By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor
FOXBORO, Mass. – Over the past decade, it has become commonplace for King Philip to be on the field at Gillette Stadium. Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl was the eight time in the last nine opportunities (there were no playoffs in 2020 due to COVID) that the Warriors had reached the state title game.
This year was a little different, as the Warriors were playing in D3 for the first time and on the opposite sideline was a familiar foe – league rival and defending champion North Attleboro (10-3).
No surprise given the teams’ similar styles and rosters that the game was a grind. North twice took the lead in the first half, but KP battled back, getting touchdowns from three members of a large senior class that was playing in its fourth straight Super Bowl and pulling out a 21-10 victory.
With the win, KP improves to 4-4 in its eight Super Bowl appearances.
“Every morning, four days a week, these boys have been grinding in the weight room,” said senior running back Tallan King. “Blood, sweat, tears, everything, this team has poured everything into this. I’m just so happy to win it with the kids I grew up with. I’m on top of the world right now.”
Senior lineman Liam King (no relation to Tallan) added, “Countless hours in the weight room, summer practices, always working, always have that mindset that we want to get back here. It’s what we do at King Philip – we get to Gillette and we win. That’s what we do.”
After North was forced to punt to start the game, KP took over at its own 23 and started driving behind its two star running backs King (23 carries for 149 yards) and Keigan Canto-Osorio (22 carries for 103 yards). After Zach Gebhard (6-of-10 for 65 yards) hit Liam McGrath to convert on third and five, the Warriors were on the verge of taking the lead.
Ryan Thompson came up with a big play for the Rocketeers, stripping the ball loose and Sean Cornell jumped on it. Two plays later, facing third and five, Dylan Brousseau (5-of-13 for 147 yards) fired a strike deep downfield to Nathaniel Robin for 56 yards to the KP 13.
The game changed two snaps later. North’s leading rusher Frankie Strachan stayed down after a short run and was forced to the sideline with what turned out to be a broken foot. Brousseau would convert on fourth down to keep the drive going and Robin would dive in from the two to put Big Red in front 7-0.
It was a great start for the defending champs, but losing Strachan, who had done so much to get the Rocketeers back to Gillette, made things significantly tougher on both sides of the ball.
“He’s been the heart and soul of our team all season,” Mike Strachan said about losing his star. “He makes everything calm down, he’s just been a great leader for us all season. But, I’m proud of our kids for bouncing back. We didn’t quit and they’re a great football team and they were better tonight.”
KP head coach Brian Lee commented, “It just sucks. It’s just the worst part about football. A kid like that is obviously the heartbeat, everybody looks to him, he’s a winner, he’s so much more than just a player – he’s the team. To see him go out is just heartbreaking.”
KP answered right back with an 11-play, 67-yard drive. King took a stretch play 17 yards to get the ball to midfield. Gebhard hit a wide open Kyle Danson in the flat for another 17 into North territory. Canto-Osorio found a seam for 12 yards to the 11 and, three plays later, on fourth down Gebhard was able to sneak in from the two. Nate Crowley tacked on the tying extra point.
Without its workhorse back, North leaned on big plays in the passing game. Brousseau was able to get rid of a pass seconds before being crushed by Tallan King and hit Ryan Gustafson in stride for the second 56-yard completion in as many drives. He just missed a touchdown pass to Thompson on first down and the KP defense would hold, forcing North to settle for a 27-yard kick from Nick Torres to move back into the lead.
It wouldn’t last to halftime. KP responded with another impressive drive (10 plays, 68 yards). Gebhard again found Danson in the flat for nine, then King then bounced a run to the outside for 13 to the North 34. McGrath made a great catch against two North defensive backs for 15.
Gebhard scrambled to his right, getting around the corner and taking off down the sideline. He was met at the pylon by Joseph Ruggiero and forced out at the one. Both players stayed down, so Brody Zolak came in for the next snap. Ryan Greenwood got the inside handoff and powered into the end zone to make it 14-10.
North had only 43 seconds left in the half but gave itself a shot to add more points. Brousseau (11 carries for 34 yards) gained 21 on two plays and Milo House made a terrific grab while falling on the far sideline for 19 to the KP 38. Danson would ensure KP held its lead with a sack to end the half.
The Warriors got the ball to start the third quarter and nearly scored again. After Gebhard hit Greenwood in the flat to convert third and six on the 10th play of the drive, KP had first down at the North 14. Canto-Osorio went around the left side and found the end zone, but holding and a personal foul meant that instead of six points KP now faced first and 30.
Gebhard nearly turned it into a touchdown anyway but Kenny Jean laid out to tip a pass away from Connor McDonald and prevent the score.
It could have been a momentum-turning stand for the Rocketeers but on the second play of the next series Patrick Terio stepped up and picked off a pass to give KP the ball right back.
This time, the Warriors would finish off the drive. King went for 13, Canto-Osorio gained eight, and then King muscled his way for 10 more. on first and goal, Canto-Osorio found a hole and burst through it for an eight-yard TD.
“It started freshman year,” King said about the one-two punch of him and Canto-Osorio. “We were the two star running backs, both splitting the carries, and we’ve created such a good chemistry and bond. That’s my brother right there.”
Lee noted, “Holding them to that field goal was huge for us and then we could get [into halftime] with some breathing room. Once we were up 11, I felt alright. If we can get the ball back and grind a little bit, we’re going to be okay.”
Brousseau made another great throw, dropping a pass into Gustafson for 18, and then called his own number for 11, trying to keep North in the game. Tallan King came up with another big defensive play, sacking Brousseau for a loss of eight. McGrath intercepted a pass on third down to end the drive.
North got it back one more time with a chance to cut into the lead but Luca Angelucci and Liam King stuffed a swing pass to Robin for a loss and Brousseau had a pass broken up by Zion Dumay.
“They’re physical, but I think our kids did great,” Strachan said. “We started six sophomores tonight, so our future is looking really good. We were very proud of what they did and how we got back here. It’s really hard to get back here and it’s hard to win here.”
King Philip was able to run out the clock, completing a perfect season (13-0), and sealing its second Super Bowl title in the past three years.
“I wanted it so bad for them,” Lee said about getting back on top for his 26 seniors. “The kids work so hard, I love them. I asked them tonight, what can you give extra? Because it’s going to take extra, it can’t be what you gave the first time, it’s going to be a harder game.
“I am so blessed and lucky that I found KP, and these kids, and I’m just so fortunate.”
