Xaverian blows out Brockton
BROCKTON — Friday night was the type of game that Xaverian football coach Al Fornaro loves, and not just because it was a win in what he believes is the best nonleague rivalry in the state.
His outstanding offensive line allowed the Hawks to do whatever they wanted offensively as junior Michael Oates ran for two touchdowns and senior Jake Gilbert threw for two more in a 42-6 rout of Brockton.
“I don’t get to coach the position anymore, which I’m not happy about, but I went down when they were doing a little 1-on-1s and I stopped the drill and told them, as an offensive line there is nothing more satisfying than moving a human being against his will, and we did that a lot tonight,” said Fornaro.
Xaverian (1-2) scored on five of its seven possessions with the first team offense — all TDs. The Hawks were essentially stopped just once as one series ended with a botched field goal attempt at the end of the half.
Oates piled up 124 yards on just 14 carries and had scoring runs of 24 and 39, the second of which made it 28-0 just two plays into the second half. BC-bound senior left tackle Jack Funke led the way up front, along with juniors Cole Canty, Kastriot Panariti and Jon Mould, and sophomore Andrew Dufault.
A sophomore cornerback with a name quite familiar to Hawks fans provided the highlight of the night when Charlie Comella, whose father Greg and uncles Matt and J.P. all starred for Xaverian, picked off a deep ball down the left sideline and zig-zagged his way 55 yards back to the end zone in the second quarter.
“He’s good. He’s got good bloodlines and I’m glad he’s here,” said Fornaro of Comella. “He is playing because he’s the best guy. Greg played for me and I’m told he’s not going to play if he’s not the best guy. The school pays my salary, not the parents.”
Comella also caught a 29yard TD pass, running under a beautiful lofted toss from Gilbert, who finished 11-of-15 for 167 yards. Gilbert capped the scoring by hitting Brockton native Jonathan Monteiro for a 34-yard TD.
Boxers QB Jason Wotondi accounted for nearly all of the Brockton offense, throwing for 130 yards and a touchdown and running for 39 more.
Xaverian has now won nine of the last 10 contests between the teams and leads the rivalry 26-13 overall.