PEABODY — It may have only been July, but it felt like September.

On Thursday night at Bishop Fenwick in Peabody, BB&N and Lawrence Academy did battle in the finals of the Northeast 7v7 New England championship.

The intensity was raised. When BB&N made a stop on the first Lawrence possession, the Knights were hooting and hollering like it was a regular season game.

In the end, the Knights won, 24-12, and earned the program’s first New England title.

It just felt like a raised level of play between two teams that will face off in the first game of the season when fall rolls around. And it showed that this season in the Independent School League could be a special one.

“That’s all we were thinking about, really all day,” said BB&N quarterback Damon Taylor of the rematch when the season starts. “Lawrence, they’re a league game. We have them Week 1. It’s a really good rivalry game. To be able to play against them in a stage like this and win that game is really something good for us.”

Taylor was terrific, and has been all summer, as BB&N went undefeated both Thursday night and in the South and East regionals. After sitting behind Henry Machnik last year, Taylor looks poised for a huge junior season.

BB&N running back Bo MacCormack is gearing up for a massive senior campaign. Normally, a running back does not make a huge impact in 7-on-7, but the Syracuse verbal commit stood out both as a receiver and safety, with sticky hands and some big interceptions.

“I think it’s super-important for the team, in general, getting together and competing as a group,” MacCormack said. “It shows us what we’re capable of. I think it’s big to get everyone competing.”

MacCormack, too, was excited to play Lawrence in the final.

“It’s going to be a battle, like it always is,” MacCormack said. “Every game in the ISL is a battle, and they’re a good team, great coach, a lot of really good players. We’re looking forward to that. This one is just for fun, but that is the one that matters. We’re preparing for that one.”

Wide receiver Vince Snoonian had a strong day, as well, high-pointing the ball and making great catches, as he has all summer.

Lawrence was led by wide receiver and cornerback Thomas Kuefler, and is looking like one of the top players in the ISL.

But it was all about BB&N, which earned the 24-12 win in the final after besting Milton in the semifinals. Lawrence beat Dennis-Yarmouth in the semifinals, and did not lose until the showdown with BB&N.

“I think whenever you play anyone that you know, the juices may be pumping a little bit harder, that sort of thing,” BB&N coach Mike Willey said. “It seemed like the energy was really high in that. It was a competitive game, and it was fun to watch.”