Although most of the games were decided well before the final whistle, we got to see just how good some of the state's running backs truly are.
Here's a look at the results of Saturday's Super Bowl matchups:
Eastern Mass. Division III
Concord-Carlisle 42, Oliver Ames 9
Central Mass. Division I
Leominster 21, St. John's Shrewsbury 6
Western Mass. Division I
Longmeadow 35, Springfield Central 7
Eastern Mass. Division II
Duxbury 35, Tewksbury 0
Eastern Mass. Division I
Boston College High School 21, Needham 7
Eastern Mass. Division IV
Cardinal Spellman 34, Mashpee 8
Mashpee 34, Cardinal Spellman 8
Final, Mashpee 34-8: And it's official. Mashpee has won the Eastern Mass. Division IV championship via a 34-8 victory over Cardinal Spellman.
Jared Taylor was sensational throughout, leaving everyone in awe with over 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
The Mashpee defense was also impressive, shutting out Cardinal Spellman until the final drive.
Fourth quarter, 0:36, Mashpee 34-8: Cardinal Spellman at least ensured it wouldn't be shut out. Pat Hinkley's 10-yard touchdown run caps off a 10-play, 67-yard drive. After recovering the onside kick, Masphee will take a knee and celebrate.
Fourth quarter, 5:35, Mashpee 34-0: Jared Taylor's going to be the sole reason I walk away from this game with carpal tunnel. Simply put, I can't keep up with this kid.
Taylor's third touchdown of the game extended Mashpee's lead to 34-0. The junior running back now has 306 yards on 26 carries. Not too bad, I suppose.
Have a game, why don't ya?
End of third quarter, Mashpee 28-0: It's quickly turned into the Jared Taylor show.
Get this: Taylor carried the ball nine times for 209 yards…IN THE THIRD QUARTER! Insanity.
Taylor's previous career-high in a game was 183 yards, which came on Oct. 7 versus Norwell.
Mashpee has now outgained Cardinal Spellman 411-37 overall through three quarters.
Third quarter, 2:52, Mashpee 28-0: On a day in which running backs have showcased their skills, Jared Taylor is trying to prove that the best was saved for last.
Taylor broke off another big touchdown run — this one going for 54 yards. We talked about Ramey-Doe's speed earlier, but Taylor has some jets of his own.
It's all Mashpee here at Gillette.
Third quarter, 3:50, Mashpee 22-0: Cardinal Spellman's Scott O'Brien broke off a good return on the ensuing kickoff. But he ended up throwing an interception after the Cardinals tried to dig into the bag of tricks, and Mashpee will look to keep rolling offensively.
Third quarter, 4:25, Mashpee 22-0: Mashpee's scoring in bunches now.
We've seen an assortment of trick plays today, and Mashpee decided it wanted to get in on the fun. John Benard took a pitch in the backfield and threw it up for Tyler Gaudreau downfield for a big gain, which got the drive going.
Jared Taylor then broke off another big run before Orcutt found Kyle Murray from 14 yards out for the score.
The five-play drive went for 68 yards and last 2:29. Mashpee is starting to take control.
Third quarter, 6:55, Mashpee 14-0: Cardinal Spellman went to the air on fourth and 3, and Mashpee wasn't fooled. The throw was hauled in by Rory Donovan, but he was out of bounds and Mashpee takes over.
Third quarter, 9:40, Mashpee 14-0: It took the full 20 minutes for us to see someone put up points in the first half. It took us one play and 20 seconds to see the scoreboard change in the second half.
Jared Taylor, who carried the ball 12 times for 71 yards in the first half, broke a 58-yard touchdown run right out of the gate. Orcutt ran in the two-point conversion attempt himself, and Mashpee now leads 14-0.
9:01 p.m.: Just received word that the total attendance for all six games today is 25,457.
Halftime, Mashpee 6-0: Wild end to the first half.
After keeping the Cardinal Spellman offense at bay, Mashpee's Larry Green strung together a fantastic punt return. But offsetting penalties forced the Cardinals to re-kick.
After some tough D from the Cardinals, the Falcons were forced to spike it with two seconds remaining on the clock. Head coach Matt Triveri had to then decide whether to go for six or try a field goal. In other words, it was a classic kickin' or stickin' situation.
Triveri decided to send his offense back out, and Cody Bingham-Hendricks threw one up for Orcutt, who was spread out like a wide receiver. Orcutt used all of his 6-foot-2 frame to go up and get it, putting the first points of the game on the board.
Second quarter, 2:50, 0-0: Very nice drive by the Mashpee offense. But it ends in a bit of controversy.
Quarterback Zak Orcutt took off running to the right side on fourth and 1. Right around the 2-yard line, he leaped as Scott O'Brien and Joe Glynn clipped his legs. Orcutt helicoptered into the air, seemingly breaking the plane, but he was ruled out of bounds just short of the end zone. Cardinal Spellman will take over, with the game still scoreless — although it's debatable whether it should be.
Prior to that play, Jared Taylor started to get things moving for the Mashpee offense. A few big gains by the junior back put them across midfield. Then, on fourth and 1, Taylor took a toss, skipped past a defender reaching for his legs and spun past the line of scrimmage, ultimately picking up the necessary yard.
End of first quarter, 0-0: Not a lot of offense through one quarter. Cardinal Spellman has just 17 yards total, all of which have come on the ground. Mashpee, meanwhile, has just 60 yards, which have also all come on the ground.
