With sights set on returning to Gillette Stadium for the primary time since dropping within the 2018 Div. 7 Super Bowl, St. Mary’s (L) coach Sean Driscoll noticed a protracted listing of harmful opponents on his aspect of the Div. 6 bracket earlier than the playoffs started. No path again is simple, however this one felt exceptionally troublesome.
Knocking off reigning champion Rockland within the semifinals took a Herculean effort. Now, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the third-seeded Spartans (11-1) match up within the Div. 6 last in opposition to a top-seeded Stoneham (11-1) program that additionally final reached Gillette in 2018 – beating Old Rochester for the title.
Driscoll feels his group is prepared for another signature efficiency to commerce locations.
“It’s been an exciting year, we’ve had a lot of big games this year,” he mentioned. “Stoneham is a very, very good football program year-in and year-out. … One thing I told my kids (before playoffs) is ‘You want to be the best, you’ve got to run through the best.’ We’ve been keeping that mentality all the way through.”
Stoneham has run by way of a number of the finest itself inside the Middlesex League to assist head coach Bob Almeida earn his two hundredth win and a signature Thanksgiving Day victory over rival Reading.
In a battle between energy versus velocity, a lot of the previous comes from Stoneham with its smash-mouth, clock-controlling philosophy. Quarterback Jason Nutting and Colin Farren star for the Spartans, although James Landers and Givani Caruso are efficient complimentary backs behind full again Ty Baker, tight finish Paul Mannke, proper deal with Jared Linehan and the remainder of a robust offensive line.
The end result has been 36 factors per sport during the last 4 matchups on the tail finish of a 12 months the Spartans have gutted out success.
“It’s really been a special year,” Almeida mentioned. “(Smash-mouth) is just our philosophy, it’s what we do. We try to stay out of negative plays … and are scoring on long drives this year. It’s been our calling card for us so far.”
If there’s a staff to resist it, it’s St. Mary’s. Signature defensive performs on the most important moments have powered it, together with a pressured late turnover within the semifinal to seal Rockland’s uncommon, 14-point efficiency in opposition to them. Defensive linemen Tommy Falasca, Nick Sacco and Jack Marks, in addition to linebacker Joel Maggs and defensive backs Dave Brown and Tyler Guy, have performed monstrous roles so far.
“I think that win (over Rockland) was good for us,” Driscoll mentioned. “We are where we are because of our defense.”
Stoneham has loads to look out for defensively itself. Brown is a particular expertise as a do-it-all talent participant, hovering alongside fellow 1,000-yard rusher Derick Coulanges to type a star tandem.
Baker, Landers and Sean Kilty spherical out a robust linebacker group trying to gradual that speeding assault for Stoneham, whereas Mannke (defensive finish), Dom Florino (security) and Kevin Gilmartin (cornerback) ought to play pivotal roles as nicely.
“I think it’s two good teams, it should be a really good game,” Almeida mentioned. “We have to play our best football.”
DIV. 6 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Dec. 3, 3 p.m. at Gillette
St. Mary’s vs. Stoneham
ST. MARY’S SPARTANS (11-1)
Head coach: Sean Driscoll
ST. MARY’S 41, KIPP 0
St. Mary’s 37, WINTHROP 14
ST. MARY’S 12, Bishop Feehan 10
Bishop Fenwick 26, ST. MARY’S 20 (ot)
St. Mary’s 47, ARLINGTON CATHOLIC 21
ST. MARY’S 42, Cardinal Spellman 8
St. Mary’s 35, ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS 19
ST, MARY’S 37, Archbishop Williams 13
ST. MARY’S 20, Lynnfield 6
St. Mary’s 15, Rockland 14
St. Mary’s 34, Austin Prep 21
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
STONEHAM SPARTANS (11-1)
Head coach: Bob Almeida
STONEHAM 24, Winthrop 16
Stoneham 24, ST. BERNARD’S 6
Stoneham 46, DENNIS-YARMOUTH 14
Wakefield 28, STONEHAM 6
STONEHAM 30, Melrose 13
Stoneham 28, WATERTOWN 24
Stoneham 34, WILMINGTON 11
STONEHAM 50, Burlington 0
STONEHAM 40, Assabet Valley 8
STONEHAM 50, Oakmont 23
Stoneham 21, Cardinal Spellman 14
Stoneham 30, READING 22
SUPER BOWL HISTORY
St. Mary’s is making its fourth championship sport look. The Spartans sole win got here in 2005 when Stephen Masella ran for 141 yards and a landing in a 21-0 win over South Shore within the Div. 3A Super Bowl.
Stoneham is competing for its second title in three makes an attempt. After dropping in its preliminary look in 1994, the Spartans rebounded by defeating 26-20 within the 2018 Div. 6 Super Bowl as Christos Argyropoulos ran for 113 yards and the game-winning 42-yard landing run within the fourth quarter.
Source: www.bostonherald.com