The title is the second in three seasons, and fourth since 2016 for King Philip under the guidance of head coach Brian Lee.

“I told myself I wasn’t going to lose my composure. I would just coach the game” said Lee. “I felt like we should have been able to separate earlier. So, I Iost my mind, but whatever, we won and 4-4 [in Super Bowls] sounds a lot better than 3-5.”

King Philip led 14-10 at halftime. While the score in the second half was only 7-0, the Warriors were in complete control over the final 24 minutes. King Philip outgained North Attleborough 164-24 in total yards in the second half. On the opening possession of the second half, the Warriors possessed the ball for over seven minutes. The Warriors wound up turning it over on downs, but the tone had been established for the second half.

A  major key to King Philip limiting North Attleborough’s offense in the second half was due to the absence of Red Rocketeer star running back Frankie Strachan. Strachan exited late in the first quarter with a foot injury and did not return.

“[The Strachan injury] just sucks” said Lee. “It’s the worst part about football. A kid like that is obviously their heartbeat. He’s a winner. He’s so much more than just a player.”

After the turnover on downs, junior Patrick Terio snatched an interception to give the Warriors the ball back on the plus-side of the 50. After the takeaway, the senior running back duo of Tallan King (23 carries, 149 yards) and Keigan Canto-Osorio (22 carries, 103 yards) went to work.

King did much of the heavy lifting on the drive. Canto-Osorio finished the drive off with a seven-yard touchdown to put the Warriors up 11.

King added a sack on defense and another big run in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

Even without Strachan, North Attleborough (10-3) was able to hang tough in the first half. The Red Rocketeers held a 10-7 lead late in the first half.

Sophomore Nathaniel Robin scored the first points of the game on a one-yard run three plays after Strachan exited the game. King Philip senior quarterback Zach Gebhard evened the score at 7 on a one-yard run of his own.

Nick Torres nailed a 26-yard field goal to put North Attleborough ahead 10-7 with under five minutes left in the half.

King Philip (13-0) responded immediately. The typical run-heavy Warriors mixed in some passing on the drive with Gebhard connecting on passes to Ryan Greenwood and Liam McGrath. A punishing 17-yard run by Gebhard set the Warriors up at the one yard line. Then Greenwood scored on the next play to put King Philip ahead for good, 14-10.

The previous three King Philip titles came in Division 2. This is the first season in Division 3 for the Warriors. The only Super Bowl King Philip has missed since 2016 was 2019.

“I wanted it so bad for [the seniors]” added Lee. “It’s so cliche. The kids work so hard. I love them.”