Some big plays spur Fenwick to win over St. Mary’s

PEABODY ? In a match-up of Catholic Central League rivals, it was the strength of a few key plays by Bishop Fenwick that propelled the Crusaders to victory over St. Mary’s.Fenwick defeated St. Mary’s, 38-26, behind the strength of 312 rushing yards on a soggy night at Bishop Fenwick High School. The Crusaders improved to 4-5 (2-1 in the Catholic Central League), while the Spartans fell to 4-5 (1-3 in the CCL).”It was a little ugly,” Fenwick coach Dave Woods said. “But guys stepped up and made some huge plays.”White rushed 23 times for 200 yards to lead the Crusaders, while Dale Crispin (16-104) chipped in as well.Coming out of halftime with a 12-6 lead, it took Fenwick less than a minute to score again. Starting at the Spartan 40 after a kickoff return by Renzulli, White carried 32 yards and eight yards, the latter rush reaching pay dirt for an 18-6 edge.On Fenwick’s next possession, though, the Crusaders were forced to punt from their own five-yard line, and St. Mary’s took over at the Fenwick 23. After three unsuccessful attempts, quarterback John LaMothe connected with Nick Day for a 25-yard touchdown pass. LaMothe’s conversion rush made the score 18-14, Fenwick.Once again, the Crusaders were up to the challenge. White started the ensuing drive with rushes of 19 and 17 yards, respectively, moving the ball to the Spartan 19. On fourth-and-five at the St. Mary’s 14, Renzulli hooked up with Tyler Thomann in the middle of the end zone for a 24-14 lead.”We have a few great athletes in Kyle and Chris,” Woods said. “When a game is evenly matched, sometimes players like that can make the big plays.”The Spartan response came on the next possession from Jordan Harvey. On the third play of the drive, Harvey broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown to bring his team within 24-20.Fenwick responded a final time to open the fourth quarter. Rushes Crispin of 20 and 18 yards set up an eventual touchdown strike from Renzulli to Joe Bona from 10 yards out. Crispin’s rush made the score 32-20.St. Mary’s had one last chance to get back in the game, but their drive stalled when a fourth-down pass from LaMothe to Day fell short at the Fenwick 29-yard line.St. Mary’s coach Matt Durgin said Fenwick’s rushing game was a major factor in the result.”There were lots of big plays on both sides,” Durgin said. “There’s no question we’ve come a long way, but Fenwick is a good team. They’re physical, and their team speed gave us some problems.”Each team tacked on a late touchdown, as well-Fenwick on a 38-yard rush by White, and St Mary’s on a three-yard pass from LaMothe to Harvey.The first half was a defensive struggle. Fenwick scored first in the opening frame on a one-yard rush by Crispin, but Day answered for St. Mary’s with a 90-yard kickoff return on the following play.Late in the half, Renzulli gave Fenwick momentum when he picked off a LaMothe pass and returned it to the Spartan 10-yard line. Three plays later, Crispin scored from two yards out for a 12-6 lead at the half.Although his team won by double-digits, Woods said he anticipates the match-up with the Spartans to be tighter in years to come.”St. Mary’s is one heck of a football team,” Woods said. “Coach Durgin and his staff do a great job. They’re a young team, and they’re going to be real good in the future.”Overall, Durgin said, Fenwick simply made a few key plays, which made the “You have to give them credit,” Durgin said. “They executed some key plays.”