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Prep's Whitney going to Hamilton

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.

Prep's Darby signs to play at Georgetown

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.

Masco to take on St. John's Prep in football this fall

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.

Perseverance pays off for Prep's Bergeron

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.

Prep players savor victory in season finale

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.

Coppola, late rally powers St. John's Prep past Xaverian in season finale

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.

Prep reunion brings out the old stories

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.

Thanksgiving Day Preview: Xaverian at St. John's 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.

Eagles denied league title by unbeaten B.C. High

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.

Improved offensive line has Prep thinking about title

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.

Darby's two TD passes lead St. John's Prep past MC

The St. John's Prep football team didn't rely solely on its offense for scoring, but got its defense and special teams involved as well in a 35-6 victory over Malden Catholic yesterday afternoon.

The victory now sets up a battle for the Catholic Conference title this Saturday at Cronin Field, when the host Eagles (5-4 overall) take on unbeaten B.C. High (9-0) at 1:30 p.m. Both squads are 2-0 in league play.

Prep wins Catholic Conference opener

After a disappointing stretch in non-league games (3-4), the Eagles came up with their best effort of the season, downing Catholic Memorial on the road, 27-21, in their Catholic Conference opener.

Senior captain and tailback Derek Coppola led the way with 172 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner, on 20 carries. Coppola's decisive touchdown came on a 3-yard pass play from Scott Darby with 35 seconds left in the game, snapping a 21-all tie.

Penalties hurt Prep in loss at Billerica

BILLERICA | On a night not fit for playing any outdoor sport, the Billerica High football team didn't seem to mind the torrential rains that fell upon them last night.

The Indians were able to move the ball in the wet conditions better than visiting St. John's Prep and wound up with a 20-10 victory.

Penalties costly in Prep loss to Billerica

BILLERICA | On a night not fit for playing any outdoor sport, the Billerica High football team didn't seem to mind the torrential rains that fell upon them last night.

The Indians were able to move the ball in the wet conditions better than visiting St. John's Prep and wound up with a 20-10 victory.

Prep looks to build momentum vs. Billerica

At this point in the season the St. John's Prep football team must be starting to feel like the characters in the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation."

Like the movie's Griswold family, which spends an inordinate amount of time reaching the theme park Wally World, only to find out that it's closed for maintenance, the 3-3 Eagles have endured what seems like an interminable wait to play a Catholic Conference game.

St. John's Prep football regains its edge

The trip to Shrewsbury didn't start off auspiciously for St. John's Prep. They ran into traffic, and their buses pulled up to the field 15 minutes before game time. To compound problems the Eagles were offside on their first play, and then fumbled the ball away.

St. John's Prep football bows to Dracut

DANVERS | Football coaches preach all the time about avoiding turnovers. For the most part, the players listen, but turnovers happen anyway.

Failure to protect the ball led to the third straight loss for St. John's Prep Saturday. The Eagles turned the ball over six times on four interceptions and Dracut recovered two fumbles. All the scoring for the Middies came in the first half, but they were able to stave off a second half rally by the Eagles for their second win of the season, 23-16 at Cronin Memorial Stadium.

Night time not the right time for St. John's Prep in loss to Brockton

DANVERS | For the first time ever, the St. John's Prep football team played a home football game under the lights at Cronin Stadium last night.

But visiting Brockton spoiled any hopes of a magical night for the hosts, denying the Eagles a come-from-behind victory by keeping the ball for the last five-and-a-half minutes and hung on for a 19-14 victory.

Everett dominates St. John's Prep

DANVERS | It didn't take long for visiting Everett to spoil St. John's Prep's home opener before a large crowd at Donahue Stadium. Both teams came into the contest sporting 2-0 records.

However, the Crimson Tide demonstrated why they are ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top 20 nationwide by displaying multiple weapons on offense and a stifling defense in a 35-7 thrashing of the Eagles.

Everett steamrolls Prep

DANVERS | It didn't take long for visiting Everett to spoil St. John's Prep's home opener before a large crowd at Donahue Stadium. Both teams came into the contest sporting 2-0 records. But the Crimson Tide demonstrated why they are ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top 20 nationwide by displaying multiple weapons on offense and a stifling defense.

Still an EMass power, Everett set to invade Cronin Field

The way Everett football coach John DiBiaso talks about his team, it makes you wonder if he either holds back information or simply demands excellence all the time.

"We don't really do anything special," DiBiaso said, obviously paying no attention to the complete dominance his Crimson Tide has displayed over the last decade. "We've got running backs to the left and right, a fullback and a quarterback, and they all carry the ball."

Power Rankings, September 18, 2007

1.St. John's Prep (2-0): The season starts in earnest for the Eagles this weekend as the state's top ranked team, Everett, comes to Cronin Stadium. Last week: 1

St. Johns pounces on Central miscues, takes showdown

If the physically-depleted Central Catholic football team had any margin for error offensively, a stingy, ball-hawking group from St. John's Prep stole it away.

The Eagles posted shutout No. 2 in as many games, holding the Raiders to a meager 133 yards of offense in a 12-0 whitewash before about 1,000 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Power Rankings, September 11, 2007

1.St. John's Prep 1-0 -- Can't get much better than its opening game rout of Peabody

2.Salem (N.H.) 2-0 -- Granite State power is on an early season roll

St. John's Prep football starts season with a bang, pounding Peabody 44-0

PEABODY | The beginning of the Dick Woodbury era in Peabody didn't go as planned last night. The crowd was large and enthusiastic for the first Arthur Adamopoulos Football Classic in memory of the late Tanner coach, who was at the helm for 20 years. The Eagles spoiled the party by scoring on seven of their first eight possessions and rolled to a 44-0 win.

Prep-Peabody: Round 3

The talk surrounding the Peabody High football team throughout the offseason has been unusually positive for a team that suffered one of its most disappointing seasons in program history last fall.

The hiring of Peabody High teacher Dick Woodbury | after the resignation of two-year coach Paul Uva last winter | was met with immediate excitement, mainly because the 62-year-old math teacher had the backing of the players. Woodbury's decision to assemble a coaching staff built entirely with former Peabody coaches and players only solidified the sentiment of joy.

A Family Affair

St. John's Prep football star Derek Coppola of North Reading has often babysat his three brothers, Tyler, Jared and Brandon.

Now he's chauffeuring them to conditioning drills at the school in preparation for the official start of preseason practice, Monday, Aug. 20. The youngsters are still yawning when Coppola reaches the Danvers parochial school at 6:20 a.m., 10 minutes before his reporting time for conditioning drills.

Talent at skill positions could bode well for St. John's Prep

DANVERS | In this, the 100th season of football at St. John's Prep, it will be the team's skill players who will be asked to carry the squad while a slew of newcomers get used to life at the varsity level.