DANVERS – Shawsheen Tech (11-0) is heading again to the Division 6 state title after a 22-14 time beyond regulation win in opposition to North Studying (9-2).
The story of the sport was Shawsheen’s senior captain, working again/linebacker Jake Banda. He completed with 266 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns. To high it off, he intercepted a North Studying move on their first play of their time beyond regulation possession to clinch the win and ship his crew again to Gillette Stadium as they appear to repeat as state champions.
“It’s nice to get again, however all props to my O and D line, they led us on this recreation and this season,” Banda stated. “Nothing’s on me, it’s all on them. We work onerous, elevate onerous, situation onerous, and it’s all paid off.”
The lone rating of the primary half was when North Studying senior quarterback Jason Berry threw a bullet display screen to sophomore receiver Colin Brady, and he took it 13 yards for a landing. This capped off a 99-yard drive that took 10 performs.
Shawsheen marched 56 yards on their opening drive of the second half, with Banda selecting up 54 of these yards and ending the possession with a 10-yard landing run slightly below 4 minutes into the third.
After a Hornet three-and-out, it was Banda placing the crew on his again once more by getting all the crew’s 80 yards on the drive, together with a 42-yard dash to search out the top zone on a sweep.
North Studying went 91 yards in 11 performs, with Berry discovering senior working again Nick Torra for a nine-yard landing move on a fairly play design the place he went on a delayed wheel route and was the one one on that facet of the sphere to tie the sport at 14 with 9:03 left within the fourth. One other key play on the drive was a “Philly Particular” harking back to the Eagles in Tremendous Bowl 52, gaining 25 yards plus one other 15 on a late hit.
Shawsheen had an extended drive, however it was derailed by two premature unlawful formation penalties and resulted in a turnover on downs on the North Studying 25. The Hornets went three and out, giving the ball to the Rams on their very own 40. Banda mixed for 42 dashing yards on the following two performs. QB Adam Caruso rushed for 11 yards on the following two performs to arrange his kicker for a game-winning subject objective on the finish of regulation. Nevertheless, the 29-yard kick was blocked to ship the sport into time beyond regulation.
Time beyond regulation guidelines are much like the school format, with each groups getting a possession beginning on the 10-yard line. It took Banda three makes an attempt to search out the top zone, with the rating being from one yard away, in addition to the two-point conversion to make it 22-14. On the primary play of North Studying’s ensuing drive, Banda secured the game-winning interception.
“42 makes quite a lot of large performs, and him not taking any credit score exhibits his management,” stated head coach Al Costabile. “This yr means greater than others. We misplaced three starters on the road, together with probably the greatest within the state (Sid Tildsley), a brand new QB, it’s only a testomony to the gamers and coaches we’ve right here.”
The Rams will tackle the winner of Foxboro and Archbishop Williams subsequent week, trying to defend their crown. If Foxboro wins, it might be a rematch of the 2024 Div. 6 ultimate.
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