The two teams are a combined 0-for-5 on third down.
First quarter, 1:15, 0-0: The two teams are trading punts early, with neither offense getting much of anything going. Mashpee's offense has looked like the superior unit thus far, but it still has no points to show for it. Could we have a defensive struggle on our hands in a day otherwise highlighted by offense?
First quarter, 2:15, 0-0: The Cardinals weren't able to build off their big defensive stand, and the Falcons will have another opportunity to strike first.
A decent amount of fans have stuck around for this evening's finale. And why not? It might be a bit chilly, but it's a clear night and it's football. Football = good. Agreed?
First quarter, 3:53, 0-0: Cardinal Spellman puts an abrupt stop to Mashpee's opening drive with a fourth-down stop.
Orcutt and junior running back Jared Taylor helped the Falcons march well into Cardinals territory, but the big stand on fourth and 1 will hand the keys over to Tim Burke and the Cardinal Spellman offense.
First quarter, 7:02, 0-0: Captain Zak Orcutt leads the Masphee offense onto the field for the first time tonight.
7:56 p.m.: Mashpee is looking to cap off its undefeated season with a title, much like Concord-Carlisle did way back this morning.
With some flashy black and blue jerseys, Mashpee certainly looks like a champion this evening. We'll see if it plays like one.
Boston College High School 21, Needham 7
Final, BC High 21-7: That'll do it. Fly Eagles fly.
An amazing performance by senior running back Deontae Ramey-Doe propels BC High to a 21-7 victory over Needham.
Needham jumped out early, perhaps catching the Eagles off guard, but BC High rebounded nicely and relied on its ground game during a strong second-half performance.
Ramey-Doe finished with 200 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. Luke Catarius also chipped in in the BC running game, carrying the ball 10 times for 87 yards. He really helped wear down the opposing D with some tough running.
We've now crowned five champions today. Cardinal Spellman and Mashpee will battle next in this year's finale. The Eastern Mass. Division IV title is on the line.
Fourth quarter, 2:00, BC High 21-7: Charter hit Nico Panepinto for a 25-yard pickup on first down — an impressive pitch and catch. Charter put it right over his receiver's shoulder. But there was again a disappointing finish to the Rockets' promising drive.
BC High's Richard Roach snatched an errant pass out of the air, giving the Eagles the ball and putting them one step closer to victory.
Fourth quarter, 3:24, BC High 21-7: BC High punts it, and Ryan Charter and Co. take over at their own 43. Give credit to the Needham defense, which is making some stops to ensure the Rockets still have a fighting chance.
Fourth quarter, 5:02, BC High 21-7: After bringing out the chain gang, it's determined that Mike Vespa didn't pick up enough for the first down, and Needham will turn it over on downs.
Big stand by the Eagles' defense. BC will have to make sure it does a better job of taking care of the ball here, though.
Fourth quarter, 6:02, BC High 21-7: Needham is going down swinging. A rare miscue from Ramey-Doe results in a Needham fumble recovery. We'll see if it comes back to haunt the Eagles.
Needham has shown an ability to move the football through the air, so things could get interesting here. Stay tuned.
Fourth quarter, 9:00, BC High 21-7: Huge interception for BC High's Zach West.
Needham was on the doorstep, looking to trim the lead in half, but Charter's fourth-down toss just hung up there.
It's a disappointing end to an otherwise solid drive by the Rockets. It's going to be difficult for Needham to stick around in this one, as BC High has a 14-point lead, the ball and a dominating running back who's fully capable of chewing up a good chunk of the clock.
Third quarter, 2:33, BC High 21-7: We've seen some fantastic individual performances today, but Deontae Ramey-Doe's is the best yet.
BC High's senior running back has put the team on his back, running it right down Needham's throat on the Eagles' first drive of the second half. He finished it off with a 2-yard TD run.
Ramey-Doe now has 181 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Special performance by a special player.
Ramey-Doe's recruiting profile on ncsasports.org is definitely worth checking out. He reportedly runs a 4.5 40, which is very impressive. And watching him, I believe it.
Third quarter, 9:13, BC High 14-7: Tipped balls are always scary when you're a quarterback and right there is exactly why.
After a 14-yard pickup on the ground to start the drive, Ryan Charter hooked up with Mark Riley for another nice pickup. Things were certainly looking promising until, on the very next play Charter's pass was tipped into the air. Gordon McLeod, who also has four catches on offense, was able to make a diving grab to give BC the football.
Halftime, BC High 14-7: The Eagles' final drive comes up short, as Needham comes up with a stop on fourth and 1.
BC High again went to the air again. Regan had a perfect opportunity to hit Gordon McLeod off the line of scrimmage on third down, as McLeod had no one around him. But the pressure from Needham was too much. Regan was forced out of the pocket and was unable to make the deep throw on the run. He then overshot his receiver on fourth and 1.
A kneel down by the Rockets sends us into the half. All things considered, Needham has to be pretty happy about where things stand right now. The Rockets will have to find an answer for Ramey-Doe, though, who has over 130 yards and two touchdowns already.
Second quarter, 1:34, BC High 14-7: After picking up a sack, BC High elected to take a time out in an effort to conserve some time. The Eagles then came up with a third-down stop, and the offense will now go to work, starting on the Flying Elvis at midfield.
6:34 p.m.: On a complete non-football-related note, the chicken in the press box is quite good. That is all.
