Editor's Note: Every Thursday, CA's GameTracker will highlight the top games throughout the state for the upcoming week. If applicable, each team's current CA ranking is in parentheses for its respective division.
FOOTBALL
Division IV
(3) Classical at (1) Middletown, Friday 7 p.m.
These two teams have been on a collision course for each other since Week 2. But just like everyone else on the field and in the standings and CA rankings, the Purple have been chasing the Islanders all season for the top spot. Middletown's explosive offense has been lighting up the scoreboards, making it very difficult for any team to keep pace. The Isles will have to watch out for the ever-dangerous Franklin Santos, but Middletown will call Classical's bet of Santos with Dylan Gracia, and raise with touchdown machine Rico McCray.
CA's pick: Middletown 31, Classical 20
Division II
(3) South Kingstown at Westerly, Friday 7 p.m.
Both the Rebels and Bulldogs bounced back from their first defeats of the season two weeks ago with wins last week. SK is still setting the tone in II-B, while Westerly is trying its best to keep up with undefeated West Warwick in II-A. These two teams could end up seeing each other in the postseason, so this is a good mid-season test to see where each team is at. The advantage goes to the Rebels in this one, though, as they have experienced players who know what it takes to win a championship (and defend it).
CA's pick: South Kingstown 24, Westerly 16
BOYS SOCCER
Division II
(2) Shea at (4) Smithfield, Tonight (Thursday) 7 p.m.
The only thing standing between Smithfield and first place of D-II North is Shea, and it's looking like the only thing that can keep the Raiders from getting back to the title game is themselves. Led by sophomore scoring sensation Emerson Barros, Shea has had only one slip-up (2-1 loss to Central) on its quest for another chance at the championship (lost 2-1 in '08 title tilt). The Sentinels, meanwhile, are trying to improve upon a quarterfinal exit from last year's tournament.
CA's pick: Shea 3, Smithfield 2
Division III
(3) Prout at (1) Tiverton, Tuesday 7 p.m.
Tiverton won the first meeting between these two teams, 2-1, back on Sept. 14. The Tigers have pretty much rode that momentum the rest of the season thus far. Entering Friday's tough tune-up with the No. 4 team in this week's D-III rankings, Exeter-West Greenwich, Tiverton is unbeaten through its first 10 games (8-0-2). The only thing keeping Prout from a blemish-free record is a pair of losses to the two teams in front of it in the rankings --- first to No. 2 West Warwick on Sept. 9, and then to the top-ranked and aforementioned Tigers a few days later.
CA's pick: Tiverton 1, Prout 0
GIRLS SOCCER
Division IV
(2) Tolman at (3) Shea, Monday 4 p.m.
The Tigers and Raiders have been neck and neck in the North standings as well as the CA rankings for much of the season, with the former holding a slight advantage. In addition to being ahead in the standings and rankings, Tolman rolled to a 5-1 win in the teams' first match-up of '09 on Sept. 11. As last year's runner-up, the Tigers, along with the top-ranked and defending champion Woonsocket Villa Novans, have been the cream of the D-IV crop for the last two seasons. Shea is trying to sneak in and add its name to the conversation of Division IV's finest, and an upset of the Tigers would do just that.
CA's pick: Tolman 2, Shea 2
Division I
(1) La Salle at (4) Portsmouth, Tuesday 7 p.m.
Like previous seasons in recent memory, the Rams have once again been a juggernaut in '09, steamrolling through their opponents, putting them in prime position for a shot at another D-I crown. Led by super sophomore McKenzie Meehan, who seems to score at will (she scored six in last Thursday's 8-0 win over Scituate), La Salle has only really been tested twice this year: 2-1 win over South Kingstown, and 3-2 win over Bishop Feehan (Attleboro, Mass.). Other than that, the Rams are a perfect 14-for-14 in their games this year, entering tonight's match-up with Cumberland. The Patriots, meanwhile, were blanked 3-0 in their first meeting with the Rams on Sept. 10, so look for them to have a better showing this time around.
CA's pick: La Salle 2, Portsmouth 1
FIELD HOCKEY
St. Mary - Bay View at Barrington, Today (Thursday) 3:45 p.m.
St. Mary - Bay View has some unfinished business after suffering a heartbreaking sudden-death, double-overtime loss to North Kingstown in last year's D-I title tilt. The Bengals are back hungrier than ever to finally knock the two-time defending Skippers off their throne. A team that could stand in Bay View's way, though, is the Eagles, who were the last squad to put a halt to NK's string of championships, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. Barrington is hoping this is the year it returns to that level of excellence.
CA's pick: St. Mary - Bay View 3, Barrington 1
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Exeter-West Greenwich at Tiverton, Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Tiverton and EWG squared off for the first time back on Sept. 18, when the Tigers escaped with a 3-2 win to remain unbeaten, while handing the Scarlet Knights their first and only defeat of the '09 season. Fast forward to today (Thursday), and Tiverton is still perfect at 12-0, while EWG is currently holding down second place in D-II South (just behind the Tigers) with a 12-1 record. Look for this one to be another close match that goes to a fifth-and-deciding game.
CA's pick: Tiverton 3, Exeter-West Greenwich 2
GIRLS TENNIS
Moses Brown at Cumberland, Today (Thursday) 4 p.m.
It took seven games to decide the winner in Sept. 14th's match between the Quakers and Clippers, with the former emerging as the victor. Moses Brown enters this contest (12-0) with the possibility of finishing its '09 campaign winners of all 13 of its matches. Cumberland, meanwhile, has only lost twice: first to the Quakers earlier this year, and then 6-1 at Smithfield yesterday (Wednesday). Coming off a loss and having to play the first-place team is never an easy task, but look for the Clippers to take it to six games before succumbing to the Quakers.
CA's pick: Moses Brown 4, Cumberland 2
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