As the mercury dips below freezing, it is obvious to New England that
football has begun. More so, Catholic Conference play has commenced in Eastern
Mass High School Football. One of the four premiere conferences in the state,
the Catholic Conference is home to five teams all capable of contending for this
year's Division 1 Super Bowl. League play, which officially started this past
Friday, serves as the “real season” for conference members. Needless to say,
everyone brings their 'A' game for the final four weeks of the season, each
demanding their own ticket to the Division 1 playoffs.
Standing at 3-4 heading into conference play, the BC High Eagles carried
their three-game winning streak and a fearless attitude into game one. The first
victim was Malden Catholic, BC High's annual “trap-game”. MC historically stuns
the Eagles with a unique game plan, which when mixed in with sixty-five tough
North Shore kids, seems to always create problems. The first quarter of this
year's game looked no different, as the Lancers of MC jumped out to a 12-0 lead
after three early turnovers. However, led by a dominating rush attack and
overpowering offensive line play, the Eagles fought back to bury MC 38-12.
Senior tailback Dave Bartmess finished with three touchdowns and over one
hundred yards rushing. Senior cornerback Mariano Beecher began the scoring with
a 75-yard punt return. Two more scores were added later, and MC's dream of
another stunning victory was foiled by a tough BC High team. I finished the game
with eight tackles, three for a loss, and crushing play from the right side of
the offensive line.
Riding a four-game win streak, BC High's schedule shows the three most
challenging games of the season in the final three weeks. In a do-or-die game
next week, the Eagles face a 7-1 Xaverian Brothers team, which hasn't been
challenged much this season. Xaverian, a consistent Catholic Conference
contender, is known for featuring a pro style quarterback (take the Seahawks'
Matt Hasselbeck and his brother Tim at Washington). This year is
different; the Hawks instead feature a dual-threat quarterback in Duke bound
Zack Asack. In addition to the 6'4” Asack and his sub-4.5 speed, the Hawks
present a punishing linebacking group, who double out of the backfield. The one
weakness for Xaverian that I have noticed in my studies of them is the fact that
they employ approximately twenty players in the whole game. When the defense
shuts down the opponent, they turn around and get ready to play offense. An
injury or fatigue for the Hawks could prove deadly. Aside from that, BC High
will have to play an immaculate game to prevail at Xaverian, on our first day
game of the year. But the way we are playing now, anything is possible.
The most successful team in the Catholic Conference since BC High prevailed
in the 2001 Division 1 Super Bowl has been the St. John's Prep (Danvers) Eagles.
Standing some forty-five minutes north of Boston, St. John's Prep has
notoriously crushed opponents in the past five years. Even when the Eagles'
record has been somewhat lackluster, they never disappoint to knock off a
Xaverian powerhouse on Turkey Day. However, opponents wonder if the BC High
Eagles could be the ones to snap the trend of dominating late season play. A
team buried by graduation, St. John's turned to senior running back and
four-year starter Chris Zardas to single-handedly carry the squad this year.
Everything went downhill when Zardas tweaked his knee in warm-ups against a
daunted Marshfield team, who went on to win 40-0. To say the Eagles have looked
grim since that day would be an understatement. At 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the
conference after a surprising 34-6 loss to Catholic Memorial, St. John's has
dreamed of a Zardas return. In an attempt this past week, Zardas again hurt the
same knee in true Boobie Miles fashion. A miracle seems to be the only thing
that could save the Eagles from a 0-4 conference run. But don't look for any
Catholic Conference member to ease up and show sympathy; this could be the year
where other teams go out to crush the Prep, turning the tables after a
half-decade of embarrassments.
In the season finale at Boston College's Alumni Stadium, the BC High Eagles
will take on hated foe Catholic Memorial. BC High's dominance of the Knights
ended last year, as late game heroics snapped a 15-year win streak. Previous to
my first varsity season three years ago, BC High humiliated CM year after year
by stunning totals. In my sophomore season, CM took a stand but lost on a
triple-overtime touchdown rush by the Eagles. CM was led by current Boston College running back LV Whitworth, who rushed for 238 yards and four scores.
Last season was the Knights' chance to hand out a defeat. Sitting pretty at
33-28 with four seconds left, we went into a prevent defense to avert any Doug Flutie-like heroics. But somehow CM's quarterback connected on a 60-yard missile
in the corner of our endzone. This year's battle seems to be another barn-burner
in the making. The Knights stand at 6-1 (2-0) after playing somewhat of a weak
schedule, but they have on the other hand defeated some pretty good teams. BC
High, who is riding an adrenaline rush and a four-game win streak, puts their
heart and fight against the most talented CM team that I have seen I my career.
Hate amongst opponents (and I mean hate) will also make the game more
interesting.
It won't be easy, but it will be fun! The Eagles of BC High are in as good a
position now as they have been since their Super Bowl victory a few years back.
The Catholic Conference is up for grabs and the team who fights hardest will
undoubtedly seize it this year. Just thinking about it makes me go crazy. It's
going to be a street fight.
Chris Marinelli is a 6'7" offensive tackle recruit in the 2005 class who
verbally committed to Stanford in July. He is writing a weekly series this
fall to deliver Cardinal fans insight into the triumphs and travails of his
senior season at Boston College High School.
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