FOXBOROUGH — Finishing off a perfect run, and securing the program’s first Super Bowl title run in 14 years required grit, fortitude and staying power.
Locked in a 0-0 battle of attrition through three quarters with defending champion Foxborough, Shawsheen Tech finally broke, forging ahead on a a 17-play, 83-yard march, with senior stalwart Sid Tildsley punching it in from the 1 following his own 10-yard keeper with 7:15 remaining.
Five minutes later, courtesy of Jake Banda’s pick and 44-yard return to the 2, Tildsley added the clincher, enough for the Rams to wrest the Division 5 championship away from Foxborough, 14-0, in frigid, but dry conditions at Gillette Stadium.
In finishing off their 13-0 season, the Rams won their first Super Bowl since 2010, a 20-6 win over Blue Hills in Division 4. That season, like now, was under the direction of their beloved coach, Al Costabile, now in 26th season, as well as the school’s athletic director.
“I’ll be sitting on a beach someday in Italy thinking about tonight,” said Costabile, who let out praise for all 16 of his four-year seniors who made their dreams come true.
“Probably with a couple of coaches with me and a drink in my hand.”
Foxborough, which finished 8-5 after an 0-3 start, finished with 58 total yards, just 21 rushing.
In a clash of two hard-nosed teams, “we just couldn’t move the ball against them,” said Foxborough coach Jack Martinelli. “We couldn’t capitalize on an interception. We turned the ball over too much, and the punting game for both teams was essential in terms of field position.”
Three quarters earlier, the second play of the game proved to be the most explosive play of the first half by far, and it didn’t even count.
Foxborough quarterback Mike Marcucella dropped back and hit a striding Cam Deleskey, who shook off a pair of defenders and strolled into the end zone for what would have been an 85-yard touchdown reception. But officials reversed the lengthy scoring play on a personal foul (tripping).
In the rest of the half, the Rams and Foxborough managed to pick up three total first downs, with Ben Angelini churning out 37 yards on 13 carries.
Shawsheen marched to the Foxborough 12 and opted to go for it on fourth and 6. But James Dee-Gaffney scrambled past the Rams’ offensive line and knocked Tildsley to the ground for a 12-yard sack.
Earlier, Will Holloway intercepted Marcucella (6-of-21 passing) with a toe-tapping pick to the Rams’ 39-yard line. But the Shawsheen offense, heading into the affair at 39.3 points per game, was unable to produce.
As it got late into the final quarter of play, Tildsley (21 rushes, 65 yards) produced the closing statement to his career, with his TD, followed by an interception, and second touchdown scamper with just 2:37 left.
“To be able to be clutch in the fourth quarter like we have, it’s 0-0 until then,” said Tildsley, who finished his stellar career with a 40-7 record as the starting quarterback.
“To be able to grind and grit, kind of like on the wrestling mat, like I do, our teams came together, all 11 guys. We got it done.
After taking the lead, the Rams focused on stopping Angelini.
“I want to just shout out the whole defense,” said Costabile, who clapped his way of the stadium to salute the Shawsheen faithful. “I mean, we just got pressure when we needed to. I just want to give a shoutout to my defensive coordinator, Brian Tildsley. Five points per game all season and zero tonight.”
Shawsheen 14, Foxborough 0
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Foxborough (8-5) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Shawsheen (13-0) 0 0 0 14 — 14
S — Sid Tildsley 1 run (Jack Finn kick)
S — Sid Tildsley 2 run (Jack Finn kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — F, Ben Angelini 18-39, Jon Sacchetti 1-0, Mike Marcucella 2-(-18); S, Sid Tildsley 21-65, Jake Banda 8-28, Zack Timmons 7-3
PASSING — F, Mike Marcucella 6-21-3-37; S, Sid Tildsley 4-11-1-46
RECEIVING — F, Ben Angelini 2-35, Cam DeLeskey 3-21, Nolan Gordon 1-(-1); S, Zack Timmons 1-22, Jake Banda 2-14, Dyllon Pratt 1-10