WATERTOWN – It’s funny how things work sometimes.

A year ago, former BB&N star running back (now at BC) Bo MacCormack started the 2024 regular season finale down at Tabor with a huge play, setting the tone for the Knights to win the ISL title.

On Friday night, it was Seawolves quarterback Peter Bourque and wide receiver Anthony DiGiantommaso connecting on a 50-yard touchdown on Tabor’s first offensive play of the game against BB&N, setting the tone for a dominant 42-6 win.

The victory not only gives head coach Jeff Moore and his team an 8-0 record, but a NEPSAC B title. BB&N dropped to 6-2, but will get another crack at the Seawolves next weekend in a NEPSAC Bowl that’s still to be determined, but the game will now be down in Marion.

“We were in this same scenario last year and they got the better of us,” said Moore. “It was the flip of last year. Lats year, Bo MacCormack hit us on the very first play and it sort of put us in shellshock a little bit. This year, we got the ball and we were able to capitalize pretty quick. That was a big piece for us.”

“It meant the world. Last game, last year, I had a sour taste in my mouth. We wanted to get back at these guys,” said Bourque. “They’re a great team, but we came out today and wanted it more.”

The 50-yard touchdown (and a blocked PAT) came after the defense forced a quick three-and-out to start the game. The Seawolves stuffed a 4th-&-2 on the ensuing series and five plays later, a 10-yard TD run by Lucas Fickeisen and a successful two-point pass from Bourque to Alexander Odenyo.

BB&N punted its third drive and Tabor almost immediately went up 21-0 late in the first on a 20-yard touchdown run from Fickeisen. The Knights finally caught a break when the Seawolves fumbled at their own 21 early in the second and Colin Hoffman fell on it. Not long after, Sam Kelley caught a seven-yard TD from Damon Taylor. The PAT was no good.

With 7:35 left in the half, Bourque punched it in from a yard out and Paolo Grossi added the extra point to make it 28-6. Tabor had a chance to ultimately put the game away before halftime when they went surprise onside kick and recovered, but the Seawolves fumbled on the first snap after the recovery.

BB&N ended up punting and Tabor had one more crack at adding to its lead before halftime – thanks in large part to a big run from Bourque – but Andrew Green picked off a Bourque pass at his own three-yard line to end the half.

Tabor basically sealed the deal three plays into the third quarter when Bourque ripped off a 77-yard touchdown run on third down. Both teams combined for three more punts the rest of the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Bourque added one more short TD to cap the scoring. The Seawolves defense got one more physical turnover on downs before kneeling out the title-clinching win.

Just minutes after the win, Moore told his team this week would now need to be the best week of preparation Tabor has had all season.

They won’t be getting the same BB&N team next weekend with a bowl win at stake.

“I old our boys there’s no way we’re going to get the same things we got today next week,” Moore added. “They’ve got an incredible staff. I’m sure they’re going to have adjustments…we’ve got to be ready. We have to practice really well. We’re going to have to tinker. I know it looked like everything went well here, but we have to tinker a few things, without a doubt.

“The biggest thing is we’ve gotta play super physical football like we did tonight and then we’ve just got to take care of a couple critical mistakes. I feel confident that we’ll work on those things and get better.

“We’ve just got to make sure we finish the same way we did tonight.”