North Attleboro senior Ryan Bannon fights his way into the end zone for a touchdown for the Rocketeers against Mansfield in the Division 3 Super Bowl. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – The last time Ryan Bannon was on the field at Gillette Stadium, he was a freshman water boy, cheering his brother Tyler in a state title game defeat to Marblehead. Three years later, he returned as the Davenport division MVP and the centerpiece of a formidable North Attleboro running game.
This time, he would leave the field a state champion.
Bannon (20 carries, 85 yards) scored three touchdowns and North Attleboro (11-2) out-gained rival Mansfield 238-26 on the ground, rolling to a 35-0 victory in Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl. North swept the season series with the Hornets (including a 14-10 win at the end of October) and clinched the program’s first state championship since 2002.
“I was a key player on the sideline last time,” Bannon joked about his freshman experience. “Now, it just feels amazing to win the game and be one of the key players and leading my team.”
North coach Mike Strachan, who also played for the Rocketeers, added, “Our kids talked about finishing plays and finishing the season the right way. I give all the credit to them.”
In a game between rivals with strong defenses, the team that got the first lead and the opportunity to play from in front was going to have a massive edge. North wasted no time grabbing the breakthrough. On Mansfield’s third play from scrimmage, Patrick Hamilton ripped the ball loose and Nathan Rivera pounced to give the Rocketeers the ball at the Hornets 38.
Just seven plays later, North was in the end zone. Senior Chase Frisoli (13 carries, 71 yards) got things started with 12 yards over a pair of rushes. Facing fourth and one, Bannon burst through the center of the line, spinning his way down to the five. On the next snap, Frisoli followed Bannon to the right side and dove in for six. The extra point was blocked.
“We’ve kind of leaned on them all year long and they’ve done a great job,” Strachan said about his defensive front. “I think it speaks to the preparation that these guys put in every day and we got better as the year went on for sure.”
Mansfield (9-4) tried to answer on its next possession. Tommy Vallett (8-of-19, 93 yards) connected with fellow junior Andrew DeGirolamo (five catches, 79 yards) for 35 yards down to the North 23. After the Hornets were backed up five yards, the North secondary locked down and forced three incompletions and a turnover on downs.
The Hornets started well on the next possession too, as Vallett again hit DeGirolamo, this time for 14 to midfield. A holding call backed Mansfield up and Bryce Kiser made a nice play to breakup a pass and the North defense perfectly read a screen play resulting in Reid Clemente sacking Vallett back at his own 39.
North got the ball back at the 25 and went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive to go up by two scores. Frisoli patiently waited for a seam and gained 19 to the 47. Bannon then gained 16 yards on three carries. Frisoli went play action and hit Kiser down the right sideline for 33. Bannon would put the finishing touches on the drive when he bulldozed his way into the end zone from the 10. Frisoli added the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.
Mansfield had a shot at the end zone on the final play of the half, but Bannon was there to bat the pass down.
“We just never got in sync,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “They defer, we get the ball and instead of driving, you’re down 6-0. Then we settled down a little bit but they get the big pass play. Down 6-0 at the half, we’re okay but now it’s 14-0 and they get the ball to start the second half.”
The Rocketeers got the ball coming out of halftime and added to the lead. Facing third and eight from his own 30, Frisoli rolled out to his left and, with Ramari Fernandes bearing down on him, managed to fire a strike to Lucas Crovo, who hauled in a 46-yard completion. Bannon moved the chains on third and short, Frisoli gained 10 more to set up first and goal, and Bannon finished off the drive with a one-yard dive.
After a pass interference call gave the Hornets a first down at the 48, Bannon stopped Sean McCoy (eight carries, 21 yards) for no gain. Brady Paradis then read a throwback pass from Gio Scarpellini to Vallett and stopped that for a loss of four. On fourth and 14, Vallett lined up to punt before rolling to his right and trying to find Gabe McIntyre coming across the defense. The pass fell incomplete and North took over in Mansfield territory.
Frankie Strachan (seven carries, 60 yards) gained 24 with an inside handoff and Paradis took the ball around the left edge for 16 more. On the third play, Strachan powered his way up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. Frisoli found Kiser for the two-point conversion and a 28-0 lead with 2:06 left in the third.
Redding admitted, “Bottom line, we were just physically overmatched. Tonight, they had too many big bodies up front and then they’ve got Strachan and Bannon lead blocking. It’s a lot of size, strength, and athletic kids coming downhill. They’re the best team in the division and they proved it tonight.”
North would get another possession and the chance to run out the clock. Bannon would put the finishing touches on the night and on the championship by diving in from the one with his third score. Austin Clemente tacked on the extra point and the North celebrations were well underway.
“It means everything for the team,” Bannon explained. “Since December [last year], 6:30 in the morning we go work out. We knew this was our year. We had the best senior class in a long time and there’s no better feeling than ending it like this.”
