One Last Chance: Owen McGowan and Barrett Pratt Use Lasting Memory to Help Fuel Catholic Memorial's Super Bowl Run

Former Canton Pop Warner teammates Owen McGowan (kicker) and Barrett Pratt (#7, pictured) now are at the center of Catholic Memorial's Super Bowl Charge.

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

In 2011, on a cold Thanksgiving morning on Baker Street, host Catholic Memorial went pound for pound with rival BC High. With a Super Bowl berth on the line and over 10,000 fans in attendance, the two sides refused to give an inch into the latter stages of the second half. Before it was all said and done the scoreboard told what had become a familiar story as the Eagles outlasted the Knights, 13-0, en route to the schools second title in four years. A Knights core that consisted of four Division 1 senior captains was unable to bring home Catholic Memorial's first crown in 35 years.

Weeks earlier, on a grass field in Sharon, Canton's Pop Warner football team was rushing onto the field for a last second field goal try. A conversion needed for a tie and a chance at an overtime win hung in the balance. Snap perfect, hold steady, kick through the uprights. For the fourth and fifth grades involved, it was the thrill of a lifetime. Except the holder and the kicker on that very day are now not only two close friends, but the staples of a Catholic Memorial team hoping to finish the job that the 2011 team was unable to complete. 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: St. John's Prep defeats Catholic Memorial for D1 State Title

Videos by Matt Siegel (@SportVideoMA)

Foxboro, Mass. - Our final MIAA state football championship game at Gillette Stadium for 2018 was a great one, as Catholic Conference rivals St. John's Prep and Catholic Memorial fought it our for the Division 1 state title.

In the end, it was St. John's Prep coming out on top, 40-22, pulling away late thanks to a flurry of forced turnovers and big offensive plays. Our Matt Siegel was there to grab highlights, which you can watch below.

PHOTO GALLERY: Blackstone Valley Tech vs St. Mary's in the D7 Super Bowl

Photos by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Foxboro, Mass. - In the second state championship game of the day at Gillette Stadium, Blackstone Valley Tech shut out St. Mary's 18-0 to capture the D7 Super Bowl.

Our Andrew Bowman was down on the field to capture images of both teams, which you can view below. Note that you can click any image to enlarge.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Stoneham tops Old Rochester in D6 Super Bowl Slugfest

Videos by Matt Siegel (@SportVideoMA)

Foxboro, Mass. - In a back-and-forth affair for the MIAA Division 6 state football championship, Stoneham landed the decisive blow against Old Rochester, winning 26-20 at Gillette Stadium Saturday.

Our Matt Siegel was down on the field to bring you video highlights of the game's final moments. Check them out below.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Scituate Runs Away from Nipmuc in D5 Super Bowl

Videos by Matt Siegel (@SportVideoMA)

Foxboro, Mass. - Scituate left no doubt Saturday at Gillette Stadium, defeating Nipmuc 35-14 in the MIAA Division 5 state championship game.

The Sailors are Super Bowl champs for the first time in school history, and our Matt Siegel was field level at Gillette to bring you the highlights. Check those out below.

Blackstone Valley Tech's Revenge Tour ends with a D7 State Title

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Foxboro, Mass. - A year after coming up just short on the hallowed turf of Gillette Stadium, Blackstone Valley Tech broke through.

The Beavers, big underdogs against a dynastic Mashpee team last season, handled their business routinely against St. Mary's (Lynn), smothering the Spartans 18-0 in Saturday's Division 7 state championship game. BVT held a talented St. Mary's offense to just 75 total yards, including only 27 in the first half when the game was still in doubt.

"St. Mary's is a great team, don't get me wrong, but they didn't come out  to execute today," BVT junior J.D. Antaya. "They looked a little nervous, like us last year at Gillette, but we just came out and treated (Saturday) like any other game."

For BVT, the win meant not just a title, but also state-wide respect, something the Beavers felt they were shorted the last time they visited Foxboro. The Beavers also became the first vocational school to ever win a state-wide football championship in Massachusetts.

