DANVERS — The game of football, in many ways, is like a roller coaster. You have to strap up, you’re usually out of breath by the time it’s over, and momentum goes up, then down.
That was the third quarter of Saturday’s powerhouse showdown between Catholic Memorial and host St. John’s Prep, which, ultimately, escaped with a 19-8 victory – the Knights’ first in-state loss in 27 games.
“I’m just really proud of them. I thought the physical, mental toughness of this group was on display today,” said Prep coach Brian St. Pierre, whose Eagles lost the matchup by double digits a season ago. “When we play them, we’re going to find out who the tougher team [and] the more physical team is.”
It’s true. One of Prep’s starting backs, Dylan Aliberti, was injured on the first play of the game, and two starting cornerbacks were injured for the Eagles, among other setbacks.
“We started a freshman right guard today,” St. Pierre said.
In a defensive masterclass up until the 8:25 mark of the third quarter, the Eagles broke through. On fourth-and-19, Deacon Robillard found Merrick Barlow for a juggling, 31-yard touchdown.
“I thought, 0-0 coming in, that we came in with a purpose and had that big touchdown,” St. Pierre said. “It was just the physicality piece. I think we took the game over there in the third quarter.”
Took the game over, indeed. Cam LaGrassa (254 rushing yards) added insurance, taking a handoff 75 yards to paydirt to double the lead, 16-0.
“Those are good backs,” said Catholic Memorial coach John DiBiaso. “They have some talented kids.”
Rain and all, Cronin Memorial Stadium was rocking.
“These kids all come here to play against opponents like that,” St. Pierre said. “It’s a spotlight type of game and they love that stuff. I thought we rose to it.”
But the roller coaster went back down. With Catholic Memorial in desperate need of a big play, quarterback Peter Bourque and Isaiah Faublas obliged, connecting on an 80-yard touchdown (16-8) midway through the third.
When asked how he kept his players in-check during the momentum switch, St. Pierre reverted to his team’s physicality, much of which comes from practice.
“It looked like the Normandy Invasion this week at practice,” he said. “We practice very physically. We pride ourselves on it.”
After both defenses tightened up, Prep stuck its dagger with 1:48 remaining on a Langdon Laws field goal (19-8).
It took a postgame DiBiaso half-a-second to talk about the difference in the game.
“They stopped our run – that was the difference,” he said. “We’ve run on everybody for five years.”
St. Pierre credited Catholic Memorial for its in-state domination, while DiBiaso looked on the bright side.
“It’s always good to get a slice of humble pie,” DiBiaso said.
Prep, 7-0, visits BC High next Saturday (1 p.m.), while Catholic Memorial, 5-2, hosts Malden Catholic Friday at 6:30 p.m.
