Lynn resident helps lead Fenwick to Super Bowl victory

FOXBOROUGH – He has the perfect name for a football player, and the way he personifies it makes it even better.He is Rufus Rushins of Lynn, the junior running back for Bishop Fenwick, and he made it look almost too easy Saturday night in the Crusaders? 28-0 Division 5 Super Bowl victory over Northbridge at Gillette Stadium.Rushins ran 15 times for 170 yards, and scored three touchdowns, in Fenwick?s win. He also ran straight up the middle on Fenwick?s first possession of the third quarter, on a third-and-two, for a 49-yard touchdown run on which he was never touched.?I just saw green grass, and I booked it,” said Rushins, who grew up in West Lynn and played for the Lynn Chargers youth football squad along with Crusader teammate Justice Andrade.?The fact that we?re the first statewide Division 5 champion is just awesome,” he said.While he may be captain of the all-name team (announcers Gary Tangway and Andy Gresh made several references to it during the telecast Saturday), he could also claim membership on the all-Super Bowl team as well (if there was one). He simply dominated the Rams.And to think, it almost didn?t happen.A month ago, during the first of four playoff games the Crusaders had to navigate through to get to this Super Bowl, Rushins hurt his elbow against St. Mary?s. While the injury looked nasty at the time, Rushins never doubted he?d be back.?I tweeted it right after the game,” he said.He missed wins over Austin Prep and Northeast Regional, but he was back for the state semifinal against Abington, where he rushed for more than 100 yards.?It was hard watching,” he said, “but I never doubted I?d be back. I think I lost a little wind (while he was out), and I had to work to get that back.”Coach Dave Woods kept him out of the Thanksgiving Day game against Pingree, and “I was good to go for this one. I was 100 percent ready.?It (the elbow) hurts a little bit now, and I?ll ice it a little night, and I should be fine,” he said.Meanwhile, Rushins fully acknowledges that his best friend and fellow Lynner Justice Andrade had a lot to do with his success Saturday.?This dude?s my best friend ? my brother ? and I?d trust him with anything,” he said.Andrade was ready on the 49-yard touchdown run.?I saw that the guy big guy needed to get through,” “Andrade said “I knew what had to be done.”Andrade is also quick to point out that he didn?t do this alone.?The boys to my left and right had an awful lot to do this,” said Fenwick?s sophomore center. “We couldn?t have done any of them without them.”Rushins said afterward this was the toughest game of the Crusaders? 13-0 season by far.?It was a team we hadn?t played before, and they have a great football history,” he said. “They were also very good. So, I really think this was our toughest test.?But it feels awesome,” he said. “We (he and Andrade) have been working for this since, what, sixth grade? It?s great.”