Cousins were 'fired up' as their QB sons squared off in Milton-Hingham playoff game

MILTON — With 29 different teams in the MIAA Division 3 field, there were a dizzying number of possible first-round playoff matchups when the high school football season kicked off back in September. Tim Merrigan and Greg Lane, first cousins who grew up together in Milton and who played football two years apart at Milton High in the 1980s, kept their fingers crossed. Eventually they hit the Dad Lottery. More: MIAA high school football quarterfinal schedule and matchups More: Vote for the South Shore Football Player of the Week: Playoff stars When the brackets were announced on Sunday, Nov. 1, it was No. 9 Hingham paired with No. 8 Milton. Tim Merrigan's son Liam, a junior, is the starting quarterback at Hingham. Greg Lane's son Sean, a senior, is the starting QB at Milton. Perfect. "We were talking about it going back to the summer, how fun it would be," Tim Merrigan said. "We were speculating (on the chances of it happening) throughout the season because (the two teams) were kind of closing in on each other. And then when the brackets came out, we were fired up for it." "Tim and I are giddy," Greg Lane said in the

ABC News Live: Boston students stage walkout to call for remote learning amid surge

Roundup: Eagles are moving on

The top-ranked St. John’s Prep football team (9-0) defeated No. 16 Weymouth (5-4), 35-6, at Glatz Field last Thursday, Nov. 5. The Eagles advanced to Div. 1 Round of 8, where they’ll face No. 9 Andover (6-3). It started with a bang. Quarterback Chris Vargas connected with Will...

Financial investigation at Nahant elementary school puts town employee on leave

A Nahant town employee has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into financial irregularities, according to the town administrator and police chief.

St. John’s Prep cruises, while Fenwick falls

In its quest for a Div. 1 state championship, the St. John’s Prep football team began the tournament in style on Thursday, Nov. 5. Meanwhile, in Div. 6 action, Bishop Fenwick’s high-powered offense couldn’t get going in enemy territory. The top-ranked Eagles (9-0) defeated No. 16 Weymouth...

At 26, Ex-Holbrook High star restarts his hoops career at Quincy College

QUINCY -- Even though it's been a while, Kyree LaPlanche vividly remembers the feeling of getting buckets in a crowded gym with fans cheering him on. It was a much more subdued atmosphere at South West Middle School on Wednesday night, Nov. 4. No applause reverberating off the walls here, just the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood, occasionally drowned out by head coach Jamall Griffin barking orders at his Quincy College men's basketball team. Still, the relative quiet was music to LaPlanche's ears. The former Holbrook High star has spent four years away from basketball, but now, at the ripe old age of 26, he's eagerly using up his one season of junior-college eligibility. "Man, it's so fun being out here and being able to compete with these guys," LaPlanche, a 5-foot-9 guard, said during a break in what was shaping up as a three-hour Granite practice on the eve of the 2026-27 season opener. "Just being able to have this opportunity means a lot to me. I don't take any of these moments for granted, especially going through the journey that I've been on. It's been a lot. I'm really grateful to be out here." LaPlanche graduated from

As football season winds down, Marblehead faces troubling drop in participation

As Marblehead High School’s football season winds down, the Magicians are confronting a challenge that extends well beyond wins and losses: a sharp decline in participation that left the school without a freshman team this fall. The numbers are dropping at every level, from youth football to the high...

MA Mother Questions Emergency Response at Son’s Football Game

SAUGUS — On Sept. 25, Saugus Middle High School junior and starting quarterback Eli Fialho suffered a life-threatening injury; now, his mother, Christina Stanley, is questioning how the situation was handled. Eli was injured during a game, and according to his mother, medical personnel did not assess him immediately,...

Essex Tech weighs new lottery option

Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School is reconsidering how it distributes admissions seats among its 17 member communities as officials confront competing demands for student access and municipal budget stability. The review follows the first year of a revised lottery system that left some communities with more seats than...

YOUR VIEW: Parking lot criticism ‘missed the mark’

Reasons offered in a recent letter in the Plymouth Independent questioning the addition of 90 new parking spaces at Nathaniel Morton Elementary School missed the mark. Limiting impervious surfaces and reducing the potential for contaminant runoff into the harbor is always beneficial. But adding shared parking spaces at this location won’t change society’s preference for large vehicles; it doesn’t argue for smaller (compact) parking spaces, and it won’t reduce harmful stormwater runoff.

Plymouth North custodian offers inspiration to students

Hundreds of students at Plymouth North High School got to know a different side of a familiar face when a school custodian shared his story of serving in the Navy at the school’s annual Veterans Day assembly on Tuesday. Marcus Williams, a maintenance worker at the school since 2022,...

OPINION: The despairing task of choosing between housing or tuition

I am sure many college students in Boston have heard of the struggles of affording housing before leaving to attend university. And yes, it is hard to realistically balance the cost of tuition and housing. It has created a debate on whether students should prioritize their education or a roof over their heads.

Middleboro Town Meeting bans data centers, Flock cameras, approves new school roof

Middleboro Town Moderator David Cavanaugh speaks at the podium. Photos by Christian Uva. A Middleboro High School student counts the "yeas" for the data center ban vote. State Rep. Norman Orrall, right, and state Sen. Kelly Dooner, center, presented the town with a new copy of the Declaration of Independence for the nation's 250th anniversary.

Belmont resident receives scholarship for commitment to nursing

NORTON, Mass. — Adeline Takantjas, member of the Wheaton Class of 2029 and an aspiring nurse practitioner, has earned the 2026 Sturdy Health Nursing Scholarship Award. She is a resident of Belmont. Given annually to a high-achieving sophomore, this award includes a renewable $5,000 scholarship, an opportunity for paid...

Preview, predictions for Week 10 of high school football in Fall River

FALL RIVER — High school football continues with Week 10 action. Joseph Case had its MIAA Elite 8 playoff matchup with No. 3 Abington moved to Thursday night due to inclement weather on Friday. Atlantis Charter/Westport, Durfee and Somerset Berkley return to the gridiron this week for non-playoff games. Diman will take part in the Vocational State tournament on Thursday The Herald News takes a peek at the top football games and make predictions for Week 10: Watch MA high school football on NFHS Thursday Joseph Case at Abington, 6 p.m. Division 6 Elite 8 After a historical playoff win against defending Division 6 state champion Fairhaven, the No. 11 Cardinals (7-2) will make their first-ever appearance in the Elite 8 contest this Thursday against No. 3 Abington. Case overcame an early deficit to beat the Blue Devils. The Green Wave (6-2) is fresh off an impressive 46-28 win over Wilmington at home in the round of 16. Should be a good one. Predictions: Joseph Case 31, Abington 28 Atlantis Charter/Westport at Bourne The Tritons look to savage their season in a road contest against Bourne. Atlantis Charter/Westport (4-5) came up short in a non-playoff action against Carver at home,

New athletic director joins Revere, brings unique perspective to district

From the sound of a golf club swinging in the air to the kick of a soccer ball across the field, athletes all throughout Revere spend time playing, competing or performing for a cheering audience. Ben Kobus watches from the sidelines, but he knows better than anyone the work it takes to make these events happen.

DeJesus Scores Five Touchdowns As Andover Rolls Past Franklin

FRANKLIN, MA — Marcus DeJesus scored five touchdowns as ninth-seeded Andover High School opened the...

Honan-Allston Library Marks 25 Years With Continued Support From Harvard

Twenty-five years after the Honan-Allston Library opened on land donated by Harvard, the University continues to fund programs and improvements at the neighborhood branch, from sewing classes to technology upgrades. The library, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, opened after Allston residents spent nearly two decades without a neighborhood...