FOXBORO - They stood in the rain at the Bishop Stang-Bishop Connolly football game on Thanksgiving Day, taking notes, making mental observations.

On Tuesday, they were in the stands at Acton-Boxboro High School, watching the Red Devils of Burlington High School put 45 points on the scoreboard in beating Natick.

On Saturday, Foxboro High freshmen football coaches Ed Buckley and Matt Campbell actually get a chance to watch the Warriors live in action.

Without Buckley and Campbell supplying their scouting reports there is no game plan, no strategy for Foxboro High assistant coaches Mike Bartucca, the defensive coordinator; Mike Bordieri, the offensive coordinator; and Joe Heinricher, the line coach.

Foxboro and Burlington meet Saturday afternoon at 1:30 at Acton-Boxboro to decide the MIAA Eastern Mass. Division 2 Super Bowl championship. The Warriors had a brief walk-through workout on Wednesday.

following their 21-6 semifinal round victory over Bishop Stang at Stonehill College and began their preparation in earnest for Burlington with a spirited practice session Thursday afternoon.

However, Foxboro's assistant coaches were all huddling around game film of Burlington or contacting associates from the Middlesex League, trying to get a better handle for the 12-0 Red Devils, who score plenty of points (428), scoring 33 points or more in six games.

"They do everything well," said Bordieri of Burlington after reviewing game film with the Warrior players Wednesday afternoon, then huddling with the coaches that night to watch their Super Bowl foe Thursday. "They're a very solid football team from what we've seen.

"They have a big quarterback (Dan Walsh), two good running backs and a good tight end (Kevin Pickette) who they throw to a lot. I think that they're similar to Mansfield, but not as quick."

Burlington operates out of a wing-T formation with some I-formation, while the Red Devils generally run a 4-3 defensive scheme with some situational five-man fronts.

Bordieri is devising an attack to keep an aggressive Burlington defensive front, manned by 240-pound tackles Paul Lonero (the Chris Redd of the Red Devils) and Jeremy Steele, from disrupting Foxboro's running game. The thinking is that Burlington might be a step too aggressive, which may create some single coverage mis-matches for quarterback Drew Connolly and wide receiver Matt Goode.

Bartucca is creating some defensive fronts and coverages and more importantly making sure that the right Foxboro Warriors are on the field for the situations.

"We take all the formations and the numbers of the real good players from the game film and watch their tendencies," said Bartucca of the game film review. "It's hard putting a game plan together in two days and having just two practices before the game."

But will the Hockomock League win out over the Middlesex League? Will it be a battle of Foxboro's defense against Burlington's offense?

"They have played some tough teams in that (Middlesex) league," said Bordieri of Burlington's wins over Wakefield (22-13) and Woburn (29-21). They drive the football - they have good speed, but not blazing speed. They run and throw 50-50."

Because of their firepower on offense and ability to move the football at length, both in yards and with the clock, foes have a difficult time scoring on Burlington. Ten of the Red Devils foes have been limited to two touchdowns or less. Only Belmont (29 points) scored more than three touchdowns against Burlington.

Bordieri is thinking that Foxboro might be able to soften up Burlington's defensive pursuit with a running game, which will also open up some passing lanes. "Their strength is their defensive line," said Bordieri, "they really get after you.

"They'll adjust to what you're doing - they'll battle you. But, we'll be going after them too."

From Bartucca's defensive perspective, it's all about creating favorable matchups, especially having the Foxboro linebackers -- Ryan Moreshead, Kevin McCarthy and Dave Flynn - prepared and able to recognize the run or the pass. "We have our game plan in, then we take what matches up to what they're doing and tweak it a little," said Bartucca. "We have to get the matchups right."

But, having played Mansfield High, a Hockomock League foe, very similar to Burlington in size, speed and formations less than 10 days ago is good preparation. "They're (Burlington) right up there with Mansfield - they're very physical," said Bartucca. "Bishop Stang was a lot better live than what we saw on tape. Burlington is probably the same."