PEABODY – The Bishop Fenwick football team started its season 5-1, but through a tough stretch of games, suffered a four-game skid to end the regular season at .500.
With the losing streak, Fenwick’s Thanksgiving Day game was a chance to redeem itself and end the season on a high note.
That’s exactly what the Crusaders did in a 39-3 blowout victory over Masconomet.
The Crusaders’ three primary rushers gained 260 yards on the ground, while the defense forced five punts, two turnovers, and three turnover-on-downs.
But when asked about the team’s production in the victory, Fenwick coach Dave Woods was excited for his seniors, who got a win in their final game.
“I’m really happy for all the seniors,” he said. “They’re a great group of kids… so it was fun to end with that.”
More specifically, Woods was excited to see quarterback Bryce Leaman back on the field. He somehow participated after tearing his ACL, MCL, and PCL in the first game of the season.
“I don’t even know how he was able to stand up… he basically has no ligaments in his knee at all,” Woods said. “For him to be able to suit up today and get out there for a couple of series and throw a touchdown pass, I’m really happy for him.”
Leaman not only got on the field, but threw for 86 yards and a touchdown. For his efforts, he was awarded the Tripoli Family Thanksgiving Day MVP award.
“The Tripoli family is just such a huge part of Bishop Fenwick… this is the 49th year they’ve awarded [the trophy] right here on the field… the way [Bryce] got it just makes it that much more special.”
Leaman’s return gave a boost of energy to his teammates, which started on special teams early in the first quarter.
On just the third series of the game, Fenwick forced a Masco punt deep in its own zone. Anthony Nichols got a good jump and blocked the punt, which Lincoln Dugan scooped in the endzone for his first touchdown of the year.
The elite special teams play gave Fenwick an early 8-0 lead after the 2-point conversion, and Woods could feel momentum shift to his side.
“That kind of got the ball rolling for us,” he said. “And I think, from then on, we played with a lot of confidence.”
Playing with that confidence, the Crusaders jumped to a 17-3 lead at halftime thanks to a 25-yard field goal, as well as a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Nichols.
After forcing a turnover on downs to start the second half, Brayden Clifford (72 passing yards, TD) made a beautiful throw on the run, finding Mike Zaimi (4 catches, 80 yards, TD) for a 36-yard score to extend Fenwick’s lead to 25-3.
Fenwick ended the game with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal the deal on back-to-back possessions.
First, it was Leaman finding Kurtis Bruch for an acrobatic touchdown catch. Then, after forcing another turnover-on-downs, Luke Connolly (167 yards, TD) found the end zone from 6 yards out to add to his monster performance.
Woods added that his running back trio “ran as hard today as they have all year.”
Nothing is better than celebrating a win with a feast, and Woods is looking forward to doing just that.
When asked about his soon-to-be victory meal, Woods was quite specific.
“Everything and everything, probably four or five times over,” he said.
