WESTWOOD — In previous conferences with Springfield Central, Xaverian performed properly early, however when the previous answered, the Hawks merely couldn’t sustain.
Well, in Friday evening’s nonleague sport on the Hawk Bowl, Xaverian answered every Central flurry with one among its personal.
In the tip, Central was an excessive amount of — however simply barely — in a 44-41 shootout victory for the state energy from Western Mass.
“There’s no moral victories, but it’s always good when your team does not quit against what seemingly may be insurmountable odds, one play at a time, one series at a time,” Xaverian coach Al Fornaro mentioned. “Offense played very well this evening. (Quarterback) Henry (Hasselbeck) played very well, and that’s always a good thing.”
Fornaro wasn’t kidding. Hasselbeck might have performed his greatest sport as a Hawk, because the Michigan State-bound quarterback accomplished 22 of 34 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 85 yards and a landing on 10 carries. Liberty-bound receiver Jonathan Monteiro caught 12 passes for 108 yards and two scores. Running again Denzil Pierre rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns on 13 makes an attempt.
As good as these numbers had been, Central (2-1) was much more explosive. Freshman quarterback Jareth Staine accomplished 8 of 14 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Junior receiver Mattias Barbour caught all three of these scoring strikes, and completed with six receptions for 240 yards. Junior working again JayCion Cox rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries.
“I think we’ve played two good teams from the state of Massachusetts, Central Catholic and Xaverian, and we’ve been able to do some good things,” Central coach Bill Watson mentioned. “We also saw some holes that we can now go in and fix and can try to prepare for, to make a postseason run.”
As good because the offenses had been, the sport might have turned on a defensive play. Central (2-1) held a 22-14 lead late within the first half, and Xaverian had the ball deep in its personal territory. The Golden Eagles popped the ball free on a Xaverian run, and Isaiah Jones returned the fumble 19 yards for the rating. After a Cox two-point rush, Central led 30-14.
In the third quarter, Staine hit Barbour for a 12-yard landing, and Central led, 38-14. Barbour had landing catches of 79 and 89 yards within the first half.
“We put a lot of work in in the offseason,” Barbour mentioned. “Again, I’m really proud of my quarterback. Freshman, he’s coming in, just working hard. He’s in the playbook every day. We’re just trying to get to another level. We still haven’t scored 50, but we’re trying to get there.”
Xaverian, down 24, saved combating. Pierre had a 40-yard landing run, after a 63-yarder to begin the sport. After a Hawks fumble restoration, Hasselbeck hit Jordan Wilson for a 36-yard landing to convey the Hawks to inside 38-28.
Cox burst free for a 62-yard landing, however once more the Hawks fought again, and Hasselbeck saved it himself for a 5-yard rating on the following drive.
Xaverian scored as soon as extra, when Hasselbeck hit Monteiro for an 18-yard rating, and after Joseph MacDonald’s PAT, it was 44-41, Central.
But that’s the way it stayed, as Xaverian obtained a late cease however couldn’t punch in a last rating.
It was as entertaining a highschool sport as you’ll discover, and one that you could be see once more, as each might be elements within the D1 postseason.
Source: www.bostonherald.com