Bishop Fenwick football looking for a repeat

The Bishop Fenwick football team wasn?t supposed to be back playing for a championship this year. Not after losing the likes of last year?s Item Player of the Year Nick Bona and a talented senior class that claimed the Division 5 Super Bowl last season.Someone forgot to tell the Crusaders that, however. The owners of the state?s longest current win streak, Fenwick has been just as dominant this season. The Crusaders now have a chance to win their second straight North title when they host Whittier at Donaldson Field on Friday at 7 p.m.The Crusaders haven?t lost a game in nearly two years, claiming 25 consecutive wins, including a 9-0 record this season and a second straight Catholic Central League Large title. But head coach David Woods knows there is still a lot of work to do.?It has been a long road back and our defense has been awesome all year,” Woods said. “The win streak is something that the kids should be proud of but we have our work cut out because Whittier is a good team.”The Crusaders will go into the game at less than 100 percent. with several players who are banged up or fighting off illness. Among them is starting quarterback Matt Renzulli, who will be a game-time decision with a tweaked ankle. Lynn?s Rufus Rushins is also not at full strength but he still rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-0 semifinal win over Lowell Catholic on Friday.?This is about as thin as we?ve been the last two years because of the injuries,” Woods said. “But our offensive line has really stepped up. They?ve been together the last two or three years and they are getting better and better every week.”The Fenwick defense also has been stout from the get-go this year, led by middle linebacker David Hurley. The group has surrendered only 68 points in nine games this season, including four shutouts.?Our defense has been awesome. Coach (Dave) Dugan has done a great job with them,” Woods said.That unit will get its toughest test of the playoffs on Friday night against a Wildcats (7-2) team that has lived on the edge in the postseason, having stopped a pair of two-point conversion attempts against both St. Mary?s and Greater Lawrence to save their season.Whittier runs out of the single wing and is led by talented tailback Jesus Sanchez, who rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the semifinals. The Wildcats also can throw out of the wing as quarterback Kevin Bradley has passed for a touchdown in both playoff games.?(Whittier) runs an offense that most teams don?t see. The single wing is very tricky to defend. You have to stay disciplined and play sound defense,” Woods said.One thing going the way of the Crusaders is that the game will be played in front of Fenwick?s home crowd.?It?s always nice to be able to play at home and for our seniors it will be the last game they play there no matter what. They want to make it memorable,” Woods said.