RallyNorth.net

High school football is about planning, second-year Georgetown football coach Matt Bouchard said.

"Obviously, any time you start a new endeavor, you have goals," he said. "You put a plan out there. You hope your staff, yourself and your athletes can follow that plan."

Every Monday RallyNorth.net will salute bone-crunching linebackers, elusive running backs, immovable linemen and rocket-armed quarterbacks from the 37 area high school football teams. We've dubbed them Power Players and you won't want to miss who the best and the brightest were from the weekend's schoolboy gridiron action.

What do you think is the best Thanksgiving high school football rivalry in the area and why?

Is it: Salem vs. Beverly? Gloucester vs. Danvers? Newburyport vs. Amesbury? Xaverian vs. St. John's Prep? Andover vs. Central Catholic?

Author of Head Games, Football's Concussion Crisis, Christopher Nowinski talks about the effects of concussions on athletes at Merrimack College in North Andover Thursday night. A former Harvard football player and WWE wrestler, Nowinski had his career ended by a head injury. He now tours the country talking about his ongoing research on the long and short term effects of concussions.

Can you recall your first varsity game playing for Beverly High in 1985?
"It was pretty exciting. I was a junior and we played at Manning Bowl. My cousin Pat Barror was the quarterback and was hurt in midseason, so I got my first start. We won, 3-0, on Mark LeClair's field goal in the third quarter. I was nervous, but lucky to have a championship team around me and felt confident. What was special was completing a pass to my brother John.

Every Monday RallyNorth.net will salute bone-crunching linebackers, elusive running backs, immovable linemen and rocket-armed quarterbacks from the 37 area high school football teams. We've dubbed them Power Players and you won't want to miss who the best and the brightest were from the weekend's schoolboy gridiron action.

1.Gloucester (10-0): A victory over winless Danvers at home on Thanksgiving is the only thing that stands between the Northeastern Conference Large champions and a perfect regular season.
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1. Nashua South (8-1, 7-1 Division 1)

Key players: QB Bill Ferriter; HB David Zocco

Plan of attack: Spread the opposition thin, and buzz by them on the speedy home carpet at Stellos Stadium.

Mike Athanas is synonymous with Manchester Essex football. The 37-year-old moved to Manchester 27 years ago and was a student in the town's school system. He was a captain and standout tailback on the high school football team, as well as, a second baseman on the baseball team. After continuing his football career for two years at Springfield College and graduating from the school, Athanas returned to his hometown with a coaching itch that was waiting to be scratched.

1.Gloucester (9-0): The Fishermen had one of their more dominant performances of the season in a 40-point win at Lynn English; a win this week over Salem at home clinches the NEC Large championship.
Last week: 1