KP puts streak on the line against L-S
DIV. 2 PREVIEW
Tom Lopez knows that pulling off what no one in the last two seasons has been able to do will be a tall task.
That task is for the LincolnSudbury coach to find a way to slow down King Philip and its state-best, 24-game win streak in the Division 2 Super Bowl Friday night at Gillette Stadium (7:30 p.m.).
“They don’t do a lot of things, but what they do, they do very well,” said Lopez, who is in his 40th year as coach at LincolnSudbury. “The quarterback, running back and offensive line work well together, and the defense is very aggressive. They try to force you into doing things that you don’t want to do.”
Lincoln-Sudbury (11-0) has had quite a strong season itself. L-S hasn’t had much trouble putting points on the board this season, averaging well over 40 points per game. The ground attack has been the bread and butter as the trio of running backs Andrew Marshall and James Dillon and quarterback Braden O’Connell have combined to rush for more than 2,800 yards.
All three have benefited by running behind a youthful offensive line that has blossomed over the course of the season. Center Dan Kerrigan, tackles Cal Kenney and Andrew Guerra, guards Mike Ciaffoni and Aidan Cavanaugh and tight end Matt Cunningham are all juniors.
Linebackers Dillon and Ciaffoni are the heart of the Lincoln-Sudbury defense. Lopez gives them all the credit for setting the tone.
“They have been very good all year long,” said Lopez, whose 294 wins ranks fifth on the state alltime list. “They make the calls, all of the adjustments for us.”
There is no question King Philip (11-0) is looking to get the ball into the hands of running back Shane Frommer early and often. The Yale-bound standout has rushed for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns
Quarterback Brendan Lydon doesn’t have the glowing stats, but he is 24-0 as a starting quarterback due in large part to the fact he seldom makes mistakes. He has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns, spreading the ball to the likes of Jack Piller, Thomas Madden and David Morganelli.
Defensively, KP has allowed a shade over 10 points per game, most of that coming in the first half. Evan Rice and Piller lead the way up front, Jack Webster and Max Armour have played well at linebacker, while Andrew Dittrich, Luke D’Amico and Dylan Leonard anchor the secondary. Dittrich had a pair of pick-6’s against Taunton in a 35-7 win.
King Philip has shown the ability to reach deep when needed, as evidenced by its game against Franklin, when KP scored 10 points in the final minute to win 17-14, the final three points coming on a 19-yard field goal by Cole Baker with four seconds left.
King Philip also takes great pride in the fact that it is a second-half team. It has allowed only two touchdowns after the intermission during the last eight games.