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John Whitney lives so close to St. John's Prep that he can cut across the athletic fields to get to class.

But next year, his commute will be a bit longer than across the street from his Danvers home.

St. John's Prep quarterback Scott Darby has signed a letter of intent to play for Georgetown University.

The school offered the perfect combination of athletics and academics that Darby was looking for. The situation was ideal for the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, who had been highly recruited by such schools as Harvard and Brown.

A clash of North Shore high school football powers will take place on the opening weekend of the high school football season this fall when the two-time defending Cape Ann League champions from Masconomet Regional travel to St. John's Prep to face the area's only Division 1 program.

Injuries have plagued Dick Bergeron throughout his high school career at St. John's Prep. But not once did the 6-foot-1, 285-pound senior two-way tackle from Bradford ever doubt he would play again.

Bergeron's dream came true Nov. 4 when the Eagles hosted Malden Catholic on Senior Day.

DANVERS | After quarterback Scott Darby took a knee with 18 seconds remaining, St. John's Prep football players raced onto the field at Cronin Field to celebrate a satisfying come-from-behind 21-17 win over Xaverian.

DANVERS | Derek Coppola saved his best game of the season for last.

The senior rushed for 213 yards and a pair of scores, including the game-winner with just over a minute remaining, to carry St. John's Prep to a 21-17 victory over arch rival Xaverian.

St. John's Prep has a rich football tradition and on the eve of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Xaverian former players and their coaches gathered at the Danversport Yacht Club to renew old friendships in the 100th year of the sport at the Prep.

Where: Cronin Memorial Stadium, Danvers

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: St. John's Prep: Jim O'Leary; Xaverian: Charlie Stevenson

Captains: St John's Prep: Scott Darby, Sr. QB, Derek Coppola, Sr. RB, Michael Papagni, Sr. LB; Xaverian: Paul Asack, Sr. LB/K; Paul Freeman, Sr. DE.

DANVERS | For the past four years, St. John's Prep has either won the Catholic Conference football championship outright or shared a piece of the title.

But there will be no fifth championship for the Eagles this year.

The St. John's Prep offensive line went from making news quite often in the beginning of the season to hardly ever being heard from.

And that's a good thing, according to football coach Jim O'Leary.