At this stage, only 64 teams still have a shot of reaching Gillette.

That doesn’t mean the path will get any easier, however. Many great programs have reached this point in past years, only to see their championship hopes evaporate. Which standouts in the field will likely have the best chance to keep rolling during the Round of 8?

Nearly all of the candidates won their tournament openers, some more convincingly than others. The ones who didn’t (Catholic Memorial and Bishop Feehan) each had bye weeks in a shrunken Div. 2 field (which only had 14 teams).

1. St. John’s Prep: The Eagles (9-0) took care of business in the Round of 16, steamrolling to a 38-0 shutout of Framingham. However, five-star quarterback recruit Chris Vargas was forced to exit the game in the first half with an apparent leg injury. This could be something to monitor moving forward. St. John’s Prep remains a favorite this week, but will be challenged with Coastal Carolina commit Osiris Lopez and No. 8 Leominster paying a visit.

2. Springfield Central: Things got a bit shaky for a minute, but the Golden Eagles (8-1) were able to eventually pull away for a 28-15 win over No. 15 Taunton. Next up, an even tougher test with an upstart team in No. 10 Lowell, which is coming off an impressive 29-21 win over Methuen.

3. King Philip: Despite facing an undefeated school in 16th-ranked Chicopee Comp., the Warriors (9-0) erupted offensively in their first playoff challenge at the Div. 3 level (a 51-0 win). The school will face a very familiar foe this week in the quarterfinals, as Mansfield will make a brief trip over to Wrentham for an intriguing battle between Hockomock League rivals.

4. Xaverian: In the latest chapter of one of the state’s famous rivalries, the third-seeded Hawks (7-2) looked unstoppable last week against No. 14 Brockton. Senior quarterback Will Wood finished 8-for-12 passing with 130 yards and four touchdowns, leading his group in a 33-0 romp. Xaverian will look to carry momentum into another home game this week, facing No. 11 Andover.

5. Catholic Memorial: Will being one of the state’s lone schools to have a bye-week to the quarterfinals benefit the Knights (6-2)? You’d have to think so in this case, as John DiBiaso’s group might simply be healthier by the time this top seed clashes with No. 8 Wellesley in the Div. 2 tournament.

6. Winchester: Ronan O’Connell fired three more touchdown passes, while Gianni DePrimeo kept his own hot streak going with two touchdowns rushing as the fourth-seeded Red and Black (9-0) cruised to a 42-6 romp of No. 13 North Quincy in the Div. 2 field last week. A matchup against No.5 Lincoln-Sudbury lurks ahead.

7. Tewksbury: The No. 2 Redmen (9-0) certainly looked like one of the state’s best last week, bowling to a 49-7 rout of No. 15 Middleboro. One of the top schools to watch in Div. 4, Tewksbury will have an interesting opponent this time around as seventh-ranked Ashland makes a long trip north to Doucette Field for a quarterfinals showdown.

8. Shawsheen: Jake Banda (13 carries, 119 yards rushing, three touchdowns) turned in another epic performance as the top-seeded Rams (9-0) dominated No. 16 Salem in the opening round of the Div. 5 playoffs. Still in possession of the state’s longest active winning streak (23 games), Shawsheen will take on No. 8 St. Mary’s in the quarterfinals.

9. Bishop Feehan: The second-seeded Shamrocks (7-1) enter as one of the top teams to watch in Div. 2 after enjoying a bye week to the Round of 8. Bryan Pinabell’s team will have an interesting matchup in the quarterfinals, facing a Chelmsford team that has won four straight.

10. Medfield: Another week, another big game for Brady McCormack. Last week, the senior running back had 218 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Still undefeated at 9-0, the No. 4 Warriors will host fifth-ranked North Reading in the Div. 5 tournament Friday.

11. Archbishop Williams: It was not easy whatsoever, but Hudson Garrity (165 yards passing, two total touchdowns) and a stiff performance defensively powered the No. 6 Bishops (9-0) to a 14-7 win over No. 11 Swampscott last time around. This week, they will face third-ranked Hanover, looking to keep their season alive. Archbishop Williams coach Mark Landolfi and assistant coach Chris Landolfi each began their respective coaching careers together with the Hawks over a decade ago.

12. Scituate: The top-ranked Sailors (8-1) had a sluggish start in their Div. 4 Round of 16 game, but eventually cruised to another victory. Grayson Foley returned from a recent leg injury with force, rushing for 145 yards to go with four total touchdowns in a 33-10 win over No. 16 Tantasqua. Scituate awaits No. 9 Walpole in the next round.

13. Natick: James Mortarelli continued to put up big numbers (112 yards rushing, two touchdowns last week), as the fourth-seeded Redhawks (7-2) dominated a Bay State Conference rival in No. 13 Weymouth (33-10) in Div. 1 play and will look to hold of No. 5 Central Catholic in the quarterfinals.

14. Milton: Patrick Collins had one of his best games of the season in the opening round of the Div. 3 tournament for the No. 3 Wildcats (8-1), firing three touchdown passes to key a convincing 42-12 win over No. 14 Reading and will face No. 6 Masconomet in the quarterfinals.

15. Barnstable: Jayson Dyer (94 yards rushing) had a pair of touchdowns as the second-seeded Red Hawks (8-1) staved off a feisty Doherty team to open the Div. 3 playoffs. Now they will take on the state’s reigning champion in No. 7 North Attleboro

16. Foxboro: Jack Martinelli’s squad appears poised for another deep Div. 5 playoff run, as the second-ranked Warriors (7-2) toppled No. 15 Norton in the Round of 16, 41-13. Seventh-seeded Gloucester could pose a possible threat in the quarterfinals.

On The Sideline: Randolph, Amesbury, Central Catholic, Canton, Burlington, Lincoln-Sudbury, North Attleboro, Lowell, Abington, Cohasset,