KIPP head coach Jim Rabbitt says there’s a different type of energy happening in the hallways of the school, with students and teachers alike seemingly becoming more invested in their football team with each postseason win.
In just the program’s sixth season, the Panthers are Super Bowl-bound this Saturday as No. 7 KIPP takes on No. 1 Hull in the Division 8 state championship.
On Nov. 12 of last season, it was a day of heartbreak for KIPP as the Panthers were eliminated by the same Hull team in the tournament. The final score favored the Pirates, 27-20.
Come Saturday, there’s a chance at revenge.
The Pirates are also 12-0, so there are some appetizing storylines surrounding the idea of Hull losing its first game in the championship. Rabbitt and the Panthers would love to be the team to do it, but he knows his group will have to be on their A-game come kickoff.
“They’re [Hull] a really solid team all-around – well-coached, tough, good athleticism, good size,” Rabbitt said. “As a coaching staff, it’s really hard to poke holes in what they do.”
Hull holds the advantage over KIPP in both points for, as well as points against. Hull has scored 60 more points than KIPP this season, and has let up an eye-catching 170 less points.
“So we certainly have our work cut out for us this week with them, more so than any other team we’ve played this entire year,” Rabbitt said.
As highly-intense as many of KIPP’s games have been this season (8-4 with postseason wins over Lee, Lowell Catholic, and Oxford), there’s been nothing like what’s to come on Saturday.
Regarding the vocal message to his players, Rabbitt believes there’s a line between knowing it’s a big game, and not getting carried away.
“The lights might be proverbially brighter, but they’re really not,” Rabbitt said. “Understanding the gravity of the game and how perfect and excellent we have to play to win, but also understanding ‘hey, it’s also still another football game that you guys have been playing, for many of us, our whole lives.’”
As for KIPP’s difficult postseason run – featuring wins against two programs ranked higher than them – Rabbitt said the team has learned more about themselves.
“Each playoff game progressively got harder for us, and it made us stronger,” Rabbitt said.
He’s not only a coach, but also a teacher. Win or lose on Saturday, the game of football is about life, according to Rabbitt.
“It takes a person of great character,” Rabbitt said. “I hope they take from this – just the experience, and what it takes to be successful. It wasn’t by accident.”
“Those guys put the work in. They gave up a lot of their time, extra time, whether it’s in the weight room, after practice, longer school days,”
When asked if he gets fired up about the community interest over the past few weeks, Rabbit responded by saying he’d be coaching the wrong sport if it didn’t.
“Just to see the buzz in the school. Kids are actually talking about the Super Bowl and asking questions,” Rabbitt said. “It’s been great in the building. Teachers talking to kids, and high-fiving kids and saying congratulations. It’s just a really good feeling this week.”
As for on the turf, KIPP quarterback Juan Setalsingh eclipsed 2,000 passing yards on the season last Wednesday against Tech, and racked up more than 400 in the game to go along with six total touchdowns.
From Setalsingh, to Vic Mafo, to Morenel Castro, and everyone involved in KIPP’s success this season, the buzz is certainly well-deserved. The Panthers have one more opponent to claw – that being Hull this Saturday at Gillette Stadium with kickoff set for 10 a.m.
