The 2025 soccer delivered, to place it merely.
Many have been questioning if Xaverian might win its third consecutive state title in a loaded Div. 1 area. The Hawks (11-2) stumbled out of the gate, however discovered their footing in Catholic Convention play.
The college launched into a nine-game profitable streak. This included a buzzer-beating 25-22 victory over Catholic Memorial (Oct. 17). They captured their first league title since 2018 by defeating St. John’s Prep on Thanksgiving (a wild 21-18 victory). One week later, Xaverian accomplished the three-peat with a 41-35 win over the identical Eagles to assert the Tremendous Bowl crown. Will Wooden (5 touchdowns passing) and UMass commit Dave Chiavegato (three touchdowns receiving) tied MIAA championship information.
“It had solely been finished twice (earlier than),” Fornaro mentioned following his workforce’s three-peat. “Everett, and Xaverian twice – ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, and no matter this (spherical) is, ‘23, ‘24 and ‘25.”
“I’ve made this remark earlier than, it’s like asking a mother who her favourite youngster is,” Fornaro mentioned when requested to match the 2 installments. “That is actually, actually good, as a result of we simply performed (St. John’s Prep) 10 days in the past. That’s troublesome. Two years in the past, we performed them 5 days later.”
Catholic Memorial (10-2) entered with excessive expectations. The Knights stampeded via the Div. 2 event en path to their second straight Tremendous Bowl title (outscoring opponents 137-14 within the postseason). This system defeated Bishop Feehan to take residence its fourth championship in 5 years. It was the seventeenth state title for John DiBiaso in his head teaching profession.
“The truth that they have been resilient sufficient (stands out),” mentioned DiBiaso. “We misplaced these two robust Catholic Convention video games. Very simply, attitudes might have actually modified, however they didn’t. We remained targeted, we received into the playoffs, and we took it one week at a time.”
Earlier this fall, King Philip coach Brian Lee took a few of his gamers on a visit to Midday Hill in close by Medfield. At its peak was a picturesque view of Gillette Stadium.
“Some coaches say you’re not supposed to speak about profitable,” Lee mentioned after a playoff win. “However we checked out Gillette, and we mentioned: ‘We’re going again. It’s going to be your work ethic. It’s your workforce now, and your time to go. You’re those up.’ ”
The Warriors accomplished an ideal season (13-0), capping issues off with their first state title within the Div. 3 ranks with a 21-10 win over Hockomock League rival North Attleboro. It was the fourth Tremendous Bowl title for the varsity since 2016. Keigan Canto-Osorio (103 yards dashing, landing) was a catalyst within the victory.
Following an ideal 2024 marketing campaign, Scituate misplaced most of its key starters. But, the Sailors rattled off a number of dramatic Div. 4 playoff victories, and located themselves proper again at 1 Patriot Place on Dec. 6, vying for the state championship towards an unbeaten Tewksbury workforce. They proved the doubters incorrect, as Jonny Donovan fired a game-winning 15-yard landing strike to Miller Shea with 16 seconds left to ship the Sailors (11-2) a memorable 42-41 win. It was the fourth Tremendous Bowl championship for Herb Devine’s program since 2018.
“The workforce we had final yr, we had quite a lot of guys,” Devine mentioned. “They have been a bunch of dudes, so we had a number of weapons. This workforce, should you noticed us play in August and September, when you’ve gotten quite a lot of guys that weren’t enjoying, and now they’re starters? It took time. We weren’t a machine in any respect, and it took time. I give credit score to our coaches and our gamers who continued grinding. … As playoff soccer began, we received wholesome, after which we began to play some fairly rattling good soccer.”
Shawsheen (13-0) accomplished its second straight good season, extending the state’s longest energetic profitable streak to 27 video games. Led by Jake Banda, Adam Caruso and Dyllon Pratt, the Rams claimed their second straight Div. 5 Tremendous Bowl title with a 14-7 win over Foxboro.
“Properly, I feel individuals will take a look at us a bit of otherwise and positively understand final yr wasn’t a fluke,” mentioned Shawsheen coach Al Costabile. “To do it again to again and to do it with some completely different individuals within the forefront after dropping that senior class, three beginning offensive linemen. You recognize, that’s a troublesome factor to interchange. And that is the strongest workforce I’ve ever coached. The strongest workforce and that’s their laborious work.”
After developing quick within the Div. 6 Tremendous Bowl in 2024, Fairhaven (12-1) returned to the mountaintop with a 28-14 victory over top-seeded Norwell. Senior operating backs Ian Alexion (182 yard dashing, two touchdowns) and Grant Darmofal (192 yards dashing, two touchdowns) propelled the Blue Devils to their second state title since 2023. When the season concluded, Derek Almeida was chosen because the New England Patriots Coach of the 12 months.
“We did it with a particular group of youngsters,” Almeida mentioned. “I feel that’s the reminiscence you are taking away – the relationships. This group of youngsters, I’m very near. They’re likeable youngsters. They work laborious, and so they deserve it. Some teams you’ve gotten, they’re proficient however they don’t have the work ethic. This group is nice at soccer, they care about one another, and so they labored actually laborious to get right here.”
It could be robust to prime the run Cohasset loved in 2025. Senior Gus Greene made historic strides for the Skippers (11-2). The operating again broke off a game-clinching 42-yard landing rush to ship his workforce the Div. 7 Tremendous Bowl title (22-14 victory over Amesbury). Throughout his remaining recreation, Greene eclipsed 2,000 yards dashing this season. It was the primary championship for Pete Afanasiw’s group since 2021.
“These guys are so resilient,” Afanasiw mentioned after the win. “They’re so bodily and mentally robust. Not solely that, they’re greatest buddies. They’ve been collectively their entire lives. We solely have 89, 90 youngsters within the senior class. The junior class as properly, they’re small lessons. They’re like greatest buddies.”
Jon Marshall has finished an impressive job in his tenure at Randolph. Since his arrival, the Blue Devils have gained two Div. 8 Tremendous Bowls, the newest coming Dec. 4 (21-0 victory over West Boylston) to complete an ideal season (12-0). Senior Mekhi White rushed for 74 yards and a landing within the state remaining.
“Actually, this entire course of began a couple of yr in the past, after we walked off this area not getting the consequence we needed,” mentioned Marshall. “It wasn’t about revenge. It’s an excellent, good workforce, and I don’t assume revenge is a price we train younger males. We speak about ourselves, and being higher ourselves. We speak about our phrase, which is redemption. We simply needed to show that we may very well be higher ourselves.”
