Division 8 state championship preview: Randolph out to stop a West Boylston three-peat

For a two-time defending state champion program set to compete in a third straight Super Bowl, the West Boylston football team puts a modest foot forward.

Dynasties are declared for three-peats, though the second-seeded Lions (9-2) aren’t thinking about that ahead of Friday’s Div. 8 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. Their journey, compared to the last two state finals trips, is very different. Their lineup, mostly composed of new starters, is very different. Even their play style, much more willing to pass than in the past, is very different.

And yet, when they take the field at 3 p.m., the top-seeded Randolph (10-1) group opposite them – also with turnover from 2021’s Div. 8 state title team – won’t be treating them any differently.

“In my opinion, they’re the favorite in this game,” said Blue Devils head coach Jon Marshall. “They’re the two-time repeating champions. I know we’re the No. 1 seed, but I look at them as the favorite. They’ve been there, done that. … Our job is to just coach it up and be ready to take on the reigning champs.”

While the makeup of the Lions is much different from the unbeaten dominance last year, Randolph is right to handle this matchup with care.

Much of the appeal from the powers of the past is West Boylston’s ability to control the ground, killing clock while putting up points. That methodical approach is certainly in the Lions’ wheelhouse, too, bolstered by junior running back Dominic Renzoni and sophomore fullback Tommy Wyatt.

But part of what has produced over 34 points per game over the Lions’ six-game win streak is the play of quarterback Connor Rice as a rusher or passer.

“As we keep winning, the kids are getting more and more confident,” said West Boylston head coach Mike Ross. “We can throw this year, so if people crowd us, we can throw the ball. My quarterback, I think he had 10 touchdown passes. There have been years I haven’t thrown 10 passes. … That’s helping.”

Randolph’s front seven will be tested plenty, but look to standout defensive ends Alin Norisca and Josiah Germaine, along with South Shore League All-Star linebacker Zymari Bailey, to slow the Lions down. And whenever Rice looks to pass, two-way star Mekhi White (running back/safety) will be key in cutting off downfield threats.

“We’ve got to be able to stop their run game,” Marshall said. “They have two really good running backs that are just absolutely game changers with the ball in their hands. They’ve got a good line up front as well.”

Few teams can blend methodical approach with big-play capability quite like Randolph, though, presenting quite the challenge for the Lions defense, too.

White can flip the field on a snap. Quarterback Abraham Cornet and Joseph Haggai are dangerous speed threats, aided by an athletic offensive line of Elton Stubbs, Germaine, Ayden Davis, Norisca and Aiden Joseph-Jaruu.

“Our ground game (is the main strength),” Marshall said. “We want to be able to run the ball, play good defense and play opportunistic special teams. We have a lot speed on the field, so we feel there’s parts of the game that that really can accentuate for us. … Our mindset is, we have really big kids up front, we’ve got really fast kids behind them, and that’s a recipe for success.”

Expect West Boylston to throw a bunch of different looks on the defensive end to try to confuse Randolph. Kyiem Frimpong and David Egan stand out on the defensive line, while Aidan Hamilton does the same at linebacker.

Div. 8 state championship

Randolph vs. West Boylston

Friday, 3 p.m. at Gillette Stadium

Randolph (10-1)

Head coach: Jonathan Marshall

Randolph 33, English/New Mission 8

Randolph 25, Blue Hills 16

Randolph 43, Brighton 0

Mashpee 26, Randolph 21

Randolph 67, Hull 32

Randolph 33, Carver 7

Randolph 54, Tech Boston 32

Randolph 29, Cohasset 26

Randolph 67, Quaboag 6

Randolph 40, Narragansett 8

Randolph 28, Nashoba Tech 12

West Boylston (9-2)

Head coach: Mike Ross

Northbridge 36, West Boylston 28

West Boylston 40, Fitchburg 6

West Boylston 37, Assabet Valley 6

West Boylston 43, Leicester 6

Clinton 29, West Boylston 13

West Boylston 42, Tyngsboro 14

West Boylston 42, Lunenburg 0

West Boylston 21, Blackstone Valley 13

West Boylston 29, Hoosac Valley 12

West Boylston 35, Lee 3

West Boylston 36, Carver 14

State title history

Randolph’s only prior championship game experience was a successful one as it defeated South Shore League rival Hull 20-14 to win the 2021 state title as Mark White ran for 110 yards. West Boylston is 4-0 in championship history, including back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Last year, the Lions rolled to a 41-7 win over Carver as Connor Muldoon ran for two touchdowns and added a TD reception.

Danny V’s outlook

This should be one of the better of the eight matchups as both teams have proved their mettle against similar competition. Just have a feeling West Boylston’s recent championship pedigree will carry on for another day.

Pick: West Boylston