For 10 weeks, Duxbury and Falmouth have watched other football teams fall from the ranks of the undefeated. Now, all that stands between the two No. 1 seeds and Gillette Stadium is a sizable commute and a pair of frisky underdogs in Saturday’s state semifinals.
In Division 2, the Green Dragons (10-0) face Beverly (8-2) at 2:45 p.m. at Cawley Stadium in Lowell. The winner will play Shrewsbury or Westfield Dec. 3 in the Super Bowl.
In Division 2A, Falmouth (10-0) makes the commute to Doyle Field in Leominster for a noon battle with Marlborough (8-2) and a Super Bowl date with Marblehead.
The distance Duxbury and Falmouth must travel for Saturday’s games could add to their challenges.
“It makes absolutely no sense that the MIAA continues to do things like this,’’ said Duxbury coach Dave Maimaron. “There are a million fields in between us. It makes no sense for either team to drive as far as they are driving. It’s ludicrous. You wonder if it’ll ever stop.’’
MIAA associate executive director Richard Pearson holds a different view.
“You can see in the format that the Football Committee voted on a rotation including what region would be home,’’ Pearson said. “This is consistent with all of our tournaments when two regions play. One year one region is home and the next the other.’’
Regardless, Maimaron has more important things on his mind, such as a Beverly team coming off thrilling 1-point upsets of Tewksbury and Billerica.
“They’re obviously firing on all cylinders to beat the 1 and 2 seeds up in the North,’’ he said. “They have players all over the field. We know we need to bring our ‘A’ game.’’
That’s something the Dragons haven’t needed often this season.
After eight weeks of routs, top-ranked Duxbury finally showed signs of mortality in its South semifinal against Stoughton Nov. 4. Trailing, 14-0, in the first quarter, Maimaron watched his team do something it hadn’t done all year: come from behind.
“We weren’t challenged too much during the regular season,’’ he said. “We were down 14 for the first time all year and the kids responded. We know what’s coming. It doesn’t get any easier.’’
Another tense win over North Attleborough in last Friday’s sectional final — one in which quarterback Bobby Maimaron broke the state record for touchdown passes (115) — proved that Duxbury’s path to the Super Bowl wouldn’t be strain-free.
Injuries have compounded the stress the Dragons face. Senior back Devin DeMeritt remains out with a shoulder injury suffered against Stoughton, while wideout Ryan Reagan remains limited in his recovery from a broken foot.
“We basically played all last season without them,’’ Maimaron said. “Devin is the leading scorer in the state and that’s a huge loss to us. Not one person is going to make up that production, but if everyone steps it up 10 percent, we can make it up. Playoff time is very stressful.’’
Falmouth enjoyed a similarly breezy run to the postseason.
Overwhelming opponents with a diverse triple-option offense, Falmouth leads the Atlantic Coast League with a staggering 38.5 points per game. Senior back Michael LaFrange (20 touchdowns) and senior quarterback Nick Couhig (13 touchdown passes) key the unit and will be vital against a Marlborough defense that has allowed fewer than 10 points in four of its last five contests.
“We run an offense that is based on timing and execution,’’ said Clippers coach Derek Almeida. “[Michael and Nick] both bring tremendous skill sets to the table. Nick does a great job running the offense [and is] executing at such a high level. Mikey is so strong and so quick; he’s tough to tackle on the perimeter.’’
While North champion Marblehead (10-0) received a bye into the 2A Super Bowl, Falmouth prepares for Central champion Marlborough. Originally irked by the long drive and early start time, Almeida remains confident in his team’s ability to rely on its experience.
“At this point we’re just embracing the fact that we’re in the semifinal,’’ he said. “We come out with the same intensity [every game]. If something was to happen and the game wasn’t to start as others have, I think we have the experience to steady the ship.’’
Owen Pence can be reached at owen.pence@globe.com.
