Harwood took over under trying circumstances

DANVERS – Back in August, Cody Harwood probably didn’t figure to be too much of a factor in the St. John’s Prep football team’s offensive plans. The Eagles were going to rely on Penn State commit Johnathan Thomas.But Thomas injured his knee in the Everett game on Sept. 28 and was lost for rest of the season. Then his backup, Dillon Preston, also got hurt.The next man up was Harwood, who became the Eagles’ starting tailback. The junior had arguably the best day of his career on Thursday, rushing 25 times for 193 yards on 25 carries, including a 46-yard touchdown run, against the defense of Div. 1 Super Bowl participant Xaverian.Even with Harwood’s heroics, the Eagles lost, 28-22, at Cronin Memorial Stadium.”He (Harwood) had a very good game today,” St. John’s Prep coach Jim O’Leary said. “We knew one of our strengths this year would be (Thomas) running behind our offensive line. Then he got hurt, then we had Dillon Preston and he got hurt, and then (Harwood) stepped up.”Behind that burly offensive line, Harwood did most of his damage running up the middle. Both his touchdown run and his other long run – a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter that set up another touchdown – came on hand-offs that went right into the teeth of the Hawks’ defense. He also had six other runs of at least nine yards, mostly up the middle.Xaverian injuries – The story of the game for the Hawks in the first half was their injuries to four key players, including star halfback Shayne Kaminski, who appeared to injure either his left ankle or knee during the Hawks’ second offensive series. Kaminski left the stadium later in the first half on crutches.Kaminski’s backup, John Dean, also left the game with an apparent ankle injury and did not return. Third string running back Michael Vozzella also left with an injury, and D’Aundre Holmes (4 carries-27 yards) and Billy Leroux (7 carries-31 yards) ended up splitting time in the backfield the rest of the way.In the second quarter, tight end Kenny Kern injured his left leg when he was tackled trying to catch a short pass. Kern’s and Kaminski’s injuries appeared to be the most serious.”It doesn’t look good for any of them,” Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson said.Due to the new playoff format, the Hawks had already clinched a berth in the Div. 1 Super Bowl before Thanksgiving, and there were concerns that some of the teams who were moving on in the post-season would rest their starters. Plymouth South, which has qualified for the Div. 3 Super Bowl, was reportedly set to play its reserves in its annual Thanksgiving game with Plymouth North, and was routed, 39-8. Stevenson opted to play all of his regulars.”There are years we’ve been going to the post-season and we’ve played everyone in this game,” Stevenson said. “Today was no different.”There was something at stake in this game. With the win, Xaverian clinched an outright Catholic Conference championship. Had St. John’s Prep won, the two would have split the title. Interestingly, a St. John’s Prep win yesterday would have given them victories over both Div. 1 Super Bowl participants. The Eagles defeated Central Catholic, 40-21, on Sept. 20.