Since shedding to St. John’s Prep within the 2019 Div. 1 state championship contest, Catholic Memorial has had its manner with in-state competitors.
Only one group has managed to stick with single digits and that’s the group the Knights will probably be dealing with tonight. Xaverian got here oh-to-close to beating Catholic Memorial within the Covid spring yr (23-19), the final yr, the Hawks took the eventual Catholic Conference champions to the wire earlier than succumbing, 41-34.
“It’s a good rivalry, it was that way when coach (Mike) Milo and I were at Everett playing Xaverian,” Catholic Memorial coach John DiBiaso stated. “We have a lot of respect for Xaverian, back when Charlie Stevenson was coaching and now with Al Fornaro. We always seem to have real good games with them.”
Catholic Memorial has battled some accidents, however the depth carried them in opposition to St. Francis (NY). With star operating again Mekhi Dodd out with an harm, Chris Sanchez and Lasean Sharp each stepped up, every dashing for greater than 100 yards in a wild 50-36 victory.
“You never want to see anyone get injured, but Catholic Memorial showed that they have depth,” Fornaro stated. “And they’re running behind that big offensive line.”
One concern for Catholic Memorial is making an attempt to decelerate Xaverian’s high-powered offense. Even with All-Scholastic vast receiver Charlie Comella sidelined with an harm, the Hawks are averaging over 35 factors a recreation within the 3-1 begin.
“They have a lot of experience on offense, some really good skill position guys,” DiBiaso stated. “They have (quarterback Henry) Hasselbeck and a extremely good receiver (Jonathan Monteiro). I believe we’d must do some of what Al and different groups have tried to do in opposition to us up to now and that’s management the ball.
Elsewhere Friday, the one two remaining undefeated groups within the Bay State Conference meet as Needham travels to Milton. Two huge matchups are on the docket within the South Shore League as Norwell visits Rockland and Carver hosts Cohasset. Other good tilts pit Milford at North Attleboro, Hanover at Scituate and Lincoln-Sudbury at Wayland.
The ISL takes heart stage Saturday as Rivers heads to Tabor in a matchup of 2-0 groups, whereas undefeated BB&N visits Governor’s Academy. Dexter Southfield hosts St. Paul in a marquee matchup, whereas Billerica heads to Tewksbury in an enormous Merrimack Valley Conference.
Source: www.bostonherald.com