Xaverian rides staunch defense, Vincent Busa to second straight Div. 1 state title
“When you look toughness in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Vincent right there. He puts every ounce of his frame into it.” Xaverian coach Al Fornaro on Vincent Busa
FOXBORO — In this age of wide-open, air-it-out football, Xaverian proved Thursday night at Gillette Stadium that you can still win a title with a dominant defense and a talented running back.
The Hawks held Needham workhorse Aidan Williams to 64 yards on 13 carries while their own star in the backfield, Vincent Busa, rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown as Xaverian kept possession of the Agganis Trophy with a 14-7 win over the previously unbeaten Rockets in the Division 1 Super Bowl.
“Our defense played exactly like we asked them to: with their hair on fire and attacking that running back,” Xaverian coach Al Fornaro said. “We were able to get hats on him and wear him down.”
Xaverian (9-4) was able to beat Needham at its own game by controlling the clock and forcing Griffin Carr to have to beat them with his arm.
The Hawks also used the right arm of their quarterback, Will Wood, to deliver an attention getting lightning bolt before most fans had settled in.
Wood went deep on Xaverian’s first offensive snap and Dave Chiavegato in stride at the 45. He shook off Steven Rocamboli’s tackle attempt and dashed home for an 81-yard score and a 7-0 lead just 3:20 in.
“That first TD was huge. It gave us the momentum and made them have to try and come back, which went against what they’d like to do,” Fornaro said.
Needham shook off some early jitters and put together a 17-play drive after the touchdown pass that consumed nearly the rest of the period. But the march stalled at the Hawks 17 and Alex Rufo’s field goal was blocked.
Xaverian took over at its 38 and didn’t need much time to double the lead early in the second quarter. Busa carried on five of six plays, capping the drive with a two-yard plunge for a 14-0 lead.
“When you look toughness in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Vincent right there,” Fornaro said. “He puts every ounce of his frame into it.”
The defenses took over for the rest of the half as Williams was held to 12 yards on nine carries.
The Rockets (11-1) got a three and out to begin the second half. The ensuing short field finally allowed them to get on the board.
It was Williams doing the honors as he caught Carr pass with no one within 10 yards of him for a 30-yard TD and a 14-7 margin with still a quarter and a half to go.
It was still 14-7 in the fourth when Williams finally broke a big run with a 51-yard gain to the Xaverian 42. But the drive stalled and ended in a turnover on downs. Needham got one last chance from its four with just under two minutes left but Bryce Todd picked off Carr at the 20, allowing the Hawks to run out the clock.
“The kids did some internal searching after we lost to BC High and made themselves into a competitive team and look where it got us,” Fornaro said.
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