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Hawks Football Finishes a Strong Season

by Hunter Broadbent ’19 and Joshua Mould ’19, #XBCorps

Amongst all divisions in the state, Xaverian once again received high praise for a strong season. In the final Boston Globe ranking, the Hawks finished 3rd in the state, while the Boston Herald placed the Hawks in 9th.
 
Xaverian’s 2017 gridiron campaign came to a tough end against the Everett Crimson Tide in the Division-I Championship on December 2. The Hawks had earned the right to play in Gillette, defeating strong opponents Attleboro, Needham, and Catholic Memorial en route to a fifth-consecutive Super Bowl berth. The Hawks soared through these first three rounds, outscoring their playoff opponents 107-13. However, the reigning Super Bowl champs proved to be too strong for the Hawks to contain, storming to a decisive 35-10 victory to cap off an undefeated season.

The Hawks knew they were in for a battle against the tough Everett team, as they had fallen to them 38-7 during the season opener. Despite an inconsistent start to the season, Xaverian was strong when it counted, as they won six of their final seven games heading into the Super Bowl, including a dominant 30-0 victory over rival St. John’s Prep on Thanksgiving. Before the tilt with St. John's, Coach Fornaro stressed the importance of treating meaningful games “just like all of the others,” adding that his team must always “prepare, practice, and play as best we can, [since] there is no other way.” Coming into the Championship, the Hawks worked hard to be ready for Everett, practicing into the evenings in the crisp fall air. Although the final score was unfortunate, some positives did come out of this year’s Super Bowl. Xaverian students of the past, present, and future turned out in droves, packing our designated sections of the Gillette stands with immense support for the team. The Hawks jogged onto the turf under a Foxboro cheer comparable to one given to Tom Brady.

The team leaned on the running game heavily throughout the night, which resulted in 243 yards gained on the ground. Running back Ike Irabor (’18) had some powerful carries, scoring the Hawks' only touchdown with a 15-yard run midway through the second quarter. His 14 carries and 97 yards led the way on the offensive side of the ball. Mike Masse (’19) and Mike Saliba (’19) also had nice showings, with Masse’s 40 yard dash across the field in the 2nd quarter proving to be one of the moments of the night for the Xaverian offense. Quarterback Davin Sweeney (’18) threw for 60 yards, highlighted by a 48-yard pass to Cooper DeVeau early on. Kicker Brian Fallon (’18) also nailed a 20-yard field goal and an extra point in the second quarter. On the defensive side of the ball, DeVeau again elevated to the moment, preventing  what would have been a substantial gain by Everett receiver Isaiah Likely late in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, Likely was once again denied a touchdown, this time with Brian Abraham (’18) providing lockdown coverage.

Regardless of the score of the game, Hawks fans remained optimistic, and showed the true passion of Xaverian. This year’s Super Bowl loss will power next year’s Hawks to work even harder in order to leave Gillette with a championship trophy in 2018. GO HAWKS!


This article was written and submitted by Xaverian Communication Corps members, Hunter Broadbent ’19 and Joshua Mould ’19.
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Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.