Strachan remarked, “I can’t even tell you [how it feels]. For me, to be able to do it at North Attleboro with these kids and these seniors and these captains was just awesome. I’m just super proud of them.”
North Attleboro Football North Attleboro Football North Attleboro Football North Attleboro Football
The Kelley-Rex division wasn’t fully decided until Thanksgiving last year, including Franklin against KP. Will that be the case again this year? (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Outlook:
Attleboro is aiming to bounce back after finishing sixth in a very difficult Kelley-Rex last year, and there’s a lot to be optimistic about. The Bombardiers begin their second year under head coach Jim Winters and now have a year of experience in his system. And overall experience is a huge plus for this year’s squad with plenty of familiar faces returning to the lineup.
Senior Matt Harvie is back at quarterback for his third year as the start and he’ll have some good protection with returning starters and seniors Cameron Gray, Dan Haist, and Luke Riendeau back on the offensive line. Harvie is a dual-threat quarterback with the ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs. Senior Jackson Huntington will give a boost on the line at tight end and provide a pass-catching option for Harvie along with senior Brody McKenna, one of the Bombardiers’ top targets a year ago. One of Attleboro’s top weapons will be senior running back Adrian Rivera, who had a breakout 2022 season for the Bombardiers.
There’s been a bit more turnover on the defensive side of the ball for Attleboro. Huntington is one of the few familiar faces returning to the defensive line but he will be a big piece of the defense. Both Rivera and McKenna provide stability at linebacker while the Bombardiers will field an entirely new secondary. Seniors Nathaniel Lally, Malachi Jefferson, and Aiden Pantages have all impressed so far in camp vying for a role in the secondary while senior Kam Marsh, senior Adam Wolf, senior Dennys Milian, and junior Alex Suarez look to bolster the defensive line.
“With a full year in the system, the kids have hit the ground running with plenty of competition at every position,” Winters said. “We just finished a very good week of camp. With a year under our belts from the new coaching staff we are looking to rise the ranks of what is arguably the toughest league in the state.”
Outlook:
For the second straight year, Franklin graduated a talented group of seniors but coming off back-to-back Kelley-Rex division titles, expectations are still high for head coach Eian Bain and the rest of the Panthers.
Franklin will mostly be an inexperienced group to start the season but the Panthers do possess some key players in key spots all throughout the lineup. Having those veteran presence on the field will be very important as the Panthers turn to sophomore James Bruso will look to take over as the starting quarterback in Week 1 at Wachusett. There will be a familiar face in the backfield as senior Michael Davide will carry the load in the run game, and he’s got some strength to run behind. Senior Ben Ryan is back at tackle, senior Brandon Large returns at guard, and junior Jack Murphy steps in at center to bolster the run game for Davide and protection for Bruso.
Franklin has had some of the best receivers in the league the last couple of seasons like Luke Davis and Shane Kindred, and the next man up could be senior Derek Dubriske. Coming off a strong junior season playing mostly in the slot, Dubriske gives the Panthers a reliable go-to option they can count on. There’s some good talent on the defensive side of the ball as well, with returners Brendan Larivee, Jack Nutter, and Cody Howard back in the mix. Larivee will anchor the secondary alongside senior Jermaine Flecha, Nutter and Howard headline the linebackers group, and junior Julian Rampino is a name to keep an eye on along the defensive line.
“We need to stay focused on the process and less on the results to find success,” Bain said.
Outlook:
Following back-to-back state championship appearances, expectations remain very high for King Philip entering the 2023 season.
The core of last year’s squad returns but the Warriors certainly have some holes to plug following the graduation of key players. Offensively, the Warriors have an edge with senior Tommy McLeish back under center at quarterback. McLeish is just one of a handful of returning quarterbacks in the Hock and is looking to build on a successful junior year. He’s coming off a strong offseason and was voted as a team captain for all of his hard work, something head coach Brian Lee noted isn’t easy to do as a three-sport athlete. Aiden Astorino is a familiar face in the backfield and should see an expanded role this year, following the lead of senior fullback Jack Berthiaume.
McLeish doesn’t have many of the same weapons as last year but tight end Danny Silveria is one of them and will be a big threat in the passing game. Mason Campbell, David Holland, Hayden Schmitz, Tommy Kilroy, and David Constantine are all in the mix for reps as well. The line has three returners and should be a strength for KP. Sean King and Logan Van Vaerenewyck return at guard, Luke Danson is back at left tackle, and Matt Terio and Drew Herlin are looking to complete the offensive line. The defensive line is another plus for KP, which will feature a lot of the same faces. Astorino gained some valuable experience at linebacker last year and could be among the best at the position this year. He will be flanked by Ethan Pescione and Aidan McDonagh. Constantine is the lone returner from last year’s secondary; he’ll be joined by the likes of Kilroy, Schmitz, and Brandon Nicastro.
