FOXBORO – As mom nature opened the skies, nothing was going to rain on the Foxboro parade.
In primarily a house sport for the Warriors, three turnovers within the first half buoyed No. 2 Foxboro to a 48-21 victory over top-seeded Hanover within the Division 5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium within the closing of eight Super Bowl video games performed on the house of the New England Patriots this week.
It’s the fifth championship victory in 9 tries for the Warriors all below the tutelage of head coach Jack Martinelli, who’s in his forty second yr working the ship at Foxboro. Martinelli’s squad completed 12-1 on the season and like superb wine, the wins solely get higher for Martinelli.
“I always thought the kids took the stadium and the Patriots for granted because they were in their backyard. But being here and finishing this way makes it even more special, said Martinelli. “Right now (this win) is on the top of the heap, couldn’t replace it with anything else. But now I’ll get phone calls from the other kids with ‘how come you said that? You said we were the best.’ ”
After every workforce exchanged possessions, Hanover scored first as John McDonald, who completed with 5 catches and 109 yards, broke free down the center of the sphere for a 66-yard landing from Ben Scalzi with 7:39 left within the first quarter.
But Foxboro answered rapidly as Warriors’ quarterback Mike Marcucella engineered an ideal play-action move on his first sling of the sport to Ryan Foley down the suitable sideline for the 44-yard landing to tie issues up at 4:18 of the primary.
On the following Hawks possession, senior captain Shane Henri jumped the route and stepped in entrance for an interception return for Foxborough right down to the Hawks’ 25-yard line.
But the collection stalled on a fourth and objective inside the ten for a turnover on downs to place Hanover again in cost.
But on the primary play from scrimmage, Trevor Palmer picked up a free ball on the six-yard line and junior tailback Ben Angelini scored for the Warriors on the following play for the 14-7 lead off the second turnover in a row for the Hawks.
Hanover (11-2) was rattled to say the least and defensive finish Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady took benefit and took a scoop-and-score 40-yard fumble restoration for the second landing off a Hanover offensive mistake.
“Turnovers – but don’t take anything away from (Foxboro), they were a really good team,” mentioned Hanover head coach, Brian Kelliher, who’s in his first yr as the pinnacle coach and seventh season general on the sidelines for the Hawks. “They were tough, strong, and physical and we knew we couldn’t come into this game and turn the ball over but unfortunately, we did. We couldn’t make up five possessions.”
With Foxboro out entrance 21-7, a muffed a punt on fourth down resulted in nice discipline place for Foxboro on the Hawks’ 28 and Angelini took over for there.
Angelini took the ball from Marcucella 21 yards on a sweep proper and scored on the second play of the collection off proper deal with for the 28-7 lead with 9:28 left within the second quarter.
The Hawks didn’t fold as Hanover put collectively their finest drive of the day trailing by 21 factors with a 14-play collection capped off by Sebastian Brown’s 12-yard landing reception from Scalzi, however the Warriors weren’t executed.
Senior captain Lincoln Moore scored from one yard out on a fullback dive proper up the center and the Division 5 crown was wrapped up for the vacation season for Foxboro with 21 seconds left within the first half.
Foxboro tallied 208 yards of offense within the first half, which was all Martinelli’s squad wanted.
“We’ve been able to do this in the second half of the year. Brandon, Lincoln – they can make those plays – plays you can’t practice. I’m sure glad they’re on our side of the field,” mentioned Martinelli. “
Moore added to the Hanover distress prepare on the opposite aspect of the ball with an interception late within the third quarter for the Hawks’ fourth turnover general and fifth miscue with the ball. Tony Sulham accomplished the dominate victory with an 11-yard landing run with 7:53 left in regulation and added one other speeding landing in the long run as time expired.
“Seventeen years has been too long, since 2006 was the last time we made it and last time we won it. I was born in 2006 so it just seems like destiny,” mentioned Angelini. “I’m so proud of us and coach with his historic season. He got his 300 wins a couple of games ago and he definitely deserves this because he works harder than any man I know.”
Foxboro graduates 24 seniors from this system and when requested if that is the top – Martinelli didn’t mince phrases.
“Yeah, I’d like to do it again,” added Martinelli.
Source: www.bostonherald.com