Second quarter, 2:10, BC High 14-7: Bartley Regan overthrew a couple of receivers on the drive, but it's obvious the senior has one hell of an arm. He nearly hit Yosa Nosamiefan in stride down the seam, but it landed just past his outstretched hands.
The Eagles punt it away, and the Rockets take over at their own 29.
Second quarter, 4:45, BC High 14-7: Needham had something going after converting on fourth down, with Mike Vespa trucking his way down to the BC 35. But the Rockets gambled, electing to air it out, and Tim Johnson made them pay.
Johnson, a 5-foot-10 junior, provided shutdown coverage before eventually reaching up and snatching the deep ball attempt out of midair. The Eagles will take over deep in their own territory. Look out for Ramey-Doe as BC High will likely use the ground game to try to push itself away from the goal line.
Second quarter, 8:27, BC High 14-7: Deontae Ramey-Doe strikes again.
The senior tailback took the handoff to the right side, picked up a couple of key blocks and then used his speed to outrun the defense for a 91-yard touchdown.
That marks the biggest play of the day, as the crowd continues to grow here at Gillette.
Second quarter, 9:41, 7-7: A short punt by the Eagles gives Needham the ball at the BC 39. On the first play, Needham almost turned it over, as an attempted shuffle pass fell to the grass. But the Rockets recovered it and the drive continues.
First quarter, 1:55, 7-7: Needham is showing an ability to move the ball on the BC defense, although a sack by Adam Richard and Luke Catarius got the Eagles the ball back.
BC High might be the favorite, but Needham hardly looks intimidated early.
First quarter, 4:55, 7-7: Well, if the first five minutes of this game are any indication, this could be a wild one.
Right after taking a 7-0 lead, Needham went for another onside kick, nearly recovering it. Fortunately for the Eagles, they were able to fall on it. And the BC High offense then showed off its firepower.
The Eagles traveled 48 yards on seven plays in 3:21 en route to a score. Deontae Ramey-Doe took the carry in from five yards out.
First quarter, 8:20, Needham 7-0: Needham has come out guns blazing in this matchup of two 9-3 teams. After recovering an onside kick on the opening kickoff, sophomore quarterback Ryan Charter hooked up with Dan Pierce deep down the right sideline for a monstrous gain. Pierce actually ran into the end zone, but the ref determined he had stepped out of bounds ahead of time.
The Rockets nearly squandered the opportunity after a drop in the end zone. But on the next play, Charter faked the handoff to Mike Vespa before eventually floating it to Vespa for the 5-yard touchdown.
Duxbury 35, Tewksbury 0
Final, Duxbury 35-0: Duxbury's shutout is complete. Impressive performance by the Dragons' defense throughout, and Duxbury captures the Eastern Mass. Division II championship.
Quarterback Matt O'Keefe also put together a solid effort under center in the win, placing an exclamation point on his tremendous season.
Boston College High will take on Needham in the day's fifth game. The Eastern Mass. Division I title will be on the line in that tilt.
Fourth quarter, 2:52, Duxbury 35-0: Jon Hurvitz's impressive game continues, as the 5-foot-9 junior's rush to the outside put the Dragons into Tewksbury territory. But it was James Burke who punched in Duxbury's fifth TD of the game.
Burke hauled in a pass from O'Keefe out in the flat, and he took it all the way to the end zone for six. The 27-yard touchdown capped off a four-play, 65-yard drive that took 1:45.
Fourth quarter, 4:35, Duxbury 28-0: Tewksbury caught a bit of a break after Duxbury's Andrew Padula was handed a 15-yard penalty. But a block in the back on Tewksbury's James Sullivan pushed the Redmen back 10 yards and negated a nice gain by running back Chris Bettano.
After a couple of stops by Duxbury, Tewksbury converted on fourth down, when Bettano and James Burke both went up for a pass, resulting in a wrestling match. Both players appeared to have possession of the ball, but the referee ruled in favor of Bettano.
The drive stalled four players later, when Jay McDermott and Mark Trudeau combined for a sack. Duxbury takes over.
Third quarter, 1:13, Duxbury 28-0: Duxbury is remaining aggressive with a 28-0 lead, throwing the ball on three consecutive plays upon taking over. Reilly Naton hauled in the first two, which moved the ball past midfield, but O'Keefe then threw a pick.
Tewksbury takes over at its own 20-yard line.
Third quarter, 1:35, Duxbury 28-0: Duxbury's offense couldn't muster anything up on its first drive of the second half, which allowed Tewksbury to take over with good field position.
The Redmen are starting to show a bit of life offensively, but it still hasn't been enough to solve the puzzle that is the Duxbury defense.
A nice tackle by Seamus Connelly on third down and an incomplete pass on fourth down means Duxbury gets the ball back at its own 18.
Third quarter, 7:32, Duxbury 28-0: Three and out go the Redmen. The Duxbury defense is looking like the Steel Curtain right about now. Its pursuit to the football has been very impressive.
Halftime, Duxbury 28-0: AND THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD! …Because it's halftime here at Gillette.
After a couple of lopsided affairs early, we appear to be in the midst of another one, as Duxbury holds a big 28-0 lead. We'll see what kind of adjustments Tewksbury makes in the second half, but it's clear the Redmen have to cut down on the turnovers in order to crawl back into this one.
Meanwhile, the Duxbury defense has been fantastic, limiting Tewksbury to just 12 yards of total offense, in addition to forcing the three turnovers.
