By Adam Nazzaro
NEFJ Correspondent
BOSTON – In a classic Public vs. Private high school football clash, a spot was up for grabs to the “Final Four” in the MIAA Division 2 tournament.
On its home field, No. 2 Catholic Memorial was up for the challenge, ousting No. 7 Wellesley 42-21 to advance to the Div.2 Final Four.
“We had a couple kids get banged up, feels great to move on. But need to find a way to stay healthy,” Catholic Memorial coach John Dibiaso said.
Coming right out of the gate, the Knights found the endzone. Junior RB LeSean Sharp finished the drive with a 10-yard TD run. Setting up the score was a 32-yard pass completion from junior QB Peter Bourque to Junior WR Isaiah Faublas, giving the Knights a 7-0 lead with 10:00 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders didn’t back down.
Following a fake punt conversion on the CM 35-yard line, the trickery stayed put as senior RB Max Poirier delivered a 35-yard TD pass to senior WR Robby Broggi.
https://x.com/anazz93/status/
The tandem of CM’s Bourque and senior WR Thomas Kuefler continued their season success on the next drive.
Bourque found Kuefler on a deep ball towards the left side of the endzone, resulting in a 27-yard TD pass, giving the Knights a 14-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.
On the Knights next drive, they found the redzone again, but Wellesley had different plans. Broggi came up with an interception, saving the Raiders from more damage with 4:11 to go in the first half.
On the last drive of the first half, on a 4th & 4 from the Wellesley 5-yard line, CM’s Bourque found Kuefler for a 9-yard TD pass, giving the Knights a 21-7 lead going into halftime.
https://x.com/anazz93/status/
The Raiders offense came out buzzing in the first drive of the second half. Broggi took in a 35-yard TD reception, now trailing 21-14 with 10:00 left.
https://x.com/anazz93/status/
CM’s offense then went right down the field and scored in under a minute. Concluding the TD drive, was RB Chris Sanchez with a 1-yard run, giving the Knights a 28-14 lead with 9:15 to go in the 3rd quarter.
The Knights continued to pour it on, finishing off another touchdown drive on their next possession. Sharp ran in for a 1-yard TD run, giving CM a 35-14 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.
“We responded well after halftime,” Dibiaso said. “We didn’t play our best early on, but I thought we came out in the second half with a lot of passion.”
In the 4th quarter Sanchez capped the game off with a 62-yard TD run, giving the Knights a commanding 42-14 lead. Catholic Memorial (7-2) will play No. 3 Marshfield (8-2) next weekend in the MIAA Div. 2 Final Four.
“Marshfield is a very good team. Very well coached. If you’re in the final four, you’re a good team,” Dibiaso added.
