HAVERHILL — On a cold Halloween night at Haverhill Stadium, Central Catholic didn’t provide any treats against their Merrimack Valley Conference rivals.
The Raiders exploded for 27 points in the second quarter and went on to defeat the Hillies, 48-8.
“I truly believe that we are playing our best football right now,” said junior Drew O’Keefe of the Raiders, who have won three of their last four games. “Last week we beat Andover and we won tonight. We started (off the season) a little slow, but we’re peaking right now and it’s the perfect time to do that. We’re just all playing our best football. We’re all playing as a team.”
O’Keefe was one of the many stars in this game. He scored two second quarter touchdowns in a span of 1:57 — the first on a 27-yard throw from QB Caden Smith and then three plays later, he had an interception and returned it 32 yards for the score.
“I couldn’t have scored (the first touchdown) without two great blocks by Athaniel (Urena) and Jeremiah (Mateo Mora). I got great blocks from them and got the outside and just took (it to the end zone),” said O’Keefe. “On the pick-six, I saw their receiver coming around, and he just threw it up there and I was in the right spot.”
His night wasn’t done. With ten seconds left in the first half and Haverhill facing a second-and-goal from the one, O’Keefe picked off his second pass of the game and third of the season.
“I knew that they were going to try something different, thinking we would expect a running play so I saw the slant and just drove (to the open space) and picked it off,” he said.
O’Keefe also booted four PATs, accounting for 16 of the team’s total points.
“Drew’s one of our overall better players,” said head coach John Sexton. “He’s an extremely hard worker and a very competitive kid. He had a good night on both sides of the ball and in all three phases. He’s one of our more valuable guys.”
Smith had two TD passes and also rushed in two scores. Cal Schoenfeld had the other TD reception and Caden Chase and Connor Cowan added late scores.
Joseph Leal had the team’s other interception.
Defensively, Central has given up just 28 combined points over the last two weeks.
“We have to give credit to our new defensive coordinator coach (Nick) Boes. He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said O’Keefe. “He prepares us. Defense was a focal point going into this season. Last week we had three takeaways and tonight we had three more so his defensive plans are working.”
Before Friday’s game, Central was ranked No. 5 in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings and will await word on its first round foe.
“We need to continue to play physically, which we have done the last few weeks. We need to stay healthy,” said Sexton. “I like the way we have been behaving recently, so it was a good effort tonight. We’re looking forward to the playoffs. We have been pretty good defensively for most of the year and the last couple of weeks we have been strong. Our tackling has been pretty good so that’s a positive.”
Central Catholic 48, Haverhill 8
First Quarter
CC: Cal Schoenfeld 30 pass from Caden Smith (Drew O’Keefe kick)
Second Quarter
CC: O’Keefe 27 pass from Smith (O’Keefe kick)
CC: O’Keefe 32 interception return (O’Keefe kick)
CC: Smith 2 run (kick failed)
CC: Smith 5 run (O’Keefe kick)
Fourth Quarter
CC: Caden Chase 38 run (O’Keefe kick)
CC: Connor Cowan 5 run (Paul Barbagallo kick)
HA: Jathian DeJesus 8 pass from Leo Butcher Gonzalez (Lucas Perez rush)
Individual Statistics
Passing: CC, Caden Smith 5-8, 94 yards; Shane Sughrue 1-1, 5 yards; HA, Michael Bayko 6-18, 74 yards; Leo Butcher Gonzalez 5-6, 64 yards; George Papanikolaou 1-1, 8 yards; Jathian DeJesus 0-1.
Rushing: CC, Caden Chase 9-112; Caden Smith 6-60; Connor Cowan 6-54; Jeremiah Mateo Mora 2-11; Shane Sughrue 5-9; Randy Blanco Garcia 1-3; Denzel Dume 2-1; HA, Stavy Baptiste 12-54; Leo Butcher Gonzalez 4-16; Michael Bayko 2-0; Lucas Perez 2 – (-5).
Receiving: CC, Drew O’Keefe 2-46; Cal Schoenfeld 2-45; Arcari Rodriguez 1-5; Jeremiah Mateo Mora 1-3; HA, Jathian DeJesus 5-89; George Papanikolaou 2-23; Stavy Baptiste 1-13; Zavion Alvarez 2-12; Nicholas Pike 1-8; Abraham Temple 1-5.