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Manchester Essex came into yesterday's Division 4 semifinal against Brighton with two objectives defensively: One, was to contain Bengals quarterback Kameel Lashley. Two, was to make plays on the rest of the backs when needed.

The Manchester Essex Hornets and the Brighton Bengals have had a similar road to the Division 4 football playoffs.

Both teams thwarted off a tough non-league opponent in Pope John, with the Hornets winning 27-26 and the Bengals winning 60-58 in triple-overtime. Both teams also clinched a playoff spot in their last regular season game, with the Hornets defeating Georgetown 27-7 and the Bengals defeating Dorchester 30-6.

GEORGETOWN | Big Players make big plays in big games. That has been the slogan all season long for the Manchester Essex football team.

After yesterday's 27-7 Commonwealth Conference small championship-clinching victory over Georgetown, the entire Hornets team could be seen as big players for making a number of big plays in the biggest game of the season.

Over the last few years, football fans have watched Tom Brady and Peyton Manning dominate the National Football League with their rivalry and individual performances.

This season the Commonwealth Athletic Conference Small has their own version of Brady vs. Manning in Manchester Essex's Pat Orlando and Georgetown's Joe Esposito.

This small-school rivalry is one of the games of the day in Eastern Mass.

The only question now is will there be room around Georgetown High for the glut of television truck and crews in town. Manchester-Essex (8-2) and Georgetown (8-1) collide for the 48th time, the 17th meeting on Thanksgiving, and no meeting has been bigger.

It all comes down to one game.

After 10 weeks of the high school football season, the Commonwealth Athletic Conference Small title has come down to a Thanksgiving day matchup between Manchester Essex (8-2, 3-1 CAC) and Georgetown (8-1, 4-0 CAC). The winner of this rivalry will move on to the Division 4 playoffs to face the Boston City League South champion Brighton. The loser will see their season come to an end.

Where: Georgetown High

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: Mike Athanas, Manchester Essex; Matt Bouchard, Georgetown.

Captains: Manchester Essex: Phil Gillette, Sr. C/LB; Scott Forsythe, Sr. TE/DE, Sam Cohen, Sr. WR/DB; Pat Orlando, Jr. QB/DB; Georgetown: Brandon Wade, Sr. RB/S, Jeff Rollins, Sr. OG/DT, Joe Esposito, Jr. QB/DB;

With a Thanksgiving day showdown against Georgetown coming up, one might think that Saturday's game against Mystic Valley could have been a trap, with Manchester Essex looking ahead to the Royals.

The Hornets, however, were right on their game with a dominating 31-0 win at Malden Catholic's Brother Gilbert Stadium.

When describing the way that Manchester Essex's Jack Bishop plays football, one word comes to mind: Tough.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound sophomore linebacker/fullback has played an irreplaceable role in the Hornets 7-2 start, and he has done it through gritty physical play. To top it all off, he has been playing the entire season with a separated shoulder.

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.