MARION – There was a way of uncomfortable familiarity within the air.
Eight days after dealing with off within the remaining recreation of the common season, Tabor Academy lined up towards Buckingham Browne & Nichols for one more soccer recreation. This time it was for the NEPSAC John Papas Bowl, and the internet hosting Seawolves rode an electrical dashing efficiency from quarterback Peter Bourque to assert a 42-21 victory.
“It’s an unbelievable group,” Tabor head coach Jeff Moore stated. “It’s fairly particular when you could have a bunch of children who love one another and do the precise issues. They simply actually love soccer and need to be coached laborious.”
The Seawolves obtained the opening kickoff and marched down the sector to attain a landing simply 42 seconds into the sport. Bourque scored it together with his ft, the primary of 5 dashing touchdowns from the Michigan commit.
BB&N responded with a prolonged drive that ended with a turnover on downs, however a three-and-out from Tabor handed the ball again to the Knights at their very own 25. Damon Taylor led the drive methodically down the sector earlier than Vince Snoonian took a jet sweep 29 yards to even the rating at seven.
Tabor then pushed the ball down the sector however was confronted with a fourth-and-goal early within the second quarter. After a fantastic blocking effort by the Seawolves’ offensive line, Bourque charged in for his second landing.
“We have now among the best traces within the nation, I’d say,” Bourque stated. “It’s simply really easy to run when they’re there.”
The following drive for BB&N stalled out on account of dominant play from UCLA commits Carter Gooden and Marcus Almada, who persistently bought after Taylor and the Knights dynamic backfield.
“We’ve simply spent quite a lot of time working pass-rush earlier than apply and after apply,” Gooden stated. “We transfer as one unit.”
Tabor would lengthen the result in 14 when Bourque completed off the following drive with a 24-yard designed run. Nonetheless, the Knights responded with a landing drive that noticed Taylor join with Ellis Barnes on a 24-yard landing go to make it 21-14 at halftime.
The tight benefit at halftime may have been uncomfortable for a Tabor staff that had largely blown out opponents all through the season. Nonetheless, Moore stated that the staff targeted on limiting the Knights’ capacity to manage the clock and to make them beat the Seawolves with a high-octane offensive method.
“They play time-possession offense and have nice ball management within the run recreation,” Moore stated. “We knew the extra possessions that have been on this recreation, the higher off we’d be.”
BB&N began with possession within the second half however the Seawolves shortly compelled a fumble to take over within the pink zone. Lucas Fickeisen took the primary rush to the one-yard line and Bourque completed it off with a one-yard run.
The Knights responded with a Taylor landing after a prolonged drive and as soon as once more trailed by simply seven factors. On the following drive, Bourque related with Fickeisen on a 60-yard third down go after which fired off his fifth and remaining landing run one play later.
BB&N regarded to get again into rivalry, however an interception from Jayden Walters and a dashing landing from Anthony Giantommaso closed the door on the season.
“It feels superior to get an undefeated season,” Bourque stated. “That’s what now we have been speaking about in apply all 12 months. We labored for this.”
Gooden stated the victory felt further candy because the Knights have been the Seawolves one blemish within the 2024 season.
“Final 12 months we misplaced one recreation and it was to BB&N,” Gooden stated. “It was nice to come back again this 12 months, beat them twice, and end undefeated.”