Second quarter, 0:39, Duxbury 28-0: The Dragons strike again. Don Webber takes the feed from Matt O'Keefe and waltzes into the end zone, pushing the Duxbury advantage to 28.
Webber's TD grab came from seven yards out, as Duxbury only needed to go nine yards in order to up its lead.
Oh, the perils of turnovers.
Second quarter, 1:00, Duxbury 21-0: That's really a microcosm of the game right there. One play after McLaughlin's pick, Tewksbury gives it right back, with Henry Narlee scooping up the loose ball.
Duxbury is now already at the 10-yard line.
Second quarter, 1:08, Duxbury 21-0: Big pick by Frank McLaughlin. He stepped in front of O'Keefe's pass intended for Don Webber, and the Redmen will take over and look to chip away before the end of the half.
Second quarter, 2:49, Duxbury 21-0: When it rains, it pours.
Duxbury recovers the ensuing kickoff and will go right back on offense. It didn't look much like a traditional onsides kick, as it was more of a pooch kick, but it still worked. We'll see if Duxbury can take advantage of another Tewksbury miscue. If so, the Redmen might be in some serious troubled heading into the locker room.
Second quarter, 2:53, Duxbury 21-0: A lot of ticks of the clock remaining, but it's all Duxbury at this point.
Three plays after scooping up a fumble, the Dragons put seven more points up on the board. Jon Hurvitz's second touchdown run of the game extends the lead to 21-0.
Second quarter, 4:15, Duxbury 14-0: FUMBLE! Duxbury scoops it, and we could be heading toward a big advantage here if Duxbury can cash in on another Tewskbury turnover.
Second quarter, 7:07, Duxbury 14-0: A bit of a breakdown in coverage there, as Duxbury needs just one play to increase its lead to 14-0. Quarterback Matt O'Keefe hooked up with wide receiver Reilly Naton for a 36-yard score.
Naton slipped over the top of the defense, hauled in the pass while backtracking near the 5-yard line and sprawled across the goal line. It took seven seconds for the Dragons to strike.
Second quarter, 7:14, Duxbury 7-0: Another strong defensive effort, as Tewksbury forces Duxbury to go three and out. After a punt that sailed about 50 yards, Khai Perry enjoyed a nice return, during which he spun away from a couple of Redmen defenders.
Second quarter, 9:02, Duxbury 7-0: Duxbury's offense wasn't quite as sharp on that drive, although it nearly picked up a big gain through the air. A nice punt now forces the Redmen to start at their own 12-yard line.
First quarter, 0:35, Duxbury 7-0: Duxbury's defense stood tall, as Marshall McCarthy and Mark Trudeau converged for a sack on third down, forcing Tewksbury to punt it away.
It looked as though Duxbury got a piece of the punt, which sent it fluttering out of bounds along the right sideline. Either way, the Dragons will take over with pretty good field position at around midfield.
First quarter, 4:18, Duxbury 7-0: Duxbury turns the turnover into points, as Jon Hurvitz plows it in from one yard out to put the Dragons on top, 7-0.
Duxbury traveled the 29 yards in six plays and 2:36.
First quarter, 6:48, 0-0: Duxbury wasn't able to get any offense going on the game's opening drive, but it was able to create a turnover to get the ball right back.
Leominster executed a wide receiver pass to perfection earlier, but Tewksbury had no such luck. Kevin Dirk's chuck downfield was intercepted by James Burke.
Burke gained a good chunk of yards on the ensuing return up the sideline before being upended.
Longmeadow 35, Springfield Central 7
Final, Longmeadow 35-7: Gatorade shower time…Actually, it's water. What a curveball. A cold, wet curveball.
It's time for the victory formation. A couple of kneel downs, followed by a Central rushing attempt ends it.
What a day for Frankie Elder, a running back who turned into the team's quarterback because of injuries. He led a rushing attack that put on a clinic when it comes to smashmouth football. The Lancers outscored the Golden Eagles 22-0 in the second half, which comes as a bit of surprise considering the two teams traded blows in the first half.
Elder finished the game with 16 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Longmeadow finished with 265 yards on the ground in total. Elder also completed all five of his passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns — one to Norris and one to Kelleher.
Longmeadow wins the Western Mass. Division I championship, and we're halfway through today's slate of games. Next up: Duxbury will take on Tewksbury in the Eastern Mass. Division II Super Bowl.
3:16 p.m.: The obligatory 3:16 Stone Cold Steve Austin reference.
Fourth quarter, 3:44, Longmeadow 35-7: Just like the first two games, this one has also turned one-sided. Another touchdown for Frankie Elder has extended the Longmeadow lead to 35-7.
The Lancers drove 53 yards on 11 carries, and they're now a little over three minutes away from scooping up a title.
3:12 p.m.: Perry Nowell has been taken off on a stretcher, but he did give a thumbs up while being taken off. Hopefully the young man's injury isn't serious. The mood has turned a bit somber, but the thumbs up is certainly an encouraging sign. Our thoughts are with Nowell.
Fourth quarter, 5:29, Longmeadow 28-7: It sounds cliche, because, well, it is cliche. But Longmeadow's victory in the trenches is heavily responsible for what should be a victory this afternoon. All game long, the Longmeadow O-line has been generating a lot of push up front, which has resulted in a dominant rushing attack.
Scary moment on the Gillette field right now, though, as a stretcher has been brought out with Springfield Central senior Perry Nowell down on the field. Our thoughts are cetainly with him.
