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PEABODY — Bishop Fenwick has now won a state-leading 26 straight games, but Friday night’s 20-14 thriller over Whittier Tech in the Division 5 North semifinals may have been the toughest. Whittier, which fell to 7-3, came into the contest unfazed by defending state champion Fenwick’s reputation. “We played our football. It was a good, tough football game. We believed in ourselves that we were gonna come out and play our football. Nobody intimidates us. They weren’t intimidated by their records and they showed it,” Whittier coach Kevin Bradley said. “We were able to stop their big running back. It was just a couple big plays that they broke on us.” That “big running back” is Rufus Rushins, a 220-pound bruiser with over 5,000 career rushing yards. He had to earn every one of those 126 yards. It took 27 carries and the Cats accomplished something few have ... held Mr. Rushins without a touchdown. Leading 14-12, Whittier had the hosts on the ropes. But Fenwick pulled it out on a 1-yard run by Josh Niconchuk with 7:44 left to tie it. If you thought Rushins was big. Niconchuk is 300 pounds! Rushins added the 2-point rush for the 20-14 final. Two plays later, Fenwick forced a fumble and R.J. Libby recovered. The Crusaders then picked up three crucial first downs — all runs by Rushins — to salt the game away. Rushins had a hard time getting going. He was often met in the backfield by Whittier defenders. He struggled his way to 40 yards in the first half, but got rolling after the break. The Crusaders will now play Abington, a 38-20 winner over East Bridgewater, for the second year in a row in the state semifinal. With the rushing game held in check, Matt Renzulli was sharp throwing the ball, connecting on 8 of 13 passes for 89 yards and 19-yard touchdown toss to Brian Fitzpatrick that gave Fenwick a 12-8 lead in the first half. Renzulli added 33 yards on the ground before re-injuring his sprained ankle. He finished the game on the sidelines with senior Mike Campatelli making a memorable return to the field. Whittier took an early 8-0 lead when Connor Bradley hit Sean Thibodeau for a 23-yard TD pass. Jesus Sanchez (16 carries, 102 yards) added the conversion rush. Fenwick cut it to 8-6 less than three minutes later when Cody Mullen took a direct snap and followed Rushins right up the middle for an 8-yard score. Whittier re-tok the lead on a 5-yard Sanchez run in the third. The Wildcats were primed to post perhaps the biggest win of the year in Eastern Mass. but Fenwick wasn’t done yet.

Bishop Fenwick 20, Whittier 14 Bishop Fenwick (7-3):     8 0 6 0 — 20 Whittier (10-0):     6 6 0 8 — 14 Division 5 North Final First Quarter  WT — Sean Thibodeau 23 pass from Connor Bradley (Jesus Sanchez rush)  BF — Cody Mullen 8 run (rush fail) Second Quarter  BF — Brian Fitzpatrick 19 pass from Matt Renzulli (rush fail) Third Quarter  WT — Sanchez 5 run (rush fail) Fourth Quarter  BF — Josh Niconchuk 1 run (Rufus Rushins rush) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING: WT — 16-102, Robby Gramstorff 8-44, Sidney Taylor 4-14; BF — Rufus Rushins 27-126 PASSING: WT — Connor Bradley 5-13-0, 56; BF —Renzulli 8-13-0, 89 RECEIVING: WT — Sean Thibodeau 3-41, Taylor 1-10, Gramstorff 1-5

Central Catholic's field hockey team won its fourth straight game, 3-1 over Bichop Fenwick, as Serena Rousseau scored twice and Jenna Palmisano scored once. The Raiders have ourtscored their last four foes 15-4.

Thanks to a complete-game effort by Scott Allan and RBI hits by Tom Day and Ryan Sanborn (game-winning triple), North Reading edged Bishop Fenwick 2-1 in Division 2 North action to extend the career of veteran coach Frank Carey at least one more game.

After dropping its first game of the season Saturday, the Andover field hockey team bounced back with a dominating 4-0 victory over Bishop Fenwick. Brenna Keefe led the attack with a pair of goals and Weezy Gross had a goal and an assist.

WEST NEWBURY — Pentucket girls basketball sent a loud and clear message to the state basketball world as it kicked off its quest for a second straight Division 3 state title.

The Sachems are ready to defend.

Pentucket-Georgetown's Mike Kutcher and Bishop Fenwick's Mike and Chris Napolitano were all ejected for fighting in the hockey season finale for both schools. Another Crusader was tossed late in the game.

Casey Pedro and Olivia Lucey each scored twice as Central Catholic girls hockey roughed up Bishop Fenwick 7-0 for its second win of the season.

Molly Bryant netted a pair of goals and assisted on a third, helping the Central girls hockey team to their first win of the season, 6-1, over Bishop Fenwick.

Stepping up to take on Division 1 Bishop Fenwick, Division 2 North Reading took home its third win in a row, 4-1. Goalie Keith Linnane did a great job handling Fenwick's offensive pressure, turning aside 21 shots to pick up the victory.

Sarah Weimer led unbeaten Andover in aces with four and digs with 14 in a 3-0 romp over Bishop Fenwick.