You know what I’ve been thinking? A fast start goes a long way — especially during an emotional game against your traditional archrival.
Thanksgiving morning was a good one for St. Mary’s football team, which stormed onto Donaldson Field and took down Bishop Fenwick 38-6. The Spartans finished the season with a 7-4 record, No. 8 seeding in the Division 5 bracket, and state tournament win against Greater Lawrence Tech.
That said, what the Spartans just might remember most from this season was their Turkey Day dominance. St. Mary’s totaled 197 yards on the ground and 300 yards of offense in the first half alone.
Leading Thursday’s charge were Yaniel Belliard (5-for-8, 115 yards), kicker Ryan Esquivel, Rowan Merryman (114 yards rushing, 83 yards receiving), Tyren Hoeun (146 yards rushing), and Nathan Cutone (2 TDs)
“They played well and performed the way we hoped they would,” said St. Mary’s coach Sean Driscoll. “Preparation was the difference. We were coming off a tough loss (Shawsheen in tournament) in a physical game. Every practice we had was really competitive.”
Red-hot St. Mary’s won five of its final six games after a mid-season bump.
“That’s a good win,” Driscoll said. “Any time you get a chance to play your rival on Thanksgiving, it’s an important game. That’s a victory for the school and for the alumni that come out and support us.”
