By Cary Shuman

The preliminaries are over. The main events start Friday night in Leominster.

The Everett High football team, a perennial contender for the Division 1 state championship ever since John DiBiaso arrived on the scene, should be in the hunt for a Super Bowl berth once again.

The Tide already have one player [Manny Asprilla] committed to Division 1 Boston College and there are other reasons to believe that this could be one of the most exciting offensive teams ever to take the field – which is saying something in a program the caliber of Everett’s.

Junior quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso – a Boston Herald player to watch – will be at the helm of the Tide’s spread offense. The 6-1 lefthander has some of his favorite targets back in uniform, led by scholar-athlete Matt Costello at wide receiver.

In addition to the speedy and sure-handed Costello, receivers Manny Asprilla, Kenny Calaj and Jakarrie Washington will test opposing defenses on a weekly basis.

Vondell Langston Jr. is also on board as an explosive running and pass-catching threat. Senior captain Nick Chiarello will start at center and middle linebacker. Senior captain Shaquille Taylor will start at defensive tackle. Middle linebacker Chris McCarthy, defensive end Ralph Jonathas, tackle Milton Lopez, and safety Ronnie Richard will also bolster the defensive unit.

The Tide have looked very sharp in pre-season scrimmages against Lynn English and Lynn Classical.

“We’ve looked good in our two scrimmages so far,” said John DiBiaso. “We’re cautiously optimistic. We have some good backs and good skill guys. Everything starts for real on Friday night.”

TIDE NOTEBOOK

The Tide were certainly tested in the pre-season. Lynn English and Lynn Classical are the two challengers to Gloucester’s supremacy in the Northeastern Conference.

The Tide’s non-league schedule is a challenging one. St. John’s Prep comes to Everett on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m., followed by games against Barnstable, Taunton, Xaverian, and BC High. The game against Taunton will be broadcast live on radio.

Everett was ranked No. 3 in the Boston Herald Division 1 poll and is No. 7 in the Max Preps poll (Gloucester is No. 1). Brockton is ranked No. 10 in the East in the U.S. Today poll.

Leominster is always one of the best Division 1 teams in central Massachusetts, so those fans making the trip Friday night should see a competitive game.

Former EHS player Jim Noel has four tackles in Boston College’s win over Weber State Saturday.