By Tyler Amaral
NEFJ Staff

HYANNIS – Bishop Hendricken is a program with nearly unmatched championship pedigree in all of New England. On Thursday night, the Hawks showed off their championship poise and moxie with a come-from-behind 31-24 road win over previously unbeaten Barnstable.

With just under 12 minutes left in the game, things were looking bleak for the visiting Hawks. Barnstable (5-1) had just taken a 24-10 lead – the largest of the night – and Hendricken’s offense was stuck in neutral for most of the game.

“I give the kids a lot of credit” said Bishop Hendricken head coach Keith Croft. “Barnstable had a great gameplan against us. Their kids played hard and they’re a heck of a team.”

Hendricken senior quarterback Dylan Lynch rallied the offense, making big play after big play in the final 11 minutes to shock the home faithful.

Trailing 24-10, Lynch connected with classmate Jonus Rivera on a 31-yard gain. Then, on the next play, Lynch hit his top target of the night, William Mascena, for a 29-yard touchdown to get the Hawks within seven points.

The Hendricken defense forced a Barnstable punt, but were pinned back at their own 11 with under seven minutes left in the game.

Lynch connected with Mascena (five receptions, 135 yards) for 42 on the first play of the possession. Three plays later, Lynch hit Sebastian Nault for a 44-yard touchdown to tie the score at 24 with 5:10 left in the game.

Junior Okah Wali recovered a Barnstable fumble on the next possession, again putting Hendricken within striking distance.

The red hot Hendricken offense took advantage of the short field. On the first play of the series, Lynch ripped off a 36-yard gain.

“[Lynch] is a big game quarterback” said Croft. “He’s won a state championship for us. He doesn’t fold under pressure. He’s done it in multiple sports. We’re blessed to have him. He’s gotten better and better since last year and he trusts his receivers, no matter who’s out there. He makes his receivers better and I really think that’s the mark of a good quarterback.”

On the second play running back Jeremy Dennis fumbled. The ball popped loose and junior tight end, Chase Bedrossian was in the right place at the right time, as he fell on the ball in the endzone to give the Hawks a 31-24 lead with 1:20 left in the game.

“I saw the linebacker and I went to block him” said Bedrossian. “I looked behind me and a I see [Dennis] running it and the ball popped out. I was like “oh no” and I jumped on it and scored.”

The Hawks defense forced a turnover on downs on the next possession to clinch the tough interstate road victory.

It was a tale of two halves, as the teams exchanged field goals in the first half and entered the locker room tied at 3.

Bishop Hendricken opened the scoring with a 38-yard Scot Belford field goal. Later in the half, Barnstable answered with a 28-yarder from Hagen Dias.

Barnstable scored first in the second half on a 15-yard swing pass from Dylan Hamilton to Josh Ferguson. Ferguson made an outstanding catch on the play and beat a handful of Hendricken defenders to the perimeter.

Hendricken (4-2) answered quickly with a 1-yard touchdown run by star tailback Jeremy Seidi, who played limited offensive reps in the game.

The touchdown was set up by a 41-yard strike from Lynch to Mascena.

“We get to school at 7 AM every week to work, to throw, to catch” said Lynch about his connection with Mascena.

Mascena added “I have a lot of trust in Dylan. I know that when I’m running my route and I break, the ball’s gonna be there.”

Dias then returned the ensuing kickoff for a 70-yard touchdown to swing the momentum back in the host’s favor.

Hendricken was forced to punt. Barnstable marched right down the field for a touchdown. The Redhawks rushing attacked had seemingly taken over at that point.

Jayson Dyer capped the drive off with a 5-yard plunge to put Barnstable up 24-10. The junior running back totaled 143 yards and a touchdown in the game.

Bishop Hendricken is playing a challenging schedule this season with out-of-state matchups against Barnstable, Connecticut powers Greenwich and Fairfield Prep and New York Catholic schools, Kellenberg Memorial and Monsignor Farrell. The Hawks turn their attention to in-state rival Central (Providence) next Friday.

“[The matchups] have been great” said Croft. “We get to challenge ourselves against some of the top programs around. Barnstable’s reputation is well-known around New England. It was great to schedule a game against them. I truly think this will make us better.”

Lynch completed 12-of-22 passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 79 yards on 9 carries as a rusher.

Barnstable will travel to Dartmouth next Friday night. Anthony Parella and Matheus Cesard were standout defenders for Barnstable.