A whole new game
Everett not taking Xaverian lightly
DIV. 1 PREVIEW
Don’t think for a moment that the Everett players are going to put a lot of stock in a 38-7 victory over Xaverian in early September.
If they do, the odds are good they will hear about it from the coaching staff.
The two teams meet in a Division 1 Super Bowl rematch Saturday at Gillette Stadium (8 p.m.). Everett coach John DiBiaso said Xaverian is a far cry from the team that clearly was overmatched in the season opener.
“They’ve won four in a row and beaten some pretty good teams,” DiBiaso said. “They have won two of the last three Super Bowls, so we will have to be prepared.”
Xaverian (7-4) has been better defensively of late, but the Everett offense is a different breed of cat. Jake Willcox has stepped in and led a high-powered attack that has scored at least 33 points in all 11 games. The receiving corps is deep and talented, led by Anthony Norcia, Isaiah Likely, Mike Sainristil and Jason Maitre, while the running backs are led by Jacob Miller and Kevin Brown. Helber Brigante anchors the offensive line.
Despite the impressive arsenal, the Hawks are clearly relishing another opportunity at the undefeated Crimson Tide (11-0). First-year coach Al Fornaro likes the attitude of this team, which is coming off a 30-0 victory over St. John’s Prep on Thanksgiving.
“I remember a few weeks ago when we beat Needham in the playoffs. We were all standing around, waiting to hear who won the BC High-Catholic Memorial game,” Fornaro said. “When we found out CM won, the kids were excited because it was an opportunity against a team we felt we did not play our best football against.
“I think a lot of the kids feel the same way now. Look, Everett is a very good team, someone we respect a great deal and (DiBiaso) does a great job with them. But these kids are excited to get a second chance.”
Much of the second-half success for the Hawks lies in the fact that they’ve simplified things, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve resorted to a power running game with Ike Irabor assuming the ranks of featured back. He ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the St. John’s Prep game.
For Xaverian to have any chance, it will have to run the ball. Throwing against a talented Everett secondary will be a tall task. Lewis Cine, Maitre and Sainristil are future Division 1 college talents with Maitre already committed to Boston College.
While Xaverian comes into the game on a roll, DiBiaso is looking to see his team revert to form after an uneven performance against Masconomet at Fenway Park.
“We can’t do what we did in that game against Xaverian,” DiBiaso said. “We turned the ball over twice, and we hadn’t done that in weeks. We committed stupid penalties, and we haven’t done that at all. There’s no secret that we have to clean those things up.”