Nov. 19
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Shepherd Hill High School
Division: 8
Hull has authored an excellent season thus far. After the groundwork was laid with a strong Fall II campaign in the spring, the Pirates have proven to be among the best programs on the South Shore this year.
After a tight quarterfinal win over KIPP Academy, Hull faces its toughest test yet in the form of top-ranked Hoosac Valley.
(10) Randolph vs (11) Oxford
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Lincoln-Sudbury High School
Division: 8
Randolph has been the biggest Cinderella run of the tournament thus far, as well as one of the most traveled.
The Blue Devils have traveled 223 miles over the last two weeks to earn upset wins over the seventh-seeded Lee and second-seeded Ware.
Now, for the first time, they’ll be the higher seed in a playoff game when they take on number 11 Oxford.
Who would’ve thought after a 1-5 season this past spring, the Blue Devils would be on the precipice of their first ever Super Bowl appearance this fall?