By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor
FOXBORO, Mass. – With less than five minutes remaining in Friday evening’s Div. 5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, Kawan Dias pried the ball loose and Kolby Hassett jumped on the fumble to give Foxboro (9-4) the ball at midfield and one more chance to even the score.
In the next four plays, the Warriors lost two yards and gave the ball back to Shawsheen Tech for the final time.
For the second year in a row, the Foxboro offense struggled to find its footing against the Rams defense (managing only 116 total yards on Friday night) in the title game. Shawsheen Tech scored twice on its first six plays and held on for a 14-7 win and its second consecutive D5 championship.
“They established the run, we couldn’t establish the run and that makes a big difference in the game,” Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli explained. “In December, you have to be able to do that but give them credit.”
He added, “The kids gave it all they could and that’s all you can ask.”
Foxboro got a first down on its opening possession, thanks to a third-down pass interference, but was forced to punt. One play later, Shawsheen Tech was in the lead. Adam Caruso (7-of-14 for 151 yards) threw a screen to Dyllon Pratt (three catches for 137 yards), who got a block and raced clear for a 77-yard touchdown. The XP hit the upright but the Rams led 6-0.
After another Warriors punt, and despite a couple of penalties, Shawsheen Tech needed only five plays to add to its lead. On fourth and one, Caruso again found Pratt on the left side and he slipped a tackle at the line before running free for a 51-yard score. Jake Banda pushed the pile to add the two-point conversion and make it 14-0.
The Rams forced another punt and got the ball back near midfield with a chance to maybe put the game away before halftime, but the Foxboro defense made a stand. Cam Deleskey stepped up from his corner position to stuff Banda on fourth down.
Foxboro would turn the next drive into points. Deleskey (19 carries for 81 yards) got it started with a run around the right side that drew a 15-yard face mask call. On third and three from the Shawsheen Tech 38, Deleskey found a seam and he broke away for a 29-yard run, stepping out inside the 10.
Ryan Foley gained four yards on first down and Deleskey would get three over the next two snaps. An offsides penalty made it fourth and goal from the one. Tackle Matt O’Keefe lined up as the fullback in a power set and the senior got the call, diving for the end zone and getting just enough push to cross the line. Andrew Higgins added the extra point to cut the deficit in half with 7:25 remaining in the second quarter.
“I’m always proud of the kids – win, lose, or tie – they did a great job,” Martinelli replied when asked about his team battling back into the game after the tough start. “They hung in there, they didn’t hang their heads. They came out and we just couldn’t get it done at the right time.”
Shawsheen Tech went right back to work on its next drive with Banda (24 carries for 115 yards) gaining 15 on the first snap. An offsides call on the Warriors converted fourth and short, but Jack Taft and Trevor Palmer combined to stuff Caruso for a loss of five and Gabe Beaule broke up a third-down pass attempt. On fourth and long, Jackson Bohlen picked off a pass to end the drive.
The Rams got the ball back to start the second half and, on fourth and two from the 43, Shawsheen Tech dialed up a fake punt and Nathan Smith’s sweep gained six. Banda would also break out a 19-yard run to convert third and long. Again, the Foxboro defense was able to make a stand inside the 30. This time it was Beaule and Dias stuffing Banda on third down and Beaule making a big tackle to stop Banda on fourth.
Foxboro turned to Deleskey to try and generate some offense. Running behind Foley’s lead block, he broke a 22-yard run out to the 40. On third and three, he kept running left to gain nine and move the chains. Three plays later, facing a third and 12, Deleskey completed his first pass of the night, finding Dias a step behind the coverage for 29 yards inside the Shawsheen Tech 20.
“To me, he’s the epitome of what high school football is all about,” Martinelli said of Delesky. “For three years, he’s played every position on the field for us, other than on the line – receiver, defensive back, quarterback. He did whatever was necessary to win.”
The drive ran out of steam after the completion and, on fourth down, Deleskey was under pressure again and unable to connect with Hassett on the sideline, giving the ball back to the Rams.
Foxboro’s defense stepped up and forced a punt but a sack on first down lost 13 yards and Deleskey was stuffed for a loss on third down as well. The Rams faired no better on the next series. Taft and Ryan LaCroix teamed up for a big hit on third down and Deleskey again set the edge for a big tackle to prevent Banda getting upfield.
After the Warriors punted it back, it felt like all momentum was lost. Then Dias and Hassett made a big play to give Foxboro a little bit of life and the ball near midfield. A big tackle for loss on second down and a pair of incomplete passes under duress effectively ended the game.
Shawsheen Tech got the ball back and was able to run out the last couple of minutes to seal back-to-back state titles.
“The seniors have played in three of these,” Martinelli said about the run that his upperclassmen have been on over the past few seasons. “Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to but their goal was to get here. Shawsheen is a good football team and you can’t spot them 14 points right in the first quarter.”
