Northeast presents tough test for Fenwick

When the seniors on this year?s Northeast Regional football team were freshmen, they got a taste of success and it apparently agreed with them.The Knights won the Division 4A Super Bowl in 2010 and the six or seven freshmen who were called up to varsity that year were part of the experience.?They saw what they needed to do to be successful,” coach Don Heres said.The Knights, who had also won the Super Bowl in 2009, continued their winning ways in 2011 and 2012, with 8-3 and 7-4 records, respectively, and this year, they?ll be riding a 9-0 record into Friday night?s Division 5 North final against Bishop Fenwick. The game is Friday at Donaldson Field (7).The Golden Knights will have their work cut out tackling red-hot Fenwick on its home turf. Although the Crusaders have been without one of their key offensive weapons in Rufus Rushins (elbow injury), they?re still a force. Quarterback Nick Bona has been nearly unstoppable. In Fenwick?s 28-12 win over Austin Prep last weekend, Bona ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns and passed for another.The Crusader arsenal also includes Charlie Maistrellis, who stepped up to the plate against St. Mary?s when Rushins got injured late in the first half; and Kyle Russell, who has been money in the bank kicking the extra points.Fenwick will have to find a way to stop Northeast?s prolific running game. The Golden Knights have amassed approximately 4,000 yards rushing, led by Christian Perez of Reading, who owns 1,200 of those yards. He started the season with two 200-yard rushing games.Junior running back Kevin Rosado of Chelsea (1,000-plus yards rushing) leads Division 5 in scoring with 112 points; and a pair of wingbacks from Revere, Izzy Silva and Avery Tango, had 350 and 400 yards, respectively.Senior Troy Tartarini of Wakefield has run the show at quarterback the last two years. He has eight or nine touchdown passes this season. Nick Giangregorio, a senior tight end from Saugus, also gives the Golden Knights more options on offense.?He?s a big, strong, athletic, fast kid,” Heres said.The city of Revere is well represented on the offensive line with Mason Kysilovsky at center, Tom Hagerty at left guard and Mike Hill at left tackle. The Golden Knights have been without one of their key players, center Jonathan Galvez, at times this season due to a separated shoulder.Defensive coordinator Mike Rich of Revere has been with Heres for five years and considering the team has only allowed somewhere between 120-130 points, he?s been effective. One of the reasons is the play of Marvey Mathurin of Malden. Mathurin has nearly 100 tackles.?These are lunch pail guys. They come to work every day and do what they have to do,” Heres said. “They?re great to coach. There?s no drama. They know what it takes to get the job done.”