Prep’s victory over Everett changes local football landscape

St. John?s Prep?s stunning 20-7 win over Everett last night ? at Everett Stadium, no less – has caused a seismic shift in the football landscape today.It might not be as cataclysmic as what has happened on Wall Street, but suffice it to say that the view is a little different than it was yesterday ? and last week ? and last year ? and the year before that.For the first time in 28 games ? dating back to a 2005 post-season upset by Xaverian ? the Crimson Tide have lost a game. And for the first time in 62 regular-season games, Everett has lost a regular-season game.All in all, it was a great week for the Catholic Conference, four of whose teams won big games against non-league opponents ? Xaverian over Brockton, BC High over Acton-Boxborough, Malden Catholic over Somerville, and now St. John?s over Everett.The Prep, which draws students from all over the area, got key games from two North Shore players. George Sessoms, from Peabody, scored all three touchdowns and ran for 180 yards. And Lynn?s Brendon Felder caught one big pass to rescue The Prep from a dangerous end-zone situation, and was a force on defense all night long, according to coach Jim O?Leary.?George had three fumbles last week (in a win over Central Catholic), so it was nice to see him turn it around last night,” O?Leary said this morning.The Prep took a calculated risk last night, stuffing the middle and daring the Crimson Tide to beat it through the air. The plan worked. Not only did the Eagles defense keep Everett bottled up all night long, their defense forced five turnovers (crucial if you?re going to beat the No. 1 team in the state).?We challenged a few kids this week, and they responded,” O?Leary said.The win ? even if The Prep had to wait three days for it (the game was rained out last Friday) ? balances off what hadn?t been a very good week for O?Leary. He spearheaded a move to extend the high school football season by a week ? a move that went down to defeat in a meeting of athletic directors and principals last Monday.The victory has paid other dividends too. St. John?s, 4-0, is No. 1 in the Boston Globe?s weekly high school rankings ? and No. 2 (behind only BC High)It doesn?t get any easier for the Eagles in the next two weeks. They?re in Brockton Friday night to face a team that was supposed to be among the elite, but has, so far, taken its lumps at 1-3. After that, it?s onto Dracut, a Merrimack Valley Conference powerhouse.