DANVERS — In many ways St. John's Prep outplayed arch rival Xaverian before a packed crowd at Cronin Field yesterday morning. In the end, it wasn't quite enough to snap the Hawks' unbeaten streak and earn a trip to the Division 1 playoffs.
The game was decided in the span of 12 seconds after Tad Beuchert made a 27-yard field goal to put the Eagles ahead by three points with the third quarter winding down. Fans sensed an upset in the making, but hopes were dashed when Xaverian's Joe Colton returned the kickoff 83-yards to put his team ahead.
"Colton's kickoff return was huge; it was a big momentum changer," said Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson. "Holding them to just a field goal after we turned the ball over was another key. These games are always tight, and this was anybody's game all the way."
The Hawks never looked back, winning 21-16 to put the finishing touches on an 11-0 regular season and the Catholic Conference title. The Eagles finished 4-6 and have had back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1961-62.
If St. John's had been able to pull off the upset, the Eagles would have not only earned a piece of the title, but most likely would have gone on to face the Boxers (depending on how many points they had in the complex conference system). Xaverian faces Brockton Tuesday night (time, venue TBA)
The Eagles dominated play in the first half, but it was all tied up at 7-7 at intermission. St. John's got a big break late in the third quarter when Xaverian's Rob Cavanaugh fumbled a punt, and Brian Garey recovered for the Prep at the Hawks 15-yard.
On first down George Sessoms (game high 87 yards on 16 carries), slashed his way to the 9-yard line, and fullback Chris Ryan picked up a yard on the next play. But on third-and-three quarterback Chris Coady lost a couple of yards, setting up the Beuchert field goal for a 10-7 Prep lead. But seconds later Colton broke up the right sideline and outran everybody for his 17th TD of the season. The Eagles never recovered.
"It was disappointing we didn't bang in seven and had to settle for the field goal. This game came down to one play, that kickoff return," said Prep coach Jim O'Leary. "This is a great rivalry; we see each other 10 times a year and exchange films so there aren't many surprises. No matter how you look at it the outcome came down to Colton's touchdown."
St. John's had held the visitors to just three offensive plays in the first 13 minutes, but Phelan's 24-yard scamper into the end zone staked the Hawks to a 7-0 lead. The Eagles answered right back with a 71-yard, 18 play drive, capped by Coady's 1-yard pass to Ryan Delisle.
"We controlled it and kept their offense off the field. We had people on the quarterback (Alex Phelan), but a couple of times he broke free and made big plays," said O'Leary.
The Eagles fought hard until the end, even after the Hawks increased the lead to 21-10 on Phelan's 8-yard run with 5:05 remaining.
"We knew Sessoms and (Tyler) Coppola are big play guys for them, but I wasn't expecting Coady to run or throw the ball so well (15 carries for 35 yards and 8-13 for 87 yards and two TD's)," Stevenson said.
St. John's drove 70-yards in 8 plays led by Coady in the no-huddle offense. The quarterback hit Kevin Davis, who made a great catch in the end zone with 2:11 remaining. The two-point conversion failed, but the Eagles had closed the gap to 21-16.
They had one last chance after Delisle blocked a punt, giving his team possession at the Hawks 40-yard line. But the offense stalled, and on fourth down Coady was sacked by Nick Howard.
"We had a long season with all the stuff off the field (Jared Coppola's serious injury in preseason), but I'm so proud of this team," said O'Leary. "They never gave up; I'm as proud of this group as any we've had that went undefeated."
Xaverian 21, St. John's Prep 16
at Cronin Field, Danvers
Xaverian7077 — 21
St. John's Prep0736 — 16
X- Alex Phelan 24 run (Jules Murphy kick)
SJP- Ryan Delisle 1 pass from Chirs Coady (Tad Beuchert kick)
SJP- Beuchert 27 FG
X- Joe Colton 83 kickoff return (Murphy kick)
X- Phelan 8 run (Murphy kick)
P- Kevin Davis 28 pass from Coady (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Xaverian — Joe Colton 15-65, Alex Phelan 7-39, Matt Tuleja 1-1; St. John's Prep — George Sessoms 16-87, Chris Coady 15-35, Chris Ryan 6-16.
PASSING: Xaverian — Phelan 3-3-63-0-0; St. John's Prep — Coady 8-13-87-2-0, Sessoms 0-1-0-0-0.
RECEIVING: Xaverian — Mike Hyatt 1-38, Colton 1-24, Robert Cavanaugh 1-1; St. John's Prep — Kevin Davis 3-53, Sessoms 1-18, Tyler Coppola 1-15, Delisle, 1-1, Ryan 2-0.