Merrimack Runs Away with NCAA D2 Men's Lax National Title at Gillette

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - It would have taken an act of god to keep the Merrimack men’s lacrosse team from hoisting the trophy as NCAA Division II champions, and that still might not have been enough.

One year after seeing their dreams slip away at Gillette Stadium, the Warriors returned to the same patch of earth and left no stone unturned, as they took apart Saint Leo 23-6 to claim the program’s first ever national title.

The 23 goals tied for the most ever in a national final regardless of division. The Warriors now share the record with 1977 Hobart and 1980 UMBC.

Massachusetts Talent Propels Merrimack to NCAA D2 Lax Title Game

After a decorated career at Longmeadow, which included an undefeated D2 state championship run, long pole Dan Cotnoir hopes to bring an NCAA D2 national championship to Merrimack. But the former Lancer is just one of many Massachusetts products hoping to lead the Warriors to victory in their home state.  Photo courtesy of Merrimack Athletics.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - Sports are cruel.

Last year, the Merrimack men’s lacrosse team advanced to its first NCAA Division II title game, and had the lucky draw of playing in the Commonwealth at Gillette Stadium.

The Warriors let a lead slip away late and lost to Limestone.

This year, though, the Warriors are back in the title game, and return to Foxboro better than ever with a team getting contributions up and down the lineup from Bay State natives. Merrimack's second consecutive title game in Massachusetts will take place Sunday at 4 pm against No. 6 St. Leo.

Thanks to the wealth of local talent, coach Mike Morgan believes his group is capable of leaving Gillette Stadium victorious this season.

Roxbury Latin Alums Weitzel and Lowrie Prepare for NCAA Lax Final Four in Foxboro

Yale LSM Will Weitzel has helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA lacrosse Final Four, and could see a familiar face in the championship game...   Photo courtesy of Yale Athletics.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - Life is strange in how it connects and brings people back together.

Years after starring together on the lacrosse pitch at Roxbury Latin, Newton’s Will Weitzel and Foxboro’s Sean Lowrie are one win away from meeting each other for the NCAA Division 1 lacrosse national championship at Gillette Stadium.

Concord-Carlisle's Brozowski Hopes to Capture Another NCAA Lax Title With Maryland

Concord-Carlisle alum Nick Brozowski will again take the field for Maryland in the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four at Gillette Stadium, and he's dreaming of another national title.  Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - Last year Nick Brozowski had the ball in his stick as the clock ran out on the NCAA Division 1 Lacrosse national championship game.

The Concord native threw his stick, gloves, and helmet into the air at Gillette Stadium as he, and the Maryland lacrosse team, celebrated the program's first national title in 42 years.

Now a redshirt junior, Brozowski and the Terps are back in the Final Four in Foxboro, looking to cement their spot in Terrapin lore.

PHOTO GALLERY: Everett vs Xaverian at Gillette

Photos By Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

FOXBOROUGH - You can read a full recap of Everett's D1 state championship win over Xaverian here, but here are some awesome images of the title game from our Eamon Convey.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Everett Pulls Away from Xaverian for Back-to-Back Division 1 Titles

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

FOXBOROUGH - For Everett, Saturday night was a perfect ending to a perfect season.

Jake Willcox threw for 185 and two touchdowns while Anthony Norcia compiled 124 yards receiving as Everett defeated Xaverian, 35-10, to win the Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

The Crimson Tide (12-0) went into the half holding their smallest halftime lead of the season at 14-10.

As it did all season long, Everett, in the blink of an eye, left its opponent in the dust.

Xs & Os: Everett Uses "Sluggo" to Pull Away from Xaverian

By John Sarianides (@xnojoe)

FOXBOROUGH - For the first time this season, Everett failed to go into the half with a double-digit lead.

