It’s the rematch of last year’s Division I Super Bowl.

It’s a showdown between the two teams many say are the leading contenders for this year’s state title.

It has the potential to be a battle in the trenches between the two teams that have given up the fewest points in Division I.

You might want to get to Barrington early Friday night if you want a good seat to watch the La Salle-Barrington football game.

Some people were saying the Rams-Eagles late regular-season matchup would be the game of the year before the season even started and it has lived up to most of the advanced billing.

La Salle hasn’t lost a Division I game in two years. The Rams rolled to the Division I state title last year with a perfect 10-0 record against Division I competition. One of those 10 triumphs was a 31-6 victory over Barrington in the Division I Super Bowl.

This season, the Rams are perfect again in league play at 5-0. Their only loss in the past two years was a 22-16 setback at the hands of Bridgewater-Raynham in a nonleague, interstate game this season.

Barrington also was rolling along with an undefeated Division I record through the first month of the season, but two weeks ago Hendricken shut out the Eagles, 14-0. So now the 5-1 Eagles will be looking for redemption, as well as the possible No. 1 seed for next month’s Division I playoffs.

Officially, nothing will be decided about playoff berths and regular-season championship Friday night. Both the Rams and Eagles still have regular-season league games remaining after Friday night, but there’s no question the winner of this game becomes the proverbial “team to beat” in the quest for this year’s Division I state title.

Running star power

The fans, who are expected to pack the stands for the 7 p.m. game, will be watching some of the most exciting runners in the state.

Barrington is led by a trio of senior speedsters –– Mike Read, Marc DeSisto and Dave Silvia. Combined they have rushed for 1,450 yards this season and scored 22 touchdowns. Read, the state outdoor track 100-meter champion, has run for 870 yards this season on 128 carries. That gives him a total of 2,200 yards rushing between last season and this year. His 11 touchdowns this season gives him 32 TDs in the past two seasons.

La Salle has one of the most athletically gifted players in the state leading its attack in senior Luke Francis. Last season Francis was an outstanding pass receiver, but after All-State quarterback Joe Charest graduated last spring Francis moved into the quarterback spot this fall and hasn’t wasted any time showing he’s a threat whether he’s throwing or running. He has passed for 962 yards and run for 390 yards. The Rams’ attack also features Dave Hansen, a senior running back who is the Rams’ leading scorer with seven touchdowns, one more than Francis.

Despite the offensive talent on both teams, nobody will be surprised if the defensive units steal the spotlight.

In its six Division I games Barrington has given up a combined 34 points, less than six points per game, and La Salle has allowed an average of 11 points per game.

In addition to his contributions on offense, Silvia also is one of Barrington’s top defensive players with 53 tackles from his linebacker spot. Austin Brown, another member of the Eagles linebacker corps, is Barrington’s top tackler with 66 stops. The La Salle defensive unit is anchored by linebacker Will Deffley and defensive end P.J. Ashby, who both have registered 59 tackles.

One Division II berth left

All but one of the eight playoff berths for the Division II playoffs, which start next weekend, have been decided, but that doesn’t mean this weekend’s final regular-season games will lack excitement.

The top attraction on the weekend schedule will be at Barry Field Saturday afternoon where Woonsocket will host Westerly in a showdown between the two teams currently deadlocked with Mt. Hope for the Division II-A lead. Woonsocket can clinch at share of the II-A regular season title and definitely the II-A top playoff seed with a victory. Westerly, which lost to Mt. Hope, will be trying to assure itself of a home game in the opening round of the playoffs and at least a share of the regular season II-A title.

The only playoff berth still up for grabs is the fourth spot in II-B and Cumberland, Toll Gate and Lincoln are in the race for that berth. All three are in action this weekend with Cumberland and Lincoln meeting Friday night in Lincoln at the same time that Toll Gate will be hosting first-place South Kingstown at the Warwick Vets field.

Ponaganset eyes title

Ponaganset is already assured of being the No. 1 seed for the Division III playoffs and Saturday the Chieftains will be trying to make sure they also are the undisputed Division III regular-season champion.

The Chieftains pushed their Division III record to 6-0 and clinched at least a regular-season co-championship and the No. 1 playoff seed with their 14-6 victory over defending state champion Johnston last weekend. Ponaganset can clinch the regular-season title with a victory Saturday at Narragansett.

Northmen look for a first

North Smithfield has never won a state football title, in fact the Northmen have never even played in a Super Bowl, so last Friday night’s 21-7 Division IV victory over previously undefeated Middletown has to be one of the biggest triumphs in the history of the North Smithfield football.

The victory not only did wonders for the Northmen’s collective ego, but also put them back in race for one of the four Division IV playoff berths. Middletown still leads the division with a 5-1 record, but after that the 2-3 Northmen are one of six teams with either two or three losses. The Northmen meet another of those playoff contenders Friday night when they host 3-3 Central Falls.

jgillool@projo.com