Playoff predictions

All three Aquidneck Island high school football teams have playoff games tonight. Who’s winning and why?

It’s nothing personal, but based on what I’ve seen from Rogers and Middletown this season, I like Rogers to beat Middletown for the second time this season and advance to the Division III Super Bowl. The Vikings’ balanced offense — with Cody Platt throwing the ball and Christian Savage and Christian Cancel (among others) running it — is pretty potent. And during the regular-season game against the Islanders, the Vikings showed that they’re one of the few teams that has the defensive fortitude to slow down Middletown’s rushing game — led by Rico McCray and Dylan Gracia.

And, on Saturday in Cranston, Rogers takes down Moses Brown again, this time for its first state championship since 1990.

As for the local Division I game, tonight will be the first time since 1999 that Portsmouth beats La Salle on the football field. I must admit, I haven’t seen La Salle play this year, but from what I’ve heard and read, it seems like the Rams aren’t the powerhouse they have been in years past. They have a pretty young team that had to sneak into the playoffs with a win on Thanksgiving. They did beat Portsmouth once this season, but the Patriots — who, I must confess, I wasn’t sold on earlier in the year — look pretty darn good lately, and they’ll be too much for La Salle to handle tonight.

As for a possible Portsmouth-Hendricken matchup in the Division I Super Bowl, I’ll reserve judgment on that until it comes to fruition. But having the No. 1 and 2 teams in the state media poll in the D-I title game would be a perfect ending to a fun season.