Win or lose last Saturday, it was going to be a quick turnaround for St. Mary’s going from a game being played for state Super Bowl spot to Thanksgiving.
Things didn’t work out for the Spartans against Mashpee, as they lost the Division 7 state semifinal, 28-20 — and thus were denied a second straight trip to Gillette Stadium.
However, coach Matt Durgin understands the unique aura of Thanksgiving football in Massachusetts, and knows that Bishop Fenwick will come into Manning Field ready to go tonight (6) in a game that was resurrected as a rivalry three years ago.
“This is a great rivalry,” said Durgin. “You’re playing for pride, which is more important than a ring.
“I have great respect for their program,” Durgin said. “It’s always a battle no matter what the records are. I know everybody says that, but it’s true.”
Fenwick comes into the game with a 4-6 record, and has won two of its last three after a tough 1-4 start.
“They’ve had some tough breaks,” Durgin said, “things they couldn’t control. We’re smaller schools. You start getting injuries and it hurts.”
And Fenwick had an injury this year that hurt very much: its quarterback, Cory Bright, who has missed most of the season and won’t be available tonight.
“He’s one of the top kids in (the Catholic Central League),” Durgin said. “You can tell he’s an unbelievable competitor.”
For the most part, the Spartans have been free of the type of aches and pains that have plagued other teams, but that changed last weekend. Marlon Scott, one of Durgin’s better backs, missed the Mashpee game after hurting his ankle in the Division 7 North final win over Brighton. And George Freeman, another solid player for the Spartans, also went down in the Mashpee game.
“We have very good players and it helps,” said Durgin. “It helps a lot to have talent. But you have to have complimentary players to, and we do.”
St. Mary’s, 10-1, still boasts a stable of talented, experienced players who are anxious to go out on a winning note.
“I think (quarterback) Calvin Johnson is one of the best players in the state,” said Durgin. “He’s very talented and very athletic, and he’s turned into a very good leader.”
Ditto James Brumfield, who, along with Scott, was one of Durgin’s’ feature backs.
“He’s so consistent,” Durgin said. “He comes to work every day, and gives a great effort. Good things have happened to him.”
Players like Bobby Reynolds, Brendan McCarthy, and D.J.DiCenzo played vital roles as well this season, Durgin said.
Up front, Kyle Bernardini and Patrick Henry anchored a line that allowed the Spartans to virtually run at will as they buzz-sawed their way through their regular season. After three one-sided non-league games, the Spartans began CCL/Large play by paying a visit to Brockton to play Cardinal Spellman. They left Brockton with a 48-8 win, that impressed Durgin very much.
“Spellman is a very good program, and I figured we were going to have a tough time,” he said. “But we played very well, and to me, it was a real good indication that we have a good team.”
The only team that gave St. Mary’s a hint of a game after that was Archbishop Williams, and the Spartans won that one, 20-7.
After that, until the Mashpee game, the Spartans won their games very comfortably.
“We have a hard-working group of kids who play for each other,” Durgin said. “They’ve been unselfish. We talk to them about it every week. It started after the last season ended, extended into the off-season, and into camp. We preached togetherness. The more things we do as a team, the more it’s going to help us be successful.”
