NORTH ATTLEBORO - The Hockomock League title, a playoff berth - these are what the captain's practices and the passing camps throughout the summer months, the repetition and rehearsals through September, the review of game film, the grind of October is about.

The games that matter the most are in November.

Unbeaten Mansfield against once-beaten North Attleboro -two of the very best football teams in the commonwealth meeting late Saturday afternoon at the Rocketeers' Community Field.

"You have two great football programs, this year is this year, what happened in the past is history," Mansfield High coach Mike Redding alluded to North winning seven of 10 contests with the Hornets through the 1990s and having a 3-2-1 edge in the last six meetings between the Hockomock League powers.

"It's a typical North-Mansfield game," said North coach Kurt Kummer. "Both teams are well-coached, every kid will know what they're doing and every kid out there knows what's in front of them." That could be the Hockomock League regular season championship and a postseason playoff spot.

The Hornets have never trailed en route to winning all seven of their games. North was headed in the similar situation before Stoughton stunned the Rocketeers last weekend, limiting the Rocketeers' offense to six points.

The incentive in rebounding from a surprise and beating an unbeaten team is on the minds of both Redding and Kummer. How their teams approach the scenario will tell the tale.

"Our kids came back ready to work," said Kummer of North having its six-game win streak snapped. "Stoughton doesn't get credit enough for what they've done, they gave Mansfield a test too. That's why we play the games."

Redding and the Hornets know that the season's goal to win the Hockomock League title have three obstacles remaining, two of them prominent. "We need to beat North and beat Foxboro," said Redding. "If we lose, there could be a three-way tie for the title.

"Like we've been telling the kids, November's here and we're starting our playoff schedule Saturday."

The Hornets have been extremely well balanced on offense with quarterback Mark Gilson (10 TD passes) and brotherly receiver Tom Gilson (five TD catches), with the productivity of Eric DiPietrantonio and P.J. Powers running the ball. And on defense, with Corey Eason and Matt Handley putting pressure on, the Hornets have allowed just 48 points, most of those in the second half against the second team.

"Mansfield is a very talented football team," said Kummer. "Offensively, they do a good job of being balanced, they can run and they can throw. DiPietrantonio is as good a back as there is and they have big play capabilities.

"Eason is not just big, but he's strong and he can run and (Handley) is a very good high school football player," he said. "It doesn't matter much what the records in the series are, nobody's really dominated. It's always been a great matchup."

And Redding agrees. But for Mansfield to beat North, it doesn't mean the Hornets containing Rocketeer senior fullback-linebacker Anthony Sherman, it also means slowing down Kevin Connolly, Elijah Harris and the vast stable of Rocketeer weapons. "They (North) might be a little more run-oriented than they have been," said Redding. "Sherman is as good a high school back as I've seen. Harris and Connolly, on any other team, would be featured backs, they would hold their own. But you have to keep Sherman under control, that's a key and defensively, he's all over the place."

To play in December, you have to win in November, a fact that the Hornets and Rocketeers have never lost sight of. "Everyone knows what the implications are," said Redding. "They (North) don't lose many games. It's been a great rivalry for decades. Usually this game decides something relative to the playoffs."

And it will.

Foxboro at King Philip

FOXBORO - First steps first, according to Foxboro High coach Jack Martinelli. "I wish it were that easy, but we have to be concerned about King Philip, they gave Mansfield a heck of a game," said the Warrior mentor of Foxboro's chances for a share of the Hockomock League title and perhaps a Super Bowl playoff berth.

For that to occur, North Attleboro has to beat Mansfield Saturday. But first, Foxboro has to beat KP and then the Warriors have to worry about beating Mansfield on Thanksgiving Day.

"A lot of things can happen," said Martinelli, "but we're excited. It's certainly nice to go into these last couple of games with things at stake. North has to win and then who knows?"

First Foxboro has to beat a KP team, which may be a bit short on depth, but does have a stock of quality players - like running back Doug Dyke and quarterback Kyle Harwood. "They didn't have some kids against Mansfield and they gave them a heck of a game, they gave them all that they could handle. They (KP) have four or five kids who are very dangerous."

Foxboro (5-2) may have lost games to Central Catholic and North, but have come back to beat OA and Sharon. But, Stoughton's victory over North jump-started the Warriors' "second season."

"If North can win, then maybe we can still get a piece of the pie," said Martinelli, noticing the distinct upbeat nature of his team and attention. "You wouldn't think that the kids need it (incentive), but sometimes they do. We have to take care of ourselves, our business and KP and then go from there."