It appeared that Elder landed on Nowell at the end of his run. Nowell tried to get to his feet at first, before eventually falling back to the ground.
Fourth quarter, 8:45, Longmeadow 28-7: Stop me if you've heard this before. Frankie Elder makes a play.
Springfield Central coughs up the football, and the versatile junior is there to scoop it up. Longmeadow now takes over with a 21-point lead.
Fourth quarter, 9:56, Longmeadow 28-7: Terry Norris takes it in from four yards out, and Longmeadow has gained total control of this game.
This Longmeadow rushing attack, which had so much success in the first half, has continued its dominance in the second half. The Lancers have a number of weapons in their rushing arsenal, which seems to be wearing down the Central defense.
That last drive lasted 5:08, as Longmeadow used 11 plays to go 63 yards.
End of third quarter, Longmeadow 21-7: Is that Mike Alstott? Nope, just Austin Sierra. Could've fooled me, though, as the big 6-foot-4 junior rumbles his way for a nice gain up the heart of the Central D. Later in the drive, Sierra took another handoff and rumbled his way to the 4-yard line.
Longmeadow is knocking on the door as we enter the fourth and final quarter. A score here could seal the deal.
Third quarter, 5:04, Longmeadow 21-7: Sacoy Malone again showed off his explosiveness, taking a handoff down to the Longmeadow 26. But a big sack on third down by Louie Calabrese brought up fourth and a mile, which Central was understandably unable to convert.
And how about Frankie Elder?
Elder showed perfect form on a third-down tackle behind the line of scrimmage. What a luxury it is to have a player who can make plays on both sides of the ball.
Third quarter, 8:34, Longmeadow 21-7: It didn't take long for Longmeadow to extend its lead. Frankie Elder hit Dylan Kelleher on a crossing pattern, and Kelleher did the rest, eluding a number of Golden Eagle defenders en route to the score.
It took only four plays for Springfield Central to go 56 yards, 40 of which came on the touchdown. Elder then ran in the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 21-7. Quite a game for Elder thus far.
2:29 p.m.: Some first-half notes for all you statisticians out there: Longmeadow outgained Central 176-108, most of which came on the ground. Longmeadow rushed for 132 yards in the half, with five different players recording a carry.
Frankie Elder led the way with 62 yards on seven carries, which included a touchdown run.
On the other side, Sacoy Malone was heavily involved in the Central offense, carrying the ball eight times and catching two passes, totaling 51 yards from scrimmage.
These two teams played a thrilling game in last year's Super Bowl, with Longmeadow pulling off a 34-31 victory. While we may not see that many points in this one, we could still be in story for an exciting finish. We shall see.
2:25 p.m.: And the Golden Eagle mascot has joined the Springfield Central cheerleading squad in jumping up and down at midfield. That's what Darude's "Sandstorm" will do to you.
Halftime, Longmeadow 13-7: It briefly looked like Longmeadow might coast to a victory, but Cody Williams' arm has kept Springfield Central in this game. We head into the half with Longmeadow clinging to a 13-7 advantage.
Second quarter, 0:30, Longmeadow 13-7: A few big tosses by quarterback Cody Williams put the Golden Eagles in a position to score. And some blazing speed by Sacoy Malone finished it off.
Williams hit Travis Cusson on an out route early in the drive, and then later hit T.J. Smith downfield for a huge gain. The pass play to Smith came after a bit of trouble with the snap, so you've got to give credit to Williams for keeping his composure.
Williams then hit Sacoy Malone out in the flat, at which point the senior running back showed off his fantastic acceleration, hitting pay dirt from 17 yards out.
It was an eight-play, 66-yard drive that took 3:14.
Second quarter, 4:01, Longmeadow 13-0: Frankie Elder almost took it to the house, bouncing to the outside and sprinting up the sideline. He was eventually tracked down at the Springfield Central 47, but it still resulted in a 31-yard gain. Elder later capped off the drive with an 11-yard TD run to the right side.
Longmeadow is creating a lot of confusion in the backfield. It's coming with a number of different looks and has run a number of reverses, which Springfield Central is having a hard time reading.
It was a seven-play, 78-yard drive in total. A missed extra point means we stand at 13-0.
Second quarter, 6:54, Longmeadow 7-0: Cody Williams nearly completed a deep pass down the sideline after eluding the Longmeadow pass rush, but it was jarred loose. Longmeadow now takes over after a punt.
Second quarter, 7:30, Longmeadow 7-0: More powerful running from Terry Norris on the last drive, as a reverse resulted in a big gain into Springfield Central territory. But a costly fumble could swing momentum the other way.
An attempted pitch to Devante Clarke got away from junior, and Springfield Central pounced on the loose ball. It'll now take over in Longmeadow territory.
End of first quarter, Longmeadow 7-0: Nice stand by the Longmeadow D, which allows the offense to get right back to work. That could prove to be huge, as Longmeadow's offense was really clicking the last time it was out on the field.
First quarter, 1:40, Longmeadow 7-0: Springfield Central forced Longmeadow into a fourth-down situation, but strong running by Frankie Elder kept the drive going.
Senior Terry Norris ended up taking it in for the score on a screen play. Norris started to lose his balance toward the end of the play, but he was able to tip-toe the sideline, dive for the pylon and remain inbounds for the TD.
It was a 74-yard drive on 12 plays, which took just over six minutes. Nice work by the Longmeadow offense. We'll see if the lengthy and efficient drive sets the tempo for the rest of the contest. Leominster proved in the last game just what a long scoring drive can do to the opposition.
