PEABODY — After last year’s school-wide postseason ban, the Bishop Fenwick football team (5-0) has returned in dominant fashion, to say the least.
The Crusaders defeated Cardinal Spellman, 45-0, at Donaldson Stadium to remain undefeated. Coach Dave Woods called Friday night an all-around team win.
“I thought both sides of the ball played great,” he said. “The defense really turned up the intensity. Last week, we had kind of a slow start, so we came out right out the gate and the defense was swarming.”
Getting the party started were quarterback Brayden Clifford and wideout Jesse Timson, who connected for a 36-yard touchdown on just the second play from scrimmage. Nate Allder added a two-point conversion (8-0).
Still in the first quarter, Lincoln Dugan intercepted the ball before returning it to Spellman’s 15-yard line. A few plays later, Tyler Connolly punched one in from a yard out (14-0).
Clifford and Timson connected again (27-yard TD) before Dylan Patterulli took a screen pass to the house in the second quarter. Fenwick enjoyed a 28-0 cushion at the break.
“I thought Brayden Clifford had a great game and I thought Jesse Timson had a nice game, too. He had some good routes and, as always, the offensive line did a great job for us,” Woods said. “Brayden had one of his better games and he threw the ball really well.”
The second half was more of the same for the hosts. Aidan Silva tacked on a 38-yard field goal, while Joe Morceau and Ryan Zepaj scored 4- and 6-yard touchdowns, respectively, to seal it.
Fenwick, which has eclipsed 40 points in three consecutive games (Wilmington, Archbishop Williams, Spellman), makes the trip to Attleborough next Saturday to take on Bishop Feehan at 1 p.m.
Owen Finn is a student at Endicott College studying journalism
