WRENTHAM — When Xaverian visited King Philip on Friday evening, it was like bringing a mirror to the 50-yard line.
Both groups, principally yearly, play the identical approach. They excel with ball management offense, hard-hitting protection, reliable particular groups, and the knack for making the large play when it’s wanted.
The sport performed out nearly precisely to the stereotype, and it was King Philip that emerged victorious 19-14. To what ought to be to nobody’s shock, King Philip’s protection made probably the most impactful play with a 37-yard interception return for a landing by Carson Meirer within the third quarter.
Xaverian bought on the board with two landing passes, however King Philip held on to enhance to 3-0. The visiting Hawks drop to 2-1.
“So proud of those guys,” mentioned KP working again and linebacker Will Astorino. “They gave it all they had. We knew they were going to be a tough challenge. Every single one of their players outweighed us by a good 15 pounds. We played with some heart and passion. That’s how KP plays though.”
Warriors coach Brian Lee was pleased with the win however famous how Xaverian saved coming again.
“I didn’t feel good until right about now,” Lee mentioned.
Neither crew sustained a lot in the way in which of drives early. KP led at halftime primarily based on a 33-yard Matthew Kelley discipline purpose within the second quarter.
But Meirer made his pick-six early within the third, and the way in which KP’s protection was taking part in, it appeared like that might be sufficient.
“It was huge, because we definitely struggled on offense,” Lee mentioned. “This was a defensive battle. Everybody was having trouble moving the ball. Once we got up 10, it really felt like, ‘All right. OK.’ We got a little bit of breathing room here. It was a huge, huge play for us because we were struggling on O.”
After one other Kelley discipline purpose, this time from 30 yards out, the Warriors held a 13-0 lead with 4:53 left within the third quarter.
Xaveran lastly broke by way of when quarterback Henry Hasselbeck threw a 77-yard landing cross to Jonathan Monteiro to finish the third quarter.
KP was in a position to get a bit respiration room within the fourth when Nathan Kearney carried a scrum into the tip zone from six yards out. KP helped maintain the drive when it drew Xaverian offsides on fourth down close to midfield.
Quarterback Tommy McLeish then hit Kelley for a 36-yard acquire to arrange the Kearney rating. McLeish accomplished 5 of 9 passes for 89 yards.
Hasselbeck hit Monteiro for one more landing, this time from 25 yards out, nevertheless it was too little, too late. KP recovered the onside kick to seal it.
Source: www.bostonherald.com