First quarter, 8:00, 0-0: Springfield Central was able to move the ball pretty effectively on its first drive, but it went for naught, as it was forced to punt it away.
1:28 p.m.: Two games down, four to go. Next up is Longmeadow versus Springfield Central in the Western Mass. Division I championship. It's a rematch of last year's Super Bowl, and it marks the 14th straight season Longmeadow has played in the big game.
Leominster 21, St. John's Shrewsbury 6
Final, Leominster 21-6: A very impressive performance by the Leominster offense today, as head coach David Palazzi clearly had an excellent game plan, and the Blue Devils executed it perfectly.
Quarterback Garrett DelleChiaie did an excellent job managing the game and making plays, and Kevin O'Connor proved to be a difference maker on both sides of the ball.
St. John's had some chances, but ultimately it wasn't able to make as many plays when it needed to as Leominster did. Leominster finishes the season with a 10-3 record overall, but more importantly, a Central Mass. Division I title.
Fourth quarter, 1:35, Leominster 21-6: St. John's benefited from a pass interference call and a nice pickup along the sideline by Efain Montalvo, who caught a pass, made a move and managed to stay inbounds. But Kevin O'Connor came up with another big play, picking off Kurtz's pass in the end zone, which should secure the win for Leominster.
Fourth quarter, 3:35, Leominster 21-6: Leominster is remaining aggressive, calling up DelleChiaie to air it out in the fourth quarter in an effort to extend the lead. He nearly hit Kevin O'Connor for a big gain, but it slipped through O'Connor's hands and fell incomplete.
DelleChiaie shook it off, though, and delivered a good-looking pass to Kyle Sanders on third down to keep the drive going. It was a huge conversion for the Blue Devils, as St. John's would've been able to take over with a chance to chip away earlier if it could have come up with a stop.
St. John's ended up holding Leominster scoreless after forcing the Blue Devils into a fourth and 28 situation. Matthew Cafarella came up with a pick on the play. But time could soon become a factore, as the Pioneers have about three and a half minutes to make up 15 points.
Fourth quarter, 9:53, Leominster 21-6: St. John's gets on the board, with Connor Kurtz hitting Efrain Montalvo on a slant pattern for the score. It came from 17 yards out.
Kurtz took a bit of a hit, but he hung in there in order to deliver a strike. He hit Montalvo around the 10 yard line, and the senior wideout was able to show off his speed in open space and take it in.
The drive was 54 yards on six plays. Another big drive coming up for the St. John's D.
Third quarter, 1:40, Leominster 21-0: Some more stellar quarterback play from DelleChiaie. After a big 47-yard pickup through the air, the junior once again showed off the poise that he's demonstrated all day. He pump faked to his left before turning around and dumping it off to Luis Orellana for a nice pickup. Orellana with a nifty hurdle on the play, as well.
But it was Geraldo Rivera's 14-yard run that resulted in the TD. All in all, the drive lasted 2:01, and the Blue Devils went 80 yards on six plays.
Leominster is now in complete control of this one, due in large part to fantastic play from its quarterback, but also because St. John's has failed to cash in on its chances.
Third quarter, 3:49, Leominster 14-0: Some hard running by Shadrach Abrokwah on the drive. First, he amazingly kept his balance along the sideline for a first-down pickup. Then, after a completion by Kurtz, he picked up another nice gain up the gut. Devon Jones then checked in at tailback, and proved to be a nice change of pace.
The Leominster defense stood tall once again, though, coming up with a big red zone stop. One fourth and goal at the 4, the snap sailed over the head of Kurtz, allowing the Blue Devils to take over on downs. St. John's hasn't been able to cash in its opportunities today, which could really come back to haunt them as this game progresses.
Third quarter, 8:18, Leominster 14-0: Big stand by St. John's, forcing Leominster to go three and out. After a nice punt return, the Pioneers will take over at their own 46.
Halftime, Leominster 14-0: What a drive by Leominster to conclude the first half. It lasted nearly the entire quarter and ended in a touchdown. You can't ask for any more than that if you're coach Palazzi.
The Blue Devils converted two fourth downs on the drive, as well, which makes it even more heartbreaking for St. John's. And if that's not enough, Leominster will start the second half with the ball, as St. John's received the game's opening kickoff. We'll see if St. John's can come up with a stop and bounce back.
Some first-half notes: Leominster picked up 205 total yards of offense, while St. John's put up 99. The Patriots complete 9 of their 10 pass attempts, and really did well executing some short and intermediate routes. It's crucial that St. John's come up with a stop to begin the second half, because a drive half as good as the last one could be backbreaking.
Second quarter, 0:06, Leominster 14-0: St. John's nearly took it right back with an interception of its own, but senior Josh Caouette was able to wrestle the ball away from the Pioneers defender, Matthew Cafarella.
A few stops later, Leominster head coach David Palazzi was forced to make a decision with his team facing a 4th and 1 at their own 38 yard line. Quarterback Garrett DelleChiaie kept it himself and picked up just enough for the first down, allowing the drive to continue. And what a drive it was.
Leominster methodically marched down the field, with DelleChiaie showing great poise throughout. Then, on fourth down, with four yards to the goal line, the Blue Devils rolled the dice, electing to go for the six points rather than settling for a field-goal attempt. It paid off.
