BELMONT – The only real mistake Belmont Hill made on Saturday afternoon was hitting head coach Anthony Fucillo in the head with the ice water bucket during a celebratory sideline shower.
The host Sextants scored 38 unanswered points in a dominant 38-7 win to claim the NEPSAC Bob Souza Bowl, wrapping up another successful year at 6-3.
Last year, Belmont Hill lost its postseason bowl game. This year, it was important for this particular senior class to be sent out the right way.
“It means the world to me,” said Fucillo, who earned the win against Jeremy Bandy, a guy he coached at Harvard with. “We wanted them to play extra football. That was the big thing, that we got to play an extra game. Last year, we had a great season and just didn’t finish it off in the bowl. A little bit different this year. To finish off with a win with the hard work they’ve put in. I love those guys. I’ll really miss those guys. They’ve done so much for the program.
“Jeremy’s the man…congrats to them on an awesome season. The’ve got great kids. They played super hard. Jeremy’s a great coach. They’ve got a good coaching staff and I obviously wish them the best. He’s a great dude and a real smart guy too. He does a great job with the kids. I think it’s like…one of us had to go down. It’s unfortunate that way, but the respect I have for him and his program is so high.”
For all intents and purposes, this one was over at halftime after a 24-point second quarter for Belmont Hill.
Worcester Academy’s Antone Araujo and Colton Francis picked off Réis Little twice in the first quarter, but neither team scored. The second INT came late in the first, setting the WA offense up at the Belmont Hill 40. Less than a minute into the second quarter, Worcester Academy made it 7-0 on a 32-yard catch and run by Griffin Collins on a pass from Patrick Miller.
A huge run by Little after the ensuing kickoff set up a two-yard TD run for Marcus Griffin and a PAT by Dylan Casillo. Three plays later, Trey Clayton came up with a pick and returned it to the WA 10. After a touchdown catch for Jordan Summers was wiped off the board, Casillo booted a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-7.
Two snaps after a Hilltoppers’ punt, Summers had a 72-yard catch and run for a touchdown. On Worcester Academy’s next drive, a failed fake punt attempt at the BH 35 set up a three-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Luis Kuehberger, making it 24-7 at the break.
Belmont Hill opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, but the defense quickly forced the same. A high snap – an issue for Worcester Academy all day – on the punt resulted in an errant pass that was picked off by Summers and returned to the WA 25. Six plays later, Kuehberger made a sick leaping, toe-tap grab in the back left corner of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown and a 31-7 lead.
“It was designed for a pass,” Kuehberger said of the first TD. “I was supposed to throw it to our quarterback, but (Fucillo) said if there’s nobody on the edge then just take it, so I took it myself and had a nice walk in….sort of the same thing (with the receiving TD), just find a way to get open, got a little bit of space, Réis threw a great ball and I was able to bring it in the back (of the end zone) and get my feet down.”
Another botched punt wound up in the arms of Jack Coughlin who brought it to the Hilltoppers’ four-yard line. Two plays later, a Miles Fritz tush-push capped the scoring with 1:45 left in the third.
Things got chippy as running time was implemented in the fourth quarter. A few big runs by Jack Barrett soon allowed Fucillo to call victory formation, prompting the ice bucket shower and a wild celebration to end the year.
“It means the world,” added Kuehberger. “We’ve worked so hard through the summer and into the fall. Last year, we had a great year. We fell short a little bit (this year) in the regular season, but we bounced back.
“All the guys were on the same page and we just wanted it.”
