The Division 8 Super Bowl between Carver and West Boylston will showcase two formidable offenses, every averaging over 41 factors per recreation.
After successful solely three video games final yr, Carver (11-1) is relishing the chance to take the sector for Wednesday’s opening state championship recreation at Gillette Stadium at 5:30 p.m.
“We’re pumped. We’re thrilled.” mentioned Carver head coach Ben Shuffain. “It’s nice when the work the kids and staff put in throughout the year pays off and you get to the big game again.”
Carver has a number of weapons to select from on offense. Quarterback Tyler Lennox poses a critical risk by way of the air, together with his 37 landing passes and a pair of,711 passing yards rating among the many greatest within the state.
“His growth the last couple of years has been tremendous,” Shuffain mentioned. “He’s a terrific leader on and off the field. A high character kid with a good arm and he’s very smart athletically.”
The most versatile participant on the Carver roster is Jameson Helms, who can play working again, receiver and center linebacker.
“We spread the ball around a little bit more this year than we did last year,” mentioned Shuffain. “So, his yards (and) touches have dipped. But his touchdowns (14) have gone up, and he has over 90 tackles on defense. He’s got 18 tackles for loss, a bunch of sacks. So, he’s a great all-around football player.”
Robbie Peterson (925 yards, 18 touchdowns) is the go-to receiver for the Crusaders, with Derek Lopes (765 yards, eight touchdowns) offering one other tall goal on the skin. On the opposite aspect of the ball, Peterson has 5 interceptions. Carver’s protection has restricted its opponents to fewer than 15 factors per recreation.
Meanwhile, West Boylston (12-0) punched its ticket to Gillette with a 36-0 victory towards Cathedral. The Lions have been spurred all season by their prolific speeding offense.
“We have four or five backs who are all good,” mentioned West Boylston head coach Mike Ross. “Jon Ruas, he’s a fast, explosive back. Jamie McNamara’s a fullback. He’s fast, but he has a lot of power behind him. Conor Muldoon’s also fast, explosive. Then (running back/tight end) Jackson Caramanica is just sound at everything he does.”
West Boylston’s opponents have been averaging fewer than 10 factors a recreation. But Ross is aware of that it will likely be tough for his protection to neutralize Carver.
“We’re gonna have to control the clock,” Ross mentioned. “Then we’ll play our game. But they’re really good on offense.”
Shuffain paid his respects to his opposition as nicely, and added it might be very important that his group wins the battles on the line of scrimmage.
“West Boylston probably runs their offense more perfectly than I’ve ever seen any other team run it before,” he mentioned. “I mean, their offensive line is excellent. … For us to win this game, we’re gonna have to out-tough them.”
Both groups predict an entertaining recreation, however for the highly effective offenses of Carver and West Boylston, it will likely be all about who places extra factors on the board.
“We gotta score more points than them,” mentioned Shuffain. “Both teams have good defenses. But the offenses of both teams are their high points, and I think the first team to have two to three stops wins the game.”
DIVISION 8 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Carver (11-1) vs. West Boylston (12-0), Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium
CARVER CRUSADERS
Head coach: Ben Shuffain
SEPT. 9: Carver 40, NANTUCKET 6
SEPT. 15: CARVER 49, Tri-County 0
SEPT. 23: Carver 55, McCANN 0
SEPT. 29: CARVER 50, Martha’s Vineyard 12
OCT. 6: CARVER 42, Cohasset 39 (ot)
OCT. 13: Carver 32, RANDOLPH 21
OCT. 20: CARVER 45, Hull 0
OCT. 27: Carver 40, MASHPEE 16
NOV. 3: CARVER 55, Franklin Tech 0
NOV. 10: CARVER 49, KIPP 27
**NOV. 17: Carver 44, Hoosac Valley 0
NOV. 23: Middleboro 56, CARVER 0
*Home group in caps, **State semifinal, impartial subject
WEST BOYLSTON LIONS
Head coach: Mike Ross
SEPT. 8: WEST BOYLSTON 51, Northbridge 13
SEPT. 15: West Boylston 44, FITCHBURG 6
SEPT. 22: West Boylston 42, ASSABET VALLEY 0
SEPT. 29: West Boylston 52, BLUE HILLS 14
OCT. 5: WEST BOYLSTON 53, Clinton 19
OCT. 13: WEST BOYLSTON 42, Tyngsboro 7
OCT. 21: West Boylston 51, LUNENBURG 14
OCT. 28: West Boylston 20, BLACKSTONE VALLEY 0
NOV. 3: WEST BOYLSTON 49, Brighton 14
NOV. 10: WEST BOYLSTON 43, Blackstone-Millville 7
**NOV. 18: West Boylston 36, Cathedral 0
NOV. 23: WEST BOYLSTON 50, Maynard 20
*Home group in caps, **State semifinal, impartial subject
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Carver has appeared in a single prior state championship, shedding to Fairhaven (35-14) within the 2000 Div. 4 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl. The college did get to a pair of Super Bowls when it was generally known as Plymouth Carver, shedding to Andover within the 1975 Div. 2 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl (7-3) and defeating Methuen (18-14) within the 1984 Div. 2 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl.
West Boylston is an ideal 3-0 in championship video games. The Lions defeated Grafton (15-6) within the 1988 Div. 3 Central Mass. Super Bowl and Leicester (14-6) within the 2012 Div. 5 Central Mass. Super Bowl. Last yr, West Boylston defeated St. Bernard’s 29-6 within the Div. 7 state championship recreation as Luke Foley linked with Connor Muldoon on a 91-yard TD go to get the winners off and working.
Source: www.bostonherald.com