It’s rematch season.

Or, week, that is.

With the intensity up and the second half of the regular season among us, the schedules have turned for a load of heated league rematches to roll in. That means we could start to see some separation in league title races between the major players.

Those are at least many of the matchups we’re looking at this week in the crystal ball, which by the way, posted a season-best 1.69 goal-margin in games previewed last week while (somehow) posting a winning record for a sixth straight week.

That could come crashing down at any moment, but hopefully not. There’s a lot of potential for some great action this week. And if it’s not a league rematch, it’s a league crossover tilt to watch out for. Or, a battle of state title contenders in the same division. Or, maybe a combination.

Reminder: no team is highlighted twice in one week, barring special exception. We DO have one of those exceptions on the girls’ side, and you’ll see why below.

Games to watch out for, with a monster Wednesday night:

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 8-4-1

OVERALL RECORD: 58-26-7 (.676)

AVERAGE MARGIN: 2.09 goals

**WINNERS in ALL-CAPS**

BOYS

WEDNESDAY

CATHOLIC MEMORIAL at St. John’s Prep, 4:20 p.m. – It seems everything has come together in a seven-game win streak for the Knights (12-1-1), who have allowed just one goal over their last four Catholic Conference matchups and have established themselves as the team to beat in the state. Finally healthy, St. John’s Prep (7-3-2) comes off a big win over St. John’s Shrewsbury with its back against the wall in the conference title race. Eagles need to win out for a shot, but CM is firmly in the driver’s seat.

Walpole at WEYMOUTH, 7 p.m. – Bay State Conference foes clash for a second time. The first ended with a Wildcats game-winner in overtime. Weymouth (8-4) will be buzzing coming off a 7-3 loss to Tewksbury in the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament on Sunday, a game in which goalie Billy Lennon and the team played better than the final suggests. Walpole (6-5) has momentum from the Coffee Pot Tourney, beating Belmont 7-3.

St. John’s of Shrewsbury at XAVERIAN, 7 p.m. – There should be no shortage of fire here. The Pioneers (8-5) are on a three-game skid in the vaunted Catholic Conference after winning each of their first four conference games. That includes an overtime-winner over the Hawks (12-2), who only trail CM by two points in the conference title race with just three games left. Advantage to the home team.

WESTWOOD at D-S/Weston, 7 p.m. – Two red-hot Tri-Valley League teams testing their momentum. Westwood (8-2-1) hasn’t lost since Canton blew it out in a humbling 9-0 defeat. Dover-Sherborn/Weston (8-5) has won five of its last six in an offensive eruption, scoring at least four goals in each contest. Wolverines have won this head-to-head every year since at least 2021, and they get the nod until it’s taken from them.

Methuen at DRACUT/TYNGSBORO, 7 p.m. – Big contest in the MVC/DCL 3 title race between the top two teams. Dracut/Tyngsboro (10-1-1, 5-0-1) hasn’t lost yet and has scored three goals in every game of an eight-game win streak. That streak started against Methuen (8-3-1, 4-1), whose attack is nearly just as hot aside from a shutout against Shawsheen.

READING at Burlington, 7:15 p.m. – Expecting a great game here between Middlesex League crossover foes. Reading (9-2-1) rebounds from a rare, early-morning loss to Canton in the Coffee Pot Tournament. Burlington (10-2-1) comes off a statement win over Winchester after falling to Woburn in overtime.

Scituate at NAUSET, 8:10 p.m. – Div. 3 implications swirl in this one. Top-ranked Nauset (11-1-2) is again a favorite to reach TD Garden. Scituate (8-4-2) is ranked fifth in the latest MIAA power rankings and has a chance to further show it belongs in the title conversation, if it hasn’t already with a 3-2 win over No. 2 Hanover on Saturday.

SATURDAY

Barnstable at FALMOUTH, 7 p.m. – Contenders clash in a meeting of top-10 Div. 2 powers. The latest MIAA power rankings have the Clippers (10-3-1) at No. 3 and the Red Hawks (9-3-1) at No. 7, though Barnstable edged Falmouth, 4-3, in their first matchup. Falmouth hasn’t lost since. Big implications here.

SUNDAY

Ed Burns Coffee Pot – Matchup details weren’t announced yet at the time the crystal ball was written, but when those details are released, expect those games between several of the state’s top publics to be well worth your attention while we wait another week until Super Bowl Sunday.

GIRLS

WEDNESDAY

METHUEN/TEWKSBURY at Malden Catholic, 5 p.m. – This is a huge test for the unbeaten Red Rangers (11-0), who face their first Div. 1 contender that doesn’t share the same league. Malden Catholic (6-7) has been nothing but challenged this year, facing the state’s toughest-rated schedule in the latest MIAA power rankings update. Would be a major win for either group. Nod goes to the hot hand with just three goals allowed all year.

King Philip at WESTWOOD, 5:10 p.m. – It was this game last year that Div. 2 juggernaut Westwood routed a young but promising King Philip squad, 7-1. The Warriors (11-0) showed some of their improved strength with a 4-3 win over defending state champion Medfield earlier, and now look to do the same against a Wolverines (11-1) group that hasn’t left the top-three in the MIAA power rankings yet this year. Top-five matchup alert.

Archbishop Williams at ST. MARY’S (L), 6 p.m. – A late first matchup between these Catholic Central League foes. The Spartans (11-0-1) haven’t lost yet, showing composure in the clutch to gut out five one-goal games so far. Archies (7-5) started up-and-down as it navigated injuries to some of its top players, but their returns and a three-game winning streak have the Bishops headed in the right direction.

SATURDAY

READING at Belmont, 1 p.m. – An unbeaten start has taken a turn for the Rockets (7-2-2), who have dropped two of their last three – albeit against strong teams in Woburn and St. Mary’s. Belmont (7-4-2) played them to a scoreless tie in their first meeting and are building some momentum. Huge game in the Middlesex League Liberty title race that could put the two-time defending champion Marauders in a deep hole. Reading bounces back big.

Arlington Catholic at BISHOP STANG, 5:30 p.m. – Despite a modest 4-4-2 record, Arlington Catholic has shown it can hang with the big dogs all year, and has delivered big wins over Belmont and Natick, as well as a tie with St. Mary’s. A rematch with reigning Div. 1 finalist Bishop Stang (10-2-1) could wield a similar result, but Stang is in a groove as winners in 10 of its last 11 games.

Methuen/Tewksbury at HPNA, 6:30 p.m. – Nothing like a rematch between title contenders that are both fighting for the same league crown. HPNA (10-1-2) hasn’t lost to anyone but the Red Rangers (11-0) this year, who narrowly edged it in their meeting earlier this month (1-0 win). Reigning league champion Methuen/Tewksbury leads HPNA in the MVC/DCL Large race by just one game – this is huge.

HINGHAM at Pembroke, 7 p.m. – This Patriot League crossover tilt draws major appeal. Pembroke’s (12-1) only loss this year came to Duxbury in overtime – one of the few to beat the Harborwomen (9-3-1) this season. Battle of Div. 1 and Div. 2 contenders. Should be a fun one.