St. Mary’s will face the Shawsheen Valley Vocational Tech again this week in the Division 5 football playoffs. The Spartans are looking to avenge a 14-7 loss on Oct. 3 to the Rams. The high-scoring Shawsheen team averages just under 31 points per game and hasn’t lost at home in roughly three years.
St. Mary’s head coach Sean Driscoll reflected on the first matchup.
“It was senior night. It was a special time especially since we have a lot of seniors and we came up short. When you look back at that game it was there for the taking. We had a couple of legit key penalties against us that hurt drives and stalled some of our drives. We’ve been doing a pretty good job the last couple of games cleaning that up,” Driscoll said. “We had some miscues on both sides of the ball and when you look at a close game like that you look at every play and how it could have been different.”
The loss was the third straight for the Spartans and Driscoll said the team has used the experience as a learning opportunity.
“It was a good learning point for us. We got to come into the next week with a positive attitude and regroup and play against a tough Bishop Stang team who’s hard to defend. Then we went down to Philadelphia and spent some time together as a unit for a couple of nights, and beating a very good team that just won their district — to come back with a win, I think that brought us together,” Driscoll said. “We were able to hang in there and get through the tough times and the tough breaks that we had against some really good football teams. Now we have a second chance again against a team that hasn’t lost at home in like three years. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Looking ahead to the rematch, Driscoll noted the uniqueness of playing the same opponent twice in one season.
“When we played them, it seemed like a long time ago, but it wasn’t that long ago. You look back and see what you did well or what they did well against us to try and make some adjustments. They know what we’re going to do, and we know what they’re going to try and do,” Driscoll said. “They’re a very well-coached team. We have some personnel changes, as I’m sure they do since the last time we played. It’s unique in high school football to play a team twice in the same year, but it happens a lot more now with the way the playoffs shake out.”
The Spartans have improved a lot since the last time the two teams played. One example has been the offense.
“Offensively, across the board, we’ve improved over the last four or five weeks. I think last week was a good statement game for us against Greater Lawrence, who had a great record and success this year. We didn’t commit any stupid penalties and cleaned up some of the stuff that has cost us drives in key points in big games,” Driscoll said. “In high school football, you only have so many opportunities to convert third and fourth downs, and we’ve done a better job lately.”
Driscoll believes this game has the potential to be another tough defensive game.
“Defensively, we’ve been pretty steady throughout the year, and I think that comes down to our guys being relentless, just like Shawsheen. They’ve got some good players on that side of the ball too. I think we match up well with each other and think it’s going to be another defensive battle,” Driscoll said. “It should be a very good football game.”
For the players, Driscoll said the team is ready to take on the challenge on the road on Friday night at 6 p.m.
“I told them today, it’s rare to get second chances in athletic competitions, especially in high school football. You have a second chance to play a very good football team and compete at the highest level,” Driscoll said. “I tell my kids it’s all about competing and letting the cards fall where they fall. My kids have accepted the challenge all year against opponents, and I think they’ll be ready to do the same this week.”
