I’ve come a long way since math class, but now, I love numbers – especially in sports.
They don’t always tell the whole story, but, then again, they never lie.
Wednesday’s Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium (the best football played in Foxborough all year) was numerically sensational – even before it started.
Let’s take a look.
Six: the number of days since St. John’s Prep last played Xaverian, in which the latter won on a time-expiring field goal on Turkey Day.
Three: the total number of points Prep lost to Xaverian by in two recent matchups (36-35 in 2022; 23-21 last Thursday)
One: the total number of road losses each side had coming in. Neither team had lost away from home until it had to play the other, so the neutral location wasn’t going to have much effect.
Zero: the room for error on Wednesday.
And four quarters later, in a 31-25 final, Xaverian was victorious.
Let’s talk about the game.
Xaverian went up, 14-12, at the break – only because Prep fell short on two 2-point attempts.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Xaverian quarterback Henry Hasselbeck – yes, son of former NFL quarterback Matt – was another reason. He tossed two dimes in the first half.
No wonder he’s headed to Michigan State.
The first half was, oh, so close. Prep had just one more first down, while Xaverian had just 24 more yards.
Prep scored another touchdown early in the third, but its post-touchdown woes continued. It missed the point after.
It was anyone’s guess whether these points would come back to haunt The Prep, but after an Xaverian touchdown to take the lead, Prep’s stars shined.
Cam LaGrassa eclipsed 100 rushing yards and Deacon Robillard reached 100 passing yards during the third quarter. Meanwhile, Edwin Castro was making tackle after tackle. Well done, Lynn native.
Four: the number of points separating the teams after three quarters (25-21, Prep).
Xaverian’s Caleb Brown caught his hat-trick touchdown to kick off the fourth quarter. Man, after seven quarters against each other in six days, both defenses looked helpless.
Prep never quit. The Eagles had one last chance for a touchdown, trailing 31-25, and they nearly did it.
One: the number of seconds remaining for Prep to win the game on a final play.
It fell short, but what a season it was for Brian St. Pierre’s group, one that won 11 games and scored 465 total points.
So, who do you have in next year’s game?