Early on in Saturday night's Division 1 state championship game at Gillette Stadium, Xaverian did a great job of running the ball, keeping Jake Willcox and the explosive Crimson Tide offense off the field for much of the first half.

Mashpee Outlasts Blackstone Valley Tech for Third Straight State Championship

By Brendan Hall (@BHallUFA)

FOXBOROUGH -Matt Triveri’s tenure at Mashpee High has been marked by transcendent running back production year-in and year-out. And, while he’s still got another year with a pretty good one in Devaun Ford, the coach didn’t hesitate to put him in the ranks with past legends.

“He’s right up there with Jordan [Keli’inui], DeShaun [Dias], Jared Taylor,” Triveri said of his workhorse back, who worked through some early injury to finish with a game-high 24 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown, and added three catches for 45 yards and another score in the Falcons’ 22-16 win over Blackstone Valley Tech. The win handed Mashpee the MIAA Division 7 State Championship at Gillette Stadium, the program's third state championship in a row.

“All those guys, he’s right there… He’s one of the smartest we’ve ever had here. He just gets it. He’s a complete player.”

The Falcons have now won three straight state-wide titles at Gillette Stadium, and four Super Bowls in the past seven seasons, dating back to Jared Taylor’s epic 308-yard masterpiece in their Division 4A Super Bowl rout of Cardinal Spellman in 2011.

But before Mashpee could bask in the luster of more championship hardware, and before Ford could permeate himself in the annals of the school’s all-time greats, the Falcons had to hold on for dear life.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mashpee vs Blackstone Valley Tech at Gillette

Photos By Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

FOXBOROUGH - We will have a full recap of Mashpee's Division 7 state championship win against Blackstone Valley Tech a little later. But, for now, check out these images from our Eamon Convey.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Xs & Os: Dennis-Yarmouth Gets Bobby Evans into Space in D5 Final

By John Sarianides (@xnojoe)

FOXBOROUGH - Dennis-Yarmouth beat West Springfield, 37-7, in the Division 5 state championship thanks to a potent spread offensive attack.

Dolphins running back Bobby Evans led the way rushing with 131 yards on 15 carries. Evans scored two rushing touchdowns and also returned an interception for a score.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dennis-Yarmouth vs West Springfield at Gillette

Photos By Brendan Hall (@BHallUFA)

You can check out a a full recap of Dennis-Yarmouth's Division 5 state championship win over West Springfield here, but now enjoy these shots from our Brendan Hall.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Millis Dominates Hoosac Valley for D8 State Championship

By Ethan Winter (@Ewints)

FOXBOROUGH - After scoring 76 points against Nashoba Valley Tech in the Division 8 State semifinal, the Hoosac Valley Hurricanes vaunted offense was held scoreless by an impressive Millis Mohawks defense, as Millis was able to repeat as State Champions with a dominating 37-0 win.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Millis head coach, Dana Olson of winning back-to-back state championships. “We only dressed 28 guys and 17 of them were seniors, I knew we had an unbelievable preseason and unbelievable preparation for this game.”

After scoring 76 points against Nashoba Valley Tech in the state semifinal, it looked like Hoosac might be the best chance for a WMass team to capture a state title since the MIAA went to a state-wide tournament format in 2013.

However, that big number two weeks ago got the Millis defense excited to play a Hoosac offense that averaged over 47 points per game.

PHOTO GALLERY: Millis vs Hoosac Valley at Gillette

Photos by Brendan Hall (@BHallUFA)

FOXBOROUGH - We will have a full recap Millis' Divison 8 Super Bowl win against Hoosac Valley. But, for now, enjoy some of these shots from our Brendan Hall.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Xs & Os: Melrose Goes Iso to Unleash Seide

Melrose junior running back Issac Seide rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in the Red Raiders 21-0 win Nashoba in the Division 4 Super Bowl.

The sturdy junior running back gained most of his 184 yards on a basic isolation play out of a pistol two-back formation. Let's take a look at two of the Red Raiders' pet plays.