Fenwick facing a familiar foe

The short, albeit daunting, road to a second straight MIAA Division 5 Super Bowl will look familiar for the Bishop Fenwick football team.At noon on Saturday at Marciano Stadium in Brockton, North champion Fenwick (10-0), will meet up with South representative Abington (9-1) in the state semifinals. It is a rematch of last year?s game, in which Abington scored first before Fenwick scored 35 unanswered points on its way to a 35-8 win “Every team is different. Every game is different. But we’re happy to be going back to the state semifinals,” said Coach Dave Woods whose team enters Saturday riding a 26-game winning streak, dating back to 2012. Should Fenwick get past Abington, the Crusaders could see a rematch of its 2013 Super Bowl with Northbridge, which will play Pittsfield Saturday in the other Division 5 state semifinal. Fenwick beat Northbridge, 28-0, in the title game last season. For now, though, the Crusaders aren?t looking past Abington. “To be honest, we haven?t thought too much about the possibility of seeing Northbridge again,” said Woods. “It will be a major challenge just to get there so we?re taking it game by game. For now, our focus is on Abington.” There won?t be many unknowns for either the Crusaders or the Green Wave. “It?s going to be two teams that are pretty familiar with one another, with each side knowing the others? offenses and personnel,” Woods said. “They are a very solid football team.”Senior running back Rufus Rushins of Lynn, a stalwart in the Crusaders? offense for the past two seasons, won?t slip past any scouting reports in the playoffs.?I?m sure Rufus will be the main focus,” Woods said. “We?re not expecting anything out of the ordinary from Abington?s strong defensive unit.”Despite losing quarterback/defensive back and Daily Item Player of the Year Nick Bona to graduation, Fenwick has proved efficient under center once again.Matt Renzulli played well during the Crusaders 20-14 victory over Whittier Tech in the Division 5 North championship game before reaggravating an ankle sprain.Fellow senior, Mike Campatelli, came on in relief, helping secure the win, along with Rushins who racked up 119 yards on 25 carries.?We?re very lucky to have two seniors in the program that know the system and have played, and come up clutch in big games,” said Woods of the quarterback tandem.Renzulli has been a full participant in practices and will be “good to go” according to Woods who expressed his concerns as well.?He has looked great in practices, but it only takes one play to change everything,” he said. “In normal circumstances, two to three weeks of rest would heal the injury but Matt is dealing with it as any leader would.”Both Campatelli and Rushins continue to nurse lingering knee injuries.In last week?s victory, the Crusaders leaned on versatile seniors Myles Connor, Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Niconchuk.Fitzpatrick hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Renzulli in the second quarter before Niconchuk scored on a game-winning, goal-line plunge with 7:44 remaining in the final period.?They were all role players last season so we weren?t sure what we would get out of them this season on either side of the ball,” said Woods.?Myles made his first start in last year?s Super Bowl so he knows all about pressure situations. Brian is workaholic and has proved very valuable to our team along with Josh who is a unique player at his size (6-feet-2, 300 pounds) and is extremely talented.”Woods believes his defense will be tested with an altered offensive scheme from Abington, led by quarterback Bryan Dwyer.?They?ve used more of a spread look this season with the development of (Dwyer) who is dangerous with both his arm and legs,” said Woods.?They excel when plays break down so it?s going to be a difficult test for sure.”