“It’s always the same for us, we want to be competitive and we want to be physical,” Lee said. “We play in a very tough league with a lot of good coaches. We’re trying to get prepared as much as we can, and fingers crossed we can stay healthy. Everyone is so good in this league so sometimes it can really come down to who’s healthy at the end of the year.”
Outlook:
Milford will be up against some stiff competition in its non-league slate, through its Kelley-Rex schedule, and in the Division 3 postseason bracket. But despite graduating a very talented group that helped the Hawks win their first Hock division title, it looks like this program has reloaded again this year.
There will be a new face at quarterback this season after a successful two-year stint from Evan Cornelius, who is now playing baseball at Rollins College. Senior lefty Owen Callahan and junior Jack Buckley are locked in a healthy battle for the starting job. Whoever gets the starting job in Week 1 will get to work behind some talented offensive linemen as the Hawks return some key players including returning starters seniors Keith Lee, Tony Dew, and Oliver McKee. The Hawks also boast some of the best passing options with senior Aidan Watson, junior Andrew Rivera, and sophomore CJ Farrell. There is opportunity in the backfield after Romeo Holland, who was one of the best backs in the league last year, graduated.
Senior Nick Araujo is one of the top returning players in the state because of his versatility. He’s established himself as one of the best kickers in the state, highlighted by a 52-yard field goal last season, he is a strong runner, and he’s just about everywhere on the defensive end from his inside linebacker position. Milford will rely on a lot of players to play both sides of the ball, including Rivera and Farrell in the secondary.
“This senior class is looking to take the next step with this program,” Olson said. “We should have a competitive team this year.”
Outlook:
Head coach Mike Strachan inherited a very large senior class in his first year at the helm a season ago. After graduating some two dozen players, Strachan has about half as many seniors but a large junior class with a good amount of experience gives the Rocketeers high hopes for 2023.
Junior Chase Frisoli is back for his third year under center for the Rocketeers and is poised for a big year after showing improvement in each of the past two seasons. He’s one of five returning starters offensively, which includes senior offensive linemen Lucas Mattson and Nolan McLaughlin. Junior Ryan Bannon is back at tight end and junior Bryce Kiser returns at receiver after showing some real potential as a sophomore. The Rocketeers are looking for three new starters on the line as well as a new back after losing reliable options Nathan Schultz and Greg Berthiaume to graduation.
North Attleboro is a bit more inexperienced on the defensive side with only four returning starters but that has left plenty of opportunity for new faces to emerge. Bannon was one of the top young players in the league last year and could be one of the top linebackers in the Hock this go around. The secondary has the most experience with Kiser back at corner and senior Chris Hanewich (who also plays running back) back making plays at safety. Junior Patrick Hamilton is the lone returning starter along the defensive line for the Rocketeers, who are hoping to overcome their youthful inexperience in a hurry with a tough non-league schedule to start: Feehan, Foxboro, and Leominster, who went 7-1 in the regular season last year.
“We are looking forward to the upcoming season and really look forward to Chase Frisoli to have a big year for us,” Strachan said. “He will be leading the offense and Ryan Bannon will be the core of our defense. We are a young team, but we have a strong nucleus on both sides of the ball.”
Outlook:
Taunton has followed an upward trajectory over the past couple of seasons under head coach Brad Sidwell and with 21 seniors on this year’s roster, the goal is to keep up the improvement.
The Tigers return some of their top talent in key places all over the lineup, on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Taunton has a lot of speed at the skill positions including seniors Jose Touron and Dmitrius Shearrion. Touron had a breakout junior season and is among the best pass catchers in the league while Shearrion is a threat to break free on any given play. Seniors Malakai Mchady and juniors Nasir Arguello and Johnny Escobalez look to add depth at the skill spots. The Tigers will have to replace longtime starter Jacob Leonard at quarterback as well as Malachi Johnson, who emerged as a top running back last year. Seniors Ryan Keenan and Ethan Harris will look to produce in the ground game while sophomore Dylan Keenan steps in at quarterback.
The line has some size but will need to incorporate some new faces on both sides of the ball. Senior Bryan Joanis will anchor the line as one of the most experienced players while Sidwell will turn to senior Jadrian Varnado (6’1, 235) and junior Carlos Ramos (6’2, 240) to bolster the line. The Tigers have a strong group of linebackers to anchor the defensive unit. Harris is returning after a terrific junior year and could be among the best at the position in the Hock. He’ll be joined there by Keenan, Mchady, and talented junior Elijah Prophete. The secondary will feature a lot of two-way players like Shearrion, Touron, Arguello, Escobalez, and senior Anthony Pettijohn.
“I’m excited to begin the season with this group after a productive offseason, preseason practices, and scrimmages,” Sidwell said. We have 21 seniors eager to continue improving our program. Many have been waiting their turn to compete. Need to gain experience through the non-league start of the season as the Hockomock Kelley-Rex is always a challenge.”
