By Tim Crowley
NEFJ Correspondent
PROVIDENCE – Great rivalries eventually land on a collision course for a classic.
The Bishop Hendricken Hawks and the La Salle Academy Rams delivered just that in the state capital on Friday night. La Salle entered with something to prove after an 0-2 run at the Hawks last season, including a three-point loss in the state title game.
The Rams flipped the script in remarkable fashion with a 21-20 overtime win over the Hawks.
The victory undoubtedly marks the signature moment in the early tenure of first-year head coach and former New England Patriots center Dan Koppen.
“I’ve got great coaches and great players,” Koppen said after the win.
The Hawks had early momentum with a quality running game that cycled touches between Ryan Santo Jr., Jeremy Seidi, Jabari Jackson along with quarterback Isaiah Brito’s ability to make plays with his legs. Jackson started the scoring on a 13-yard end around score on a fourth-and-10 attempt in the first quarter. Siedi eventually added two more rushing scores.
La Salle remained at its best with plays through the air, headlined by senior captain Antonio Bearden. He went up and over a defender to haul in a 20-yard score that matched the score at seven and reeled in another touchdown from backup quarterback Brady Nardozzi, who entered after Samuel Perry’s helmet came off on a rush attempt the play before with just seconds remaining in the first half.
“I know I’m one of the best receivers in the state,” Bearden said. “I know my quarterbacks trust me to go get tough catches. I had two against St. John’s prep last week. Whenever I see that ball in the air, it’s just me vs. me up in the air.”
Defense controlled the tempo of the game and kept La Salle in position to pull off the win, including two turnovers around the goal line that cost Bishop Hendricken points. The Rams swiped another Hawks’ chance to win the game late when Donald Young nabbed another interception with under three minutes to go.
“We have one of the best DB cores with Donald, Jalen (Moseley), me and a bunch of young kids stepping up in that secondary. We definitely take pride in creating takeaways.”
Speaking of swiping, the Hawks nearly ripped that instant momentum (and the ball) away from Young during the return. Bishop Hendricken emerged from a pile with the ball, but the play had been blown dead and regulation ended in a 14-14 tie. For context, the play resembled a landmark play from one of the wildest games of Koppen’s NFL career when Troy Brown stripped San Diego Chargers defensive back Marlon McCree in an eventual comeback win for the Patriots in the 2006 AFC Divisional round.
La Salle made another defensive statement after Bishop Hendricken’s first overtime score as Moseley picked off Brito’s pass to thwart a two-point conversion attempt. La Salle’s overtime chance came down to a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. The Rams put the ball back in Bearden’s hands when Perry lofted a fade to his right.
“AB really stepped up there and wanted the ball,” Koppen shared. “We know the situations where when you’ve got to have it, you give it to your best guys.”
Bearden made the catch. Quincy Marino booted the extra point. Revenge over a rival. Game over.
“We’ve talked a lot about it this week where maybe we haven’t lived up to our end of the rivalry,” Koppen said. “This was something that we wanted. This was something these kids wanted. I’m just really happy for the school.”
“It’s definitely amazing,” Bearden added. “We came up short by three points last year in the state championship. I definitely wanted to make sure I didn’t leave the field until I put my full effort on the field.
The Rams (3-2) visit Saint Raphael Academy next week in Pawtucket while the Hawks (2-3) host Central (Providence).
“We’ve got to go into every game with that momentum and confidence from now on,” Young said.
Images courtesy of Tim Crowley