KP Football Predicted to be Among D2's Finest

With the first game of the year a little over two weeks away, the KP Warriors are already predicted to once again be one of the best teams in the state.

The Warriors finished the regular season last year as the champions of the Hockomock League’s Kelley-Rex division with a record of 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the division.  The season however, came to a heartbreaking end when eventual Division 2 Eastern Massachusetts champions Duxbury beat the Warriors 7-0 in the playoffs.

Don’t be surprised to see the Dragons and Warriors faceoff again this year. The Boston Herald has ranked Duxbury number one in their Division 2 preseason poll with King Philip coming in at number two.

While the Warriors have a high ranking, it’s not going to be an easy road if the Hockomock League lives up to its reputation of being one of the most unpredictable leagues in the state. With every team except Attleboro ranked in the top 10, the Warriors could see themselves in a one and done situation similar to last year’s 9-1 North Attleboro Red Rocketeers or the 9-2 Mansfield Hornets who both went 3-1 in the division but lost on a tie breaker to KP.

The paper also gave an honorable mention to Warriors’ QB John Dillon when announcing the preseason Herald All-Star Teams.

Over at ESPN Boston, the Warriors will start the year ranked as the 12th best team in the state. In their analyses of KP, the website expects Dillon and the defense to once again excel.

In their analysis of the league, HS Editor Brendan Hall mentioned that in addition to league favorites KP, Mansfield, and North Attleboro, there could be trouble from Franklin and Attleboro who may make things even more interesting along with newcomer Taunton High School.

In addition, HockomockSports.com Founder and Editor Ryan Lanigan put his faith behind KP, believing that Dillon can take the team to the next level.

Similar to the Herald, ESPN Boston listed Dillon as one of their players to watch along with junior linebacker Brett McEvoy

Members from the team will head off to Camp Mataponi today and will return in time for their first scrimmage of the year at Norwood on August 28. The Warriors will open the season on the road as they travel two hours north of Wrentham to face Dover, New Hampshire on September 7 at 7 p.m.

The Warriors will play two more away games against Medfield (Sept. 14) and Westwood (Sept. 22) before their home opener against Dartmouth on September 28 at 7 p.m.

King Philip will also play Taunton (Oct. 5); Sharon (Oct. 12), at Mansfield (Oct. 19); at Attleboro (Oct. 26), Oliver Ames (Nov. 2); at North Attleboro (Nov. 10), and Franklin (Nov. 22)