Randolph dressed just 22 players in the D8 Super Bowl last December and will have 30 in uniform Friday, thanks to a new co-op that adds nine players from New Heights Charter in Brockton.
The Blue Devils will once again be led by running back Mekhi White and Alin Norisca, a standout defensive end who moved from offensive line to tailback this season. Norisca, White, and senior quarterback Abe Cornet were three members of Randolph’s state championship 100-meter relay team this past spring and the 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pound Norisca can run a 4.40 40-yard dash.
“We say all the time here, ‘Winners do More,’ ” Randolph coach Jon Marshall said. “Those guys are the hardest workers in track, in the offseason, and in the weight room, so it’s no secret why they’re the cornerstones of our team.”
Senior fullback Brenden Andrade is the only skill position player back for a Mashpee program that graduated 22 seniors. Only 15 players with varsity experience returned and there are 22 non-freshmen available for Week 4.
Mashpee got a boost at receiver and defensive back when basketball stars Jacoby Spinola and Aarian Brown came out for their first football seasons. Senior tailback Daniel Alade has stepped up with 500 rushing yards in three wins, as Mashpee currently sits atop the MIAA D7 power ratings.
The offensive line has led the way with juniors CJ Jennings (6-1, 300 pounds) and Coti Wieden (6-2, 240) locking down the left side, senior center Shea Taylor (5-10, 280) back from injury, and Jack Borowski (5-11, 215) and James Serafini (6-0, 210) stepping up on the right side.
Yet concerns linger when depth is scarce.
“For us, the concern is if we lose two or three starters, we start looking at kids who are JV kids or freshmen, and it becomes a safety issue,” said Mashpee coach and athletic director Matt Triveri.
“There’s a lot of programs in the same boat with numbers. It’s literally a week-to-week thing and you just pray there’s no injuries. It’s not a super comfortable place to be.”
Last year’s matchup thrilled, with Mashpee taking a late lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass off a flea-flicker. The programs wound up splitting the SSL Tobin title when the Falcons fell, 29-28, at Carver in their season finale. Randolph is looking to gain the inside track with a win before traveling to Cohasset next week.
“When you look at the South Shore League, every team has been to, or won a Super Bowl in the past five years,” Marshall said. “It’s incredible and it speaks to the culture of these programs. Looking at Mashpee, we have a deep respect for what they do, and we play similar brands of football. Last year’s game was unbelievable. Our guys remember the result and they’ll be ready to compete Friday night.”
Friday, No. 14 Shawsheen at St. Mary’s, (5 p.m.) — Shawsheen is riding a 17-game win streak behind a defense allowing just 5.2 points per game in that span. A versatile St. Mary’s offense will try to crack that tough unit. Pick: SHAWSHEEN.
Friday, No. 4 King Philip at No. 5 Natick, (6 p.m.) — Since the start of the 2023 season, King Philip is 29-1 with the sole loss coming to Catholic Memorial in last year’s D2 Super Bowl. Natick understands the challenge in this nonleague clash of titans. Pick: NATICK.
Friday, Milford at No. 11 Barnstable, (6 p.m.) — Key injuries have hurt Milford, and Barnstable is looking strong after rolling to a 41-0 win over Amherst-Pelham following a Week 3 bye. Pick: BARNSTABLE.
Friday, Danvers at Beverly, (6 p.m.) — Danvers scored three wins in one-possession games before holding off Winthrop last week. Beverly is averaging 36.7 points per game during a three-game win streak. Pick: DANVERS.
Friday, No. 3 Xaverian at No. 7 Central Catholic, (7 p.m.) — After coming up short against Springfield Central last Friday, the Hawks look to bounce back on the road. Pick: XAVERIAN.
Friday, Weymouth at No. 10 Milton, (7 p.m.) — Last October, Weymouth scored its first win over Milton (28-21) in 12 years. This version of the Wildcats has reloaded after a rare losing season. Pick: MILTON.
Friday, Methuen at No. 12 Andover, (7 p.m.) — Andover’s defense has impressed under new coach Jay Fielding and Methuen has been forced into a one-dimensional approach with its quarterback injured. Pick: ANDOVER.
Friday, Mashpee at Randolph, (7 p.m.) — South Shore Tobin contenders meet with matching 3-0 records in a battle between two programs that have mastered making the most out of smaller rosters. Pick: RANDOLPH.
Saturday, No. 8 BC High at No. 9 Bishop Feehan, (1 p.m.) — Feehan lineman Kane Mankins, who recently committed to Ole Miss, leads a physical Division 2 squad against a perennial D1 power in a premier Saturday matinee. Pick: BISHOP FEEHAN.
Saturday, Archbishop Williams at Bishop Fenwick, (1 p.m.) — Archies is 3-0 for the first time since 2015 behind stellar play from sensational freshman quarterback Hudson Garrity. Now in D6, Bishop Fenwick looks for a key win over a division and conference rival. Pick: ARCHIES.
Nate Weitzer can be reached at nweitzer7@gmail.com. Follow him on X @nweitzer7.
