FOXBORO – Even after the graduation of the state’s all-time touchdown record holder in Justin Marques, Fairhaven’s offense didn’t take a step back.
Instead, seniors Ian Alexion and Grant Darmofal spearheaded the Blue Devils’ vaunted triple-option attack and kept Fairhaven rolling all the way to a Division 6 state title Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
Alexion and Darmofal were at the center of Fairhaven’s Super Bowl matchup against Norwell as the duo combined for nearly 400 yards rushing and each scored two touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils to their second Super Bowl victory in three years with a 28-14 triumph over the Clippers.
“I love everyone doubting us in the preseason,” said Alexion, who finished with 19 carries for 182 yards. “Everyone said, ‘No Justin, no Justin.’ That’s one of my best friends, but I’m the first one to say that I like our three (running backs).”
Fairhaven (12-1) erased the momentum Norwell (8-4) gained right before halftime when Clippers star quarterback Jack Luccarelli threw a 21-yard touchdown strike to Teddy Glynn to level the score at 14-all with 31 seconds left in the second quarter. The touchdown pass from Luccarelli came just 27 seconds after Alexion’s first rushing touchdown on the night put Fairhaven ahead.
The Blue Devils went right down the field to open the third quarter, and Alexion ran in another score, this time from six yards out, to give Fairhaven a 20-14 lead just 2:40 into the frame.
Fairhaven then overcame two fumbles in Norwell territory in the second half, with the Blue Devils not allowing Luccarelli to get going as he did in the first half. Aaron Lague intercepted Luccarelli less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, and that set up Fairhaven’s final score as the Blue Devils marched 76 yards with Darmofal finishing things off with a 6-yard touchdown run.
“We didn’t compound errors,” Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida said. “I think you see that in football a lot where one mistake can lead to another and we didn’t allow that to happen. That’s a testament to the kids and their grit and their toughness.”
Fairhaven, which gained all of its 410 yards of offense on the ground as it leaned on its three-headed rushing attack and physical offensive line, used a methodical 15-play, 92-yard drive to open the scoring. Darmofal (26 carries, 192 yards) capped the impressive possession with a 3-yard touchdown run with 9:32 left in the second quarter.
But Norwell wasted no time answering back. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Luccarelli broke two tackles on his way to a 65-yard touchdown run and Connor Woodland’s extra point gave the Clippers a 7-6 lead.
Fairhaven’s ground attack ultimately proved to be too much for Norwell, though, and helped the Blue Devils complete unfinished business after falling in the state title game a season ago.
“It’s been a goal of mine and the whole team and the coaches to come back and make it happen,” Darmofal said. “It’s been really awesome.”
