By Lorenzo Recupero
There ain’t no rest for the winners – Pope John High School, that is.
The Tigers (11-0) punched themselves a ticket to the school’s first super bowl in 20 years and only the second in school history after knocking out West Bridgewater, 31-14, for the Division 8 Eastern Mass. Championship on Saturday.
Leader Herald Staff Report
Everett is coming off its first appearance ever in the MIAA playoff consolation round, a blowout 48-14 win at Acton-Boxborough. The Crimson Tide, who were upset by Central Catholic, 23-20, in the Div. 1 North semifinals, were led by Michigan commit Mike Sainristil, who caught three passes for 183 yards and three TDs. Eli Auguste caught a 22-yard TD pass and returned an interception 60 yards for a score.
Everett qualified for the post-season for the 18th consecutive year, compiling a 34-8 post-season record in that span and 36-10 overall postseason record since 1996 (24-5 playoffs, 12-5 state final/Super Bowl). The Crimson Tide have won nine of their last 10 postseason games.
Continue reading “Crimson Tide Will Wrap Up Season on Thanksgiving Morning at Masconomet”
By Lorenzo Recupero
Pope John honored Military Veterans all across the country in their latest win at Everett Stadium this past weekend, hand flying the United States flag throughout the entire game – a rain soaked one – without letting it ever touch ground or flagpole.
The flag flying that day as a show of honor and respect for all the brave service members past and present was being held by a former player of Pope John assistant coach Mark Silvestri, who is a United States Army vet.
The flag, gifted to the team by coach Silvistri on the way to Cape Cod to play St. John Paul High School during week 5 of the regular season, rode the wind especially in his honor that night.
By Lorenzo Recupero
What’s going on over at Pope John High this fall is pretty historic stuff for the school, a renaissance if you will.
Just a few years ago the football program didn’t have a single athlete suit up in helmet and shoulder pads, going team-less for consecutive years. Click forward to the present and you’ve got an undefeated, well-coached, defensive juggernaut clawing through school records in dominating fashion.
The 2018 Tigers are not only still undefeated at 10-0, a school record through ten games, they are the MIAA Division 8 North Champions after pummeling Boston English/New Mission, 51-8, at Everett Stadium this past weekend.
Continue reading “From No Program to No Peer; Undefeated PJ Rolls Into State Semis”
One of the most ironic moments in the loss the Crimson Tide suffered at the hands of Central Catholic came when Nick Mazzie kicked a 33-yard field goal near to the end of the game that served as the winning points for Catholic Central.
In the life and times of young Nick Mazzie, this a moment to savor, and to remember for the rest of his life.
It was, after all, a huge moment in the young man’s life.
Beating Everett is like getting to the top of Mount Everest in Massachusetts high school football circles.