Brookline High football hosts Hopkinton on Thursday, Oct. 1, looking to rebound from a lopsided Week 3 loss and keep its playoff hopes alive.

The Warriors (2-1) take on the Hillers (1-2) at 7 p.m. in a cross-conference matchup with MIAA power-ranking implications for both teams. Brookline opened the season with convincing wins over Newton South (31-9) and Lexington (46-6) before Watertown handed them a 35-7 defeat on Sept. 25. 

That loss was thorough. Watertown quarterback Coleman Keuchkarian McKeen completed 11 of 12 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, the Boston Herald reported. The Raiders entered the game unbeaten and are ranked No. 11 in MIAA Division 5.

Brookline now sits at No. 23 in the first MIAA Division 1 power rankings, published Tuesday, with a 0.8460 power rating, as we reported Sept. 29. That puts the Warriors outside the top-16 cutline needed to qualify for the postseason. Teams must finish with at least three wins and a top-16 divisional ranking to make the playoffs.

A win Thursday would give Brookline that third victory and a chance to climb the rankings before Bay State Conference Carey Division play begins Oct. 17 against Natick.

Hopkinton has been outscored 85-29 through three games, with losses to Wayland (35-0) and New Bedford (44-8) sandwiching a 21-6 win over Chicopee Comp, according to MaxPreps. In the MIAA's first Division 2 rankings, the Hillers sat at No. 17 with a 0.0902 power rating. 

MassLive sportswriter Kyle Grabowski called the matchup "a cross-conference showdown" in his Week 4 preview and noted the two teams met last season, with Brookline winning 8-3 in a defensive battle. 

Tailback Jonathan Cartwright rushed for 89 yards and three touchdowns in the Sept. 17 rout of Lexington. Brookline has outscored opponents 84-50 through three games. 

After Hopkinton, the schedule gets tougher. Brookline travels to New Bedford on Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m., then opens Carey Division play at home against Natick on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. Road games at Framingham (Oct. 22) and Wellesley (Oct. 30) follow before the Thanksgiving finale at Newton North on Nov. 26, at 10 a.m.