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BC High 27, CM 14

BC High starts fast, finishes off Catholic Memorial

BC High27
CM14

In the 53d Thanksgiving battle between BC High and Catholic Memorial, BC High took home its 10th straight Pumpkin Trophy, defeating the Knights, 27-14.

This year’s confrontation on Morrissey Boulevard was not for a Catholic Conference title or Super Bowl berth. At stake was pride and bragging rights for schools built on athletic tradition. BC High had won nine straight Pumpkin trophies coming into the game.

Catholic Memorial had lost its last three games, while the Eagles, after defeating Brockton and Newton North, were fresh off a crushing loss to rival Xaverian in the Division 1 South playoff championship.

With both teams eliminated from the playoffs, the game was their Super Bowl.

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CM received the opening kickoff and after a few big plays, was forced to punt. The first play for BC High was a routine pass for 7 yards from senior quarterback Sean Holleran to Nick Gill.

But the Eagles had bigger things in mind. A lateral pass to Connor Cady sent him 65 yards for a touchdown.

“We ran that play a couple times in practice this week, and figured we could get a big hitter, and it worked,” said Gill.

The Eagles next play from scrimmage was also a pass to Gill, this time for a 66-yard touchdown.

Then BC High forced a fumble and Matt Johnson scooped up the loose ball and ran 55 yards for the Eagles’ third TD in 6 minutes and 27 seconds.

“When things are going like that, it’s very easy to lose your composure. We called them in and told them to get under control,” said CM coach Alex Campea.

The Knights scored twice in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 21-14. Sophomore quarterback Matt Marcantano threw for two touchdowns, a 12-yard pass to Gavin Ajoku and a 23-yard pass to Curt Bletzer in the final minute of the first half.

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“We wanted to get back to our power run game in the second half,’’ said BC High coach Jon Bartlett.

The Eagles did just that.

BC High threw only twice in 26 second-half offensive plays.

Led by junior running back Steve Timmins (63 yards on 11 carries), the Eagles consumed a huge chunk of the clock and shut down the Knights’ offense.

A 1-yard rush by Johnson sealed the game.

“I’m very proud of this team and how they played this season, especially today,” said Bartlett.