MALDEN — Something about Thanksgiving Eve has brought the best out of Bishop Fenwick running back David Cifuentes.
Last year, in the Crusaders’ 60-0 win over St. Mary’s, Cifuentes ran for 132 yards and four touchdowns to cap off his junior season.
Last Wednesday, the Crusaders renewed their old Thanksgiving rivalry with Malden Catholic and Cifuentes once again delivered. The senior back accounted for 170 total yards in the Crusaders win, getting the bulk of the carries in the first half and leaving his mark on special teams.
Cifuentes’ best play of the night came in the first half. A rolling kickoff bounced all the way to the Fenwick 11 yard line, where Cifuentes was there to scoop it up and sprint toward the end zone for an 89-yard kick return score.
The performance earned him the Sal Tripoli Thanksgiving MVP award, but Cifuentes gives most of the credit to his blockers for paving the way.
“I give a lot of credit to the offensive line,” Cifuentes, a Danvers native, said. “Even the blocking on kickoffs, without them I wouldn’t have anything. No holes to run through, nothing.
“This trophy means a lot to me,” Cifuentes said. “This is my last year and this means I left it on a good note.”
Cifuentes and the Crusaders knew Wednesday wasn’t their last game. Fenwick will take on Ashland in the Division 6 state championship Saturday morning (11) at Gillette Stadium, but Cifuenetes and company were still going to leave everything out on the field in the win over Malden Catholic.
“It’s going to be the seniors last night game so it’s always going to be an important game,” Cifuenetes said. “You always have to give it your all. You don’t want to walk away with any regrets.”
It’s safe to say no one on the Crusaders’ offense walked away with much regret. It seems like whoever touches the ball for Fenwick has big play capability and that’s built a healthy confidence between Cifuentes and his teammates.
“If a team we’re playing takes one player away there’s going to be three more guys there that we can pass it to or that can run,” Cifuentes said. “We’re a very hard team to stop with that going on.”
Cifuentes brings a lot to that group, also serving as the Crusaders kicker and pacing the run game. But more importantly he brings a contagious energy to field, says coach Dave Woods.
“David is just a great athlete,” Woods said. “He can do a lot of things. He can kick, he can run, he can hit. He had a big hit on a punt coverage (Wednesday). He’s just a fun kid to coach. He’s got great energy about him. He’s always in a good mood and always give the effort. He always gives 100 percent effort. He’s a fun kid to coach and we’re going to miss him.”
As for Ashland and the Super Bowl, Cifuentes’ plan is pretty simple- bring that 100 percent effort one more time in the Crusaders black and gold.
“It’s my first Super Bowl so it means a lot to me and my teammates,” Cifuentes said. “I’m just going to go in and give it my all.”
