St. John’s Prep runs through Central Catholic

DANVERS – Riding a crushing performance by its offensive line, St. John?s Prep flattened Central Catholic, 42-7, in Saturday afternoon?s Division 1 North semifinal at Cronin Stadium.By defeating Central (7-2) for the second time this season, the Eagles (8-1) earned a rematch with Everett ? the only team to defeat them ? for the Sectional championship Friday night in Everett.The “O” line of tackles Dan Dewing and Neal Farmer, guards Kelly Duncan and Rafael Rivera, center James Carnevale, and tight ends Jake Burt and Mike Slattery carved open the Raiders? defense throughout as Prep rolled up 316 rushing yards.Senior tailback Cody Harwood led the way, rushing for 190 yards and three scores on 22 carries. Junior running back Dillon Preston (six carries, 73 yards, TD) and junior quarterback Oliver Eberth (six carries, 42 yards, two TDs) supplemented the overland assault.?Our offensive line was a new group at the start of the season. We challenged them then and today they dominated. We just lined up and said ?Here we come?,” said coach Brian St. Pierre.?There was talk that somehow they (CC) gave us the game last time. We took note of that,” St. Pierre added. “We?re getting better and better at the right time. That is a great football team, so I?m really proud of our guys. We?re the only team to beat them.”The defense did its part, blanketing the Raiders? star quarterback Mike Milano (82 net yards) ? who was hobbled by an injured left ankle in the second half ? and forcing four turnovers, including key interceptions by Nate Vance and Jacob Yish and Brandan Kahari?s recovery of a forced fumble by Yish. All came in the second quarter when the game was still in doubt.?Our defense was outstanding. We had a good week of practice and our scout team did a great job (running Central?s offense). We?ve always played good defense here and our kids run to the ball. They enjoy it,” St. Pierre said.The Eagles set the tone immediately, marching 62 yards in eight plays off the opening kickoff. Harwood carried four times for 46 yards and capped the drive from 29 yards when he probed the middle, spun left and ambled unimpeded for the score. Justin Foley?s first of six PATs made it 7-0 with just 2:54 expired.?All week long we talked about if they crashed inside to take away the middle, we?d ride (the play) as long as we could to the middle, then look to bounce it,” Harwood said.Art Churchwell?s 30-yard punt return set up Prep at the Central 48 early in the second quarter. Four plays later Preston blew through a massive hole in the middle for a 31-yard touchdown and Foley?s kick made it 14-0 with 8:55 left in the half.The defense then left its imprint. Vance?s diving sideline interception halted one Central drive at the St. John?s 18. Yish?s strip of Markus Edmunds and Kahari?s recovery stopped another at the Prep 35. Then Yish?s 45-yard interception return to the Central five-yard line with 1:14 left in the half set up Harwood?s 10-yard score. Foley tacked on the kick for a 21-0 lead at the half.Central showed momentary life in the first minute of the second half when Edmunds? 47-yard kickoff return set up Steven Jackson?s 23-yard scoring sweep. Nick Worden?s PAT made it 21-7 but that was that for the Raiders? offense.Eberth scored on runs of 10 and 12 yards before the period ended as Prep unveiled a read-option element to its offense, then Harwood finished his big day with a 39-yard dash with 4:08 remaining.As for Everett??We have more work to do. We want something bigger. We have a ton of respect for Everett and our guys are excited about the opportunity,” St. Pierre said.