PEABODY – Apparently a sub-.500 finish was not an option for the Bishop Fenwick football team. From the opening snap on Thanksgiving morning, the Crusaders were all business.
Fenwick held visiting Masconomet without a first down for the first 19 minutes of play, building a 17-0 lead and powering away for an impressive 39-3 decision at Donaldson Field.
Earning a split of the two-game Turkey Day pact with the Chieftains, the Crusaders finished the year at 6-5, while Masco closed out at 2-8.
“Once you get to Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving,” said Fenwick coach Dave Woods. “The kids were awesome. Seniors were just awesome. They’ve stuck together all year through a tough year, and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Special teams and defense got things going early for Fenwick. With heat-seeking missile Dylan Patterulli (16 tackles) leading the way, the hosts hemmed Masco deep in its end of the field, forcing a punt from the shadow of the goal line.
Captain Anthony Nichols smothered the kick attempt and Lincoln Dugan claimed the spinning ball in the end zone for his first TD. Luke Connolly’s rush made it 8-0 with 5:17 left in the opening quarter.
Another Masco three-and-out and a short punt set up Aidan Silva’s 26-yard field goal, making it 11-0, before Kurtis Bruch’s interception allowed the Fenwick offense another shot to take supreme control of the contest.
Brayden Clifford kick-started the drive with a 22-yard connection with Mike Zaimi. Connolly carries of 7, 11, 5 and 4 yards put the Crusaders at the Masco 15, and on 4th-and-1, Nichols went the final 15 untouched for the 17-0 advantage.
Masco’s only two first downs of the half came on the same play with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. Sophomore QB Drew Gustafson hit senior Chris McCarthy on a 43-yard bomb, with a post-play Fenwick 15-yard penalty tacked on.
That led to the Chieftains’ only points, Nicco Cefalo’s 24-yard field goal to make it 17-3 into the break. For the half, Fenwick outgained the Chieftains, 181-68.
Masco felt a bit enthused when senior Nathaniel Blais pounced on the onside kick to open the third, but Patterulli and the Crusader defense would have none of that.
For the day, Fenwick held Masco to 96 yards of offense. Meanwhile, Connolly (14 carries, 109 yards) and Nichols (9-65) chewed up turf in chunks, taking a slew of Chieftains with them along the way.
“Luke and Anthony ran harder today than they have all year,” said Woods. “They blocked for each other as hard as they have all year.”
Sal Tripoli trophy recipient Bryce Leaman connected with Bruch on a second-half TD in his first action since injuring his knee in Week One at Marblehead.
“Just the inspiration of having Bryce back out on the field when he’s got no ligaments in his knee at all, I don’t know how he’s even able to stand up,” said Woods. “To throw a touchdown pass on thanksgiving his senior year is pretty awesome.”
Clifford found Zaimi for the other Fenwick score.
Masco battled right to the end of what was a tough season. Guys like McCarthy and fellow senior Robie Engel played hard until the final whistle.
“We just couldn’t match them on both lines. That’s a very physical football team,” said Chieftains coach Gavin Monagle. “Chris McCarthy had the big play. We went to him a couple times, and they started to double him. He was the go-to guy. Robie really ran hard. And it was great to have Nathaniel Blais back out there. He was tough. He broke his leg at the beginning of the year and worked all the way back for this game.”
Bishop Fenwick 39, Masconomet 3
at Donaldson Field, Peabody
Masconomet (2-8);0;3;0;0;3
Bishop Fenwick (6-5);8;9;8;14;39
Scoring summary
BF – Lincoln Dugan recovered blocked punt in end zone (Luke Connolly rush)
BF – Aidan Silva 26 FG
BF – Anthony Nichols 15 run (rush failed)
M – Nicco Cefalo 24 FG
BF – Mike Zaimi 36 pass from Brayden Clifford (Kurtis Bruch rush)
BF – Bruch 12 pass from Bryce Leaman (Silva kick)
BF – Connolly 6 run (Silva kick)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Bishop Fenwick — Luke Connolly 14-109, Anthony Nichols 9-65, Kurtis Bruch 2-11, Dylan Paterulli 1-12 ; Masconomet — Robie Engel 6-29, Jack Fabiano 12-33, Davis Deluties 3-(-10), Drew Gustafson 2-0, Nathaniel Blais 1-2 .
PASSING: Bishop Fenwick — Bryce leaman 9-15-109-1-0, Brayden Clifford 9-15-52-1-1; Masconomet — Drew Gustafson 9-15-52-0-1.
RECEIVING: Bishop Fenwick — Mike Zaimi 5-95, Connolly 4-57, Bruch 5-27, Odin Garron 1-11 ; Masconomet — Chris McCarthy 1-43, Blais 2-8, Engel 3-1.