Perhaps there’s no area team more fortunate than St. John’s Prep, who’ll play its next two games at professional sports venues. It starts Wednesday night when the Eagles travel to Fenway Park to clash against rival Xaverian for the Catholic Conference title.
“It doesn’t need to be explained,” St. John’s coach Brian St. Pierre said. “It goes without saying at St. John’s. Xaverian’s our biggest rival, football wise. We’re playing for a Catholic Conference title which means an awful lot.”
After playing Xaverian, the Eagles will make their way to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 1 to battle Catholic Memorial for the Division 1 state championship.
“I think we’re incredibly fortunate,” St. Pierre said. “The kids are excited, as they should be. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. This will be our second trip to Fenway in three years but to play at Gillette for a state title, to be afforded that opportunity is extra special.”
Xaverian got the better of St. John’s last Thanksgiving at Glatz Field, when the Hawks blanked the Eagles 30-0.
“We laid an egg big time last year,” St. Pierre said. “We weren’t a great team. We had a ton of injuries. In past years we’ve had tight games. Last year’s game wasn’t a good game.”
Offensively, the Eagles are led by quarterback Matt Crowley. A junior, Crowley set the program record for most passing yards in season during the 21-0 win over Central Catholic in the Division 1 North final. Running back Trent Tully gets the bulk of the carries. Receivers Max Freedman and Wes Rockett are reliable threats in the passing game.
Defensively, lineman James Taylor takes care of the battle in the trenches. Collin Taylor, James Hanley and Pat Keefe have also made key contributions defensively.
“I think offensively we have to move the chains,” St. Pierre said. “We have to score. We haven’t scored a lot against them. We haven’t scored a lot against them the last couple years. Anytime you can control the ball that’s a good thing. Defensively we’ve been strong. Xaverian’s a good team. They play everybody we play, they play a tough schedule. It’ll be a huge challenge defensively. We have to stop their run game first and foremost.
“They’re typical Xaverian,” St. Pierre added. “They’re very strong both sides of the ball. Defensively they challenge you. They’re big physically. Offensively they like to run the ball. They have a dual-threat quarterback. They present a lot of challenges. They’ve had our number. We’ll really need to play well.”
St. Pierre said his Eagles will soak in the moment when they take the field at Fenway but once the game gets underway it’ll be business as usual for both teams.
“We’ve been there before,” St. Pierre said. “As a staff we know what to expect. It’s a little unique. They put both teams on the same sideline. There’ll be a lot of big eyes, a lot of nervous excitement. Once it starts, it’s a rivalry game on Thanksgiving. I think our kids understand there’ll be some early jitters but once the game starts we’ll be fine.”
