The regular season was short-and-sweet and now it’s time for the Spring 2021 Rhode Island high school football playoffs. The state semifinals will be played this coming weekend, followed by the Super Bowls in all divisions the following week at Cranston Stadium.
The state’s No. 1 team Bishop Hendricken will be looking for its third straight state championship. The Hawks will face North Kingstown in one semi in the Power Four division. North Kingstown has won three straight titles, two in Division I (2018 and 2019) and one in Division II in 2017.
BH is also seeking its tenth title in the last 11 years. If Hendricken wins a state title this year, it would give the Hawks 16 overall, which would time them with La Salle for the most all-time in the state. La Salle last won a state championship in 2017.
In the other semifinal, La Salle Academy faces Portsmouth.
Related: COVID-19 moves RI high school football to the spring
The only other 2019 state champ back to defend its title is North Smithfield/Mount St. Charles Academy, which captured the Division IV crown. This year, NS/MSCA is in Division III
See all of the first round matchups below:
Spring ’21 Rhode Island High School Football Playoff Pairings
Semifinals
Power Four
Bishop Hendricken vs. North Kingstown
La Salle Academy vs. Portsmouth
Division I
Burrillville vs. East Greenwich
Central vs. Cumberland
Division II
St. Raphael Academy vs. Westerly
Barrington vs. Tolman
Division III
Coventry vs. North Smithfield/Mount St. Charles Academy
Johnston vs. Classical
Division IV
Ponaganset vs. Exeter-West Greenwich/Prout
Narragansett vs. Toll Gate
