FOXBORO — Give Catholic Memorial an inch and the Knights will take advantage. On Saturday at Gillette Stadium, Bishop Feehan found out in the Division 2 Super Bowl.
Led by three touchdowns from Christian Simmons and two from quarterback Kise Flannery, the Knights pulled away in the second half to a 41-14 win and coach John DiBiaso’s 17th Super Bowl title as a coach.
“With these guys, it’s like Christmas, it never gets old,” DiBiaso said.
The Knights (10-2) piled up the yardage like Christmas presents on Saturday, outgaining Feehan 401-252 with 311 of those coming on the ground.
It was also a night where the CM defense forced Feehan into uncharacteristic mistakes. Twice in the first half, the Shamrocks (10-2) fumbled while on potential scoring drives, leading to a critical Flannery (81 yards rushing, 69 yards passing) touchdown run late in the half that gave his team a two-score lead.
“They were very big because it swung the momentum in our favor. They had tied it up, and we scored, but they were marching again, and the fumble recovery was big, ’cause now we’re up 21-7,” DiBiaso said about the turnovers. “They couldn’t stay running the ball and eating the clock. They had to score quicker, and, you know, it kind of, it’s not their game, throwing it around as much.”
Trailing 21-7 to begin the third quarter, Feehan saw how explosive the Knights can be.
It took only three plays and 36 seconds for CM to open a three-score lead on Simmons’ (8-69) second score of the game. Then, after a quick Shamrocks three-and-out followed by a shanked punt, CM scored for the second time in 1:58 on Isaiah Simmons’ five-yard run that extended the lead to 35-7.
“When we get the ball, good things seem to happen, but, again, (Kise) orchestrates the whole thing. He’s like a great point guard in basketball,” DiBiaso said.
Another Christian Simmons score late in the third upped the margin to 34 and invoked running time for the fourth quarter. Feehan kept fighting as Mordas capped his Shamrocks career with a touchdown pass to Kaden Baltazar on the final play of the game.
“I wish we were a little cleaner with the penalties and things, but, hey, they’re only kids, so that’s what happens sometimes. I’m very proud of them,” DiBiaso said.
