Central MA Football Season Ends With 2-2 Showing at Gillette

Monday, December 09, 2013

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

The 2013 Central Massachusetts football season saw more twists and turns than a roller coaster. More ups and downs than an elevator. Simply put, the 2013 fall season was fun.

High flying-offenses and hard-nosed defenses dominated the landscape as quarterbacks such as Drew Smiley, Koby Schofer and Massachusetts High School Player of the Year Neil O'Connor dominated opposing defenses. Yet like all good things, this season came to an end on Saturday as four Central Massachusetts teams competed at Super Bowl Saturday on the field at Gillette Stadium. In the end Littleton and Doherty left Foxboro with Super Bowl titles while St. John's and Northbridge were unable to clinch titles.

With each of the four teams representing Central Massachusetts well, lets take a look back at their title chases.

Division 4 Super Bowl: Doherty 28 Dennis-Yarmouth 26

In one of the most exciting games of Super Bowl Saturday, the Highlanders were able to hold off a late rally from the Dolphins of Dennis-Yarmouth. The title is reportedly the first title in any sport in the history of Doherty High School.

The Highlanders were led by senior quarterback Luke Brennan, who went 12-of-20 for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Brennan added a touchdown on the ground from eight yards out.

With the teams battling back-and-forth all afternoon, it came down to a defensive stop on a two-point conversion by Doherty's Matt Smalls that allowed the Highlanders to walk away with the title.

Division 6 Super Bowl: Littleton 52 Cohasset 35

The schedule makers for Super Bowl Saturday hit a home run when they started the day with the Division 6 Super Bowl.

It came as little surprise to Central Massachusetts football fans when Littleton's offense put up another dominant performance. The Tigers averaged over 40 points per game throughout the season behind senior running back Travis Bassett. On Super Bowl Saturday, Bassett nearly reached that total by himself, scoring an astonishing five touchdowns on the day. Bassett finished the day with 22 carries for 263 yards and his five touchdowns.

The monster day added to Bassett's gaudy numbers for the 2013 season. He finished with 1,288 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns, 24 of which were on the ground.

Division 2 Super Bowl: Mansfield 28 St. John's 14

Recent weeks saw St. John's pull huge upsets at Leominster and at Springfield Central en route to the Division 2 Super Bowl against Mansfield. Although the Pioneers gave the Hornets everything they could handle, it was not enough in the end as Mansfield completed their perfect season.

St. Johns forced five huge first half turnovers but carried only a 14-7 lead into the half. With a banged up Drew Smiley giving it everything he had, the Pioneers were unable to get back on the board in the second half. The Hornets proved yet again to be one of the states best teams, winning the game despite being without superstar wide receiver Brendan Hill.

Division 5 Super Bowl: Bishop Fenwick 28 Northbridge 0

There was a time in Northbridge's season that fans wondered if this was going to be a losing season for the Rams. After losing two of their first three games, the Rams hit a crossroads. From that point the Rams took off, however, rattling off nine straight wins en route to Gillette Stadium.

Their terrific run could not withstand the frigid temperatures that came with the final game of Super Bowl Saturday and the potent attack from Bishop Fenwick. Northbridge's usually strong offense was halted all night and shut out for the first time of the 2013 season.