FOXBORO — Shawsheen Tech prolonged its dynasty and its dominance by powering previous Foxboro to assert the Division 5 Tremendous Bowl and push its undefeated streak to 27 straight video games.
The Rams (12-0), who shut out Foxboro 14–0 in final 12 months’s title sport, as soon as once more confirmed why they’ve turn into the usual in Division 5. This time, they defeated the Warriors within the rematch, 14-7, overcoming the identical program that was the final staff to beat them — again within the 2024 playoffs.
Shawsheen managed the tempo early, with two landing connections on their first two sequence of the sport. The senior mixture of Dyllan Pratt and quarterback Adam Caruso linked for 2 display screen passes that went for 78 and 51 yards with Pratt doing many of the work with the yards after the catch.
The pair began the sport 3-for-3 on pass-and-catch performs for 137 yards and it proved to be the distinction within the sport.
“We had these performs drawn up all week and that first (landing) we mentioned we have been going to run it first play and it feels nice to attain on the primary play,” mentioned Pratt. “It’s my final sport, I noticed the outlet, I hit it, and I used to be gone. They weren’t catching me and I couldn’t choose a greater option to exit.”
Stated Caruso, “Dyllan Pratt – what a participant. I can’t even clarify the connection we’ve got had all 12 months. I by no means threw him a ball till this season. I can’t categorical how good our protection is – greatest protection within the state.”
Foxboro was on the board halfway via the second quarter as offensive lineman Matthew O’Keefe was eligible within the backfield and plunged in for the one-yard landing. The rating minimize the deficit in half after Andrew Higgins linked on the additional level.
“I feel folks will take a look at us a bit in another way and positively final yeat wasn’t a fluke. To do that back-to-back and to do it with totally different folks after shedding the senior class – that’s a troublesome factor to exchange. That is the strongest staff I’ve ever coached,” mentioned Shawsheen head coach Al Costabile.
The third quarter produced just one sequence from every squad as every staff ended lengthy drives on turnovers on downs. Shawsheen obtained into the purple zone however stalled on the Warriors’ 18-yard line and Foxboro did the identical on their 11-play drive that ended the third to start out the fourth quarter.
The Warriors (9-3) entered the sport hoping to spoil Shawsheen’s epic run of two consecutive unbeaten seasons, however the Rams’ execution on either side of the Warriors (9-3) entered the sport hoping to spoil Shawsheen’s epic run of two consecutive unbeaten seasons, however the Rams’ execution on either side of the ball proved an excessive amount of as they delivered their second Division 5 Tremendous Bowl in as a few years. Their protection down the stretch proved an excessive amount of as they delivered their second Division 5 Tremendous Bowl in as a few years.
“A few of these children have performed in three of those however sadly it didn’t finish the way in which we wished,” mentioned Foxboro head coach, Jack Martinelli, whose staff has now been to a few straight Tremendous Bowls successful the chip in 2023 over Hanover. “Shawsheen is an efficient soccer staff and you may’t spot them 14 factors proper off. We settled down however they established the run and we couldn’t cease and that makes an enormous distinction within the sport.”
Credit score Christiano Apholz with protection within the secondary and two big sacks inside 10 minutes to play in regulation from Ralph Raymond and Eric Banda to pressure a punt for Shawsheen to proceed to dominate subject place late within the sport.
Two extra Banda brothers shined on the bottom for Shawsheen as Jake Banda (24 for a game-high 115) and Cameron Banda mixed for 151 of the 159 yards speeding within the victory.
Foxboro had one final stand with 6:13 left within the sport however Hadi Sibay appeared to finish issues with an interception for Shawsheen on the 4:53 mark of the fourth quarter however a fumble restoration from Kolby Hassett gave the ball again to Foxboro on the primary play from scrimmage.
However once more Costabile’s protection stood tall ultimately.
“Protection got here up big, time and time once more,” mentioned Costabile. “Particularly within the fourth quarter, with the fumble. That they had a brief subject and that’s a troublesome state of affairs for a protection. The youngsters confirmed super resiliency.”
With the win, Shawsheen owns a 3-2 report in Tremendous Bowl/MIAA championship video games and extends the state’s longest energetic streak to 27 straight victories — all whereas reinforcing that the highway to the Division 5 title nonetheless runs via the Rams.