DelleChiaie sold the play action, rolled to his left and fired it to a wide open Daniel Curley for the score. DelleChiaie then added the two-point conversion to give Leominster a 14-0 edge.
The impressive 95-yard drive lasted 19 plays and 9:45. And the touchdown came with just six seconds left in the half. Wow.
Second quarter, 9:00, Leominster 6-0: Kevin O'Connor is already leaving his mark on this game. With St. John's driving, Connor Kurtz floated a pass that O'Connor picked off inside the 5 yard line. Leominster nearly gave the ball back via a fumble on the ensuing drive, but its offense was able to recover it and the drive continues.
End of first quarter, Leominster 6-0: St. John's is driving here as the first quarter comes to a close. It's still very early, obviously, but I already have the sense that this could turn into one of today's more competitive and exciting games.
First quarter, 1:38, Leominster 6-0: Leominster digs into the bag of tricks early. On the first play of the drive, a wide receiver pass results in a 44-yard touchdown.
Quarterback Garrett DelleChiaie took the snapp, turned and immediately fired it to Neil O'Connor behind the line of scrimmage. St. John's bit on the screen, and O'Connor chucked it downfield to a fellow O'Connor (Kevin O'Connor) for the score.
The play marks the loudest the Gillette Stadium crowd has been today.
First quarter, 1:52, 0-0: St. John's Shrewsbury goes three-and-out before punting. Some nice punt coverage by the Pioneers, and Leominster goes to work at the St. John's 44.
Linebacker Jason Valera was shaken up on the drive, so we'll continue to keep an eye on his status.
First quarter, 3:01, 0-0: Leominster's goal line stand got the crowd buzzing early, and it responded by stringing together a couple of nice runs early. Eventually, the drive stalled, though, and the Blue Devils were forced to punt. A nice punt has the Pioneers pinned back at their own 12.
First quarter, 5:00, 0-0: A beautiful drive orchestrated by St. John's junior quarterback Connor Kurtz. He showed off an ability to use his legs early on, and then hooked up with senior wideout Efrain Montalvo to move deep into Leominster territory.
But as much as Leominster bent, it didn't break. The Blue Devils stopped the Pioneers inside the 5-yard line, standing up St. John's running back Shadrach Abrokwah at the line on third and fourth down.
Leominster takes over, but it'll have a long field ahead of it.
11:10 a.m.: The orange and gold have given way to the red and the blue at Gillette Stadium, as St. John's Shrewsbury gets set to take on Leominster in the Central Mass. Division I championship.
Cue the "Crazy Train" — it's almost time for kickoff. St. John's will receive the kick.
Concord-Carlisle 42, Oliver Ames 9 (Division III)
Final, Concord-Carlisle 42-9: The undefeated season is complete. Concord-Carlisle has won the Massachusetts Division III state title.
C-C picked up 339 yards of total offense, with 298 coming on the ground. George Craan finished with 122 yards on 18 carries, while totaling three TDs. Tyquan Culbreath racked up 81 rushing yards, while Tim Badgley finished with 91. Henry Bumpus caught two passes, both of which were touchdowns, and had an interception in the win.
Fourth quarter, 1:25, Concord-Carlisle 42-9: And here comes the Gatorade shower. C-C head coach Mike Robichaud is doused with just over a minute remaining, as the Patriots will cap off their remarkable undefeated season with a Division III championship. Concord-Carlisle finishes 13-0 overall.
Fourth quarter, 3:22, Concord-Carlisle 42-9: C-C may walk out of here with the big win and championship, but Oliver Ames is showing a lot of fight, refusing to go away quietly.
Sam Langston's monstrous 49-yard run got the Tigers down to the Patriots' 24, and he later finished the drive off for Oliver Ames' first TD of the game. It was an 80-yard drive on seven plays in 2:31.
Fourth quarter, 6:12, Concord-Carlisle 42-3: Tyquan Culbreath appeared to extend the Patriots lead, breaking free along the sidelines and hitting the end zone. But an illegal block in the back negated the touchdown.
It didn't matter.
George Craan rushed for his third touchdown of the game two plays later. This one came from 12 yards out. Craan now has 18 carries for 122 yards, and the Patriots are a little over six minutes away from a title.
End of third quarter, Concord-Carlisle 35-3: C-C has 230 rushing yards through three quarters of play. The Patriots have 270 yards of total offense, which is more than double Oliver Ames' 126 total yards.
Third quarter, 0:27, Concord-Carlisle 35-3: George Craan put the wheels in motion for the Patriots' offense once gain, scampering 32 yards to get down to the Oliver Ames 16. But a C-C fumble, recovered by Tigers linebacker Jacob McDougall, gives Oliver Ames the football back.
Third quarter, 1:35, Concord-Carlisle 35-3: The Oliver Ames offense looked much improved, but it still wasn't enough, as the Patriots forced to the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs. It's back to work for Ryan Hoey and Co.
Third quarter, 7:27, Concord-Carlisle 35-3: This one has turned into a rout, and Henry Bumpus is a big reason why.
Bumpus decided his fantastic touchdown grab in the final minute of the first half wasn't enough. So not only did the big senior pick off a pass to get C-C the ball back, but he recorded his second touchdown reception of the game on the first play of the ensuing drive.
Bumpus' third-quarter TD from Ryan Hoey came from 14 yards out.
Third quarter, 7:58, Concord-Carlisle 28-3: The daunting Concord-Carlisle rushing attack is at it again. This time it's Tyquan Culbreath coming up with the big play for the score.
