BOXFORD – For the first time ever, the Northeast Conference runs through Masconomet.
Masco knocked off Marblehead, 45-42, at Walt Roberts Field to capture its first NEC crown in program history, accomplishing the feat in dramatic fashion by overcoming a 22-point first half deficit.
“I was so proud of our fight,” said Masco coach Patrick Sheehan, who has brought new life to the program over the past two seasons. “There were multiple times it looked like this game was out of reach, but our kids never stopped fighting.”
In a test of resilience and heart, Masco took an inch-by-inch approach. After trailing 28-6 in the second quarter, then falling behind 42-25 with five-and-a-half minutes remaining, it was going to take a series of miraculous plays to have a prayer at winning.
Enter Jack Fabiano.
The senior running back is going to be persona non grata in Marblehead, and that is because of an unstoppable performance. Fabiano’s goal line touchdown with 18 seconds remaining gave Masco its only lead of the night – and the victory.
“It’s the first time we ever beat Marblehead, so we needed to play the game of our lives,” said Fabiano (338 yards rushing, five TDs). “And we don’t win this game without our line. They opened up holes. I was following (senior linebacker) Cam Bucchiere all night. It was a real team win, and we never stopped believing we could do it.”
Marblehead (6-1) nearly found a way to even the score. With only 18 seconds to play, Finn Gallup made a 44-yard completion to Owen Coyne to put the Magicians within field goal range. But the 36-yard attempt by Finbar Bresnehan sailed wide right, and the Chieftains finally slayed a seemingly insurmountable opponent.
“We just got handed a lesson,” said Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff. “We made mental mistakes and physical mistakes because we were tired. That’s what bit us over the last five minutes. And Masco did a great job. So we need to take what happened and learn from it.”
Masco (7-1) was led by an extremely hungry pack of seniors, one that refused to lose their final game against Marblehead. That included senior receiver Cal Weidman, who was instrumental in keeping the Chieftains alive.
“All game we said, ‘We’re not losing to Marblehead,’ ” said Weidman (11 receptions, 131 receiving yards). “All respect to Marblehead, they’re a great team, but we weren’t losing this game. Now we have a bye week, another chance to prepare, and we can focus on making a run in the state playoffs.”
Masco senior quarterback Drew Gustafson remained poised throughout the comeback, never allowing the deficit to rattle his offense.
“This is the game that’s circled on our calendar, it’s unlike any other,” said Gustafson (307 yards passing, two TDs). “We weren’t going to lose. This was the last shot for the seniors, and we took advantage of it.”
The tide turned for Masco in the second half when the line imposed its will on both sides of the ball. That included stellar performances from seniors Nico Stefanelli and Evan Velardo, two of Masco’s unsung heroes.
“We won this game in the off-season with all the work we put in,” said Stefanelli. “It means the world to me to be the first-ever NEC champs, especially to do it with my teammates. We wear Masco football with pride, and we showed the state who we are with this win.”
“A game like this is hard to put into words,” said Velardo. “It was hard fought on both sides of the line, and it felt surreal to come back and win.”
For Sheehan, who takes pride in coaching life lessons to his players, the victory stands as a building block for his program–and a chance to celebrate his team’s fortitude.
“The kids fought through a tremendous amount of adversity,” said Sheehan. “They earned this one. It’s one they’re going to remember for a long time.”
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