Culbreath took the handoff and it looked like the Tigers had him stopped behind the line. But the senior showed off his elusiveness and ended up breaking free, taking it to the house for a 35-yard score.
It only took the Patriots 1:08 and three plays to score on that drive.
Third quarter, 9:15, Concord-Carlisle 21-3: Oliver Ames was much more aggressive on its first drive of the second half, as the Tigers went to the air. It didn't amount to much, though, and C-C will take over looking to continue its dominance.
Halftime, Concord-Carlisle 21-3: The final drive for Concord-Carlisle lasted eight plays and went for 57 yards. There's still a lot of football to be played, but it's obvious C-C isn't taking Oliver Ames lightly and is in complete control of today's first game.
Second quarter, 0:18, Concord-Carlisle 21-3: A big-time catch by Henry Bumpus has extended the Concord-Carlisle lead.
Oliver Ames looked like it was going to head into the locker room only down 10, but on fourth and 6, Ryan Hoey hooked up with Bumpus in the corned of the end zone for a 20-yard TD strike. Oliver Ames had Bumpus double covered, and the senior may have gotten away with a push-off, but he was able to use his 6-foot-6 frame to haul it in.
Second quarter, 1:22, Concord-Carlisle 13-3: Oliver Ames executed an excellent draw play to give them a bit of real estate after getting pinned deep in its own zone. But Jackson Finigan's interception on a deep pass attempt has given Concord-Carlisle the ball back with a chance to tack onto its lead before the end of the first half.
Second quarter, 2:54, Concord-Carlisle 13-3: C-C gave Oliver Ames another heavy dose of runs, moving the ball across midfield, but a big sack on second down by senior Alex Tepper pushed the Patriots back into their own zone. C-C ended up punting away, but a fantastic punt has pinned Oliver Ames back at their own 5.
Second quarter, 6:50, Concord-Carlisle 13-3: Oliver Ames wasn't able to get much going on what turned into the first drive of the second quarter. Concord-Carlisle brought a lot of pressure, and it'll now take over at around its own 30 yard line.
End of first quarter, Concord-Carlisle 13-3: C-C is in control of this one thus far, as George Craan and Tim Badgley have created nightmare rushing attack against the Oliver Ames defense. Craan rushed the ball six times for 42 yards in the first quarter, while Badgley totaled 70 yards on four carries.
First quarter, 0:30, Concord-Carlisle 13-3: Tim Badgley saw a bulk of the carries on C-C's latest drive, and he didn't disappoint. He picked up a couple of monster gains, which put C-C in position to have George Craan run in his second touchdown of the game.
The drive lasted seven plays for 76 yards. Craan's run came from 9 yards out.
First quarter, 3:13, Concord-Carlisle 7-3: Sam Langston showed that he's not the only running back looking to make an impact this morning. Langston picked up and 18-yard gain and a 13-yard gain on the drive. Unfortunately for O-A, a third-down pass attempt was batted down at the line of scrimmage, and it was forced to settle for a field goal.
First quarter, 6:26, Concord-Carlisle 7-0: Good teams know how to cash in on the other team's mistakes, and at 12-0, it's obvious Concord Carlisle is a good team.
A big 17-yard gain after the punt really got the ball moving, and senior George Craan punched it in. It only took the Patriots four plays to hit paydirt.
First quarter, 8:06, 0-0: Oliver Ames stopped C-C on three running plays on the game's opening drive, and looked to gain the momentum out of the gate. But a fumble on the ensuing punt has given C-C the ball back.
9:04 a.m.: After having Bush and Ozzy pump out the Gillette Stadium speakers, which is standard for most pigskin action, we're almost ready for kickoff.
Oliver Ames comes in as the underdog. It defeated Pembroke, 20-12, on Tuesday night to earn a chance to take down the undefeated Concord-Carlisle squad.
C-C has outscored opponents by an average score of 35-10 this season…yeesh.
Saturday, 8:50 a.m.: Well, we're about ready for some football — and a whole lot of it. A six-game slate of action is on tap for this morning/afternoon/evening. First up on the docket is Concord-Carlisle (12-0) versus Oliver Ames (7-4).
Friday, 1 p.m. ET: Some of the high school students playing at Gillette Stadium on Saturday will go on to continue their football careers at the next level. For others, it's the biggest game they'll ever play.
Gillette will play host to six Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Super Bowl matchups over the course of the day. Fans in attendance will be treated to an NFL-like game presentation, as the Kraft family has donated the use of the stadium for the fifth straight year.
This year, participants from Central Mass. Division I, Western Mass. Division I and Eastern Mass. Divisions I, II, III and IV will compete on the same field the Patriots typically dominate on.
Stay here throughout the day for updates, commentary, analysis and all the other fun things you can imagine.
Here's a glance at what's on tap from a schedule standpoint.
Eastern Mass. Division III, 9 a.m.
Concord-Carlisle High vs. Oliver Ames High
Central Mass. Division I, 11 a.m.
St. John's High vs. Leominster High
Western Mass. Division I, 1:30 p.m.
Longmeadow High vs. Springfield Central High
Eastern Mass. Division II, 3:30 p.m.
Tewksbury High vs. Duxbury High
Eastern Mass. Division I, 6 p.m.
Boston College High vs. Needham High
Eastern Mass. Division IV, 8 p.m.
Cardinal Spellman High vs. Mashpee High
You also can follow the action on NESN.com's Super Bowl scoreboard.
