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Chris Cervizzi's top rushing performances: Att.    Yards    Opponent 34    *288    Nobles 39    237    Groton 31    220    St. George's 34    220    Westminster *-Marks the area's top single-game mark of the season

NORTH ANDOVER — Given a rare opportunity to play one more game, Brooks made the most of its extra week.

Earning a postseason berth for the first time since 2009 — a loss to Pingree that kicked off a miserable four-year stretch — Brooks ran over Westminster 31-28 for a Sean Brennan Bowl victory yesterday. The game marked third-place finishers from the Independent School League (Brooks) and the Colonial Football League.

And as he has most of the season, it was Chris Cervizzi doing the bulk of the damage for the Green and White (7-2).

The senior from North Reading gained at least 10 yards on six of his 34 carries and finished with 220 yards and four scores.

"However we found a way to win didn't matter to me," said Cervizzi, the area leader with 1,496 yards. "This is the best feeling in the world. We've worked so hard this summer and this fall. And each game we've played our hearts out.

"I can't put it into words to be able to play a bowl game at home in our final game. The past three years have been real tough, and winning this is something else."

It was the fourth time this season Cervizzi has surpassed 200 yards. He scored on runs of 11, 8 (with 10:45 left in the third that gave Brooks the lead for good at 17-12), 3 and 24 yards.

Leading the way for Cervizzi once again was an offensive line that features locals Nolan LeBlanc, a left tackle from Andover, Jake Gottfried and Owen Rosenberger, a left guard and right tackle, respectively, from North Andover.

Also contributing on offense was Andrew Hulshult, a kicker from Salem, N.H., who kicked off the afternoon's scoring with a 36-yard field goal — his third of the season — and added four extra points.

LeBlanc and Gottfried also anchored a strong defensive front that held Westminster (6-3) to 64 yards on 19 rushing attempts and 123 total yards.

"We had to shut down the run," said Nick Konovalchik, a defensive back who finished off Westminster's final possession with a blitzing strip-sack and also recovered the fumble. "We had to play good all-around defense."

Finishing with its best record since the same 7-2 mark of 2009 after losing 28 of its previous 32 should provide Brooks a solid foundation. The turn-around campaign in Foley's second year leading the program, should invigorate the returning players, providing motivation for continued success.

"We're going to build on the satisfaction of having a good season this year," said Konovalchik, a sophomore from North Andover who also had a couple of acrobatic catches among his game-high six receptions that netted 92 yards. "We went to a bowl game for the first time in a long time, so we have to come back hot next year. We'll be gunning for the (ISL) title."

One of the bright spots for Westminster was two-way starting lineman Corey Jean-Jacques of Haverhill, who recorded a 13-yard sack on Brooks QB K.J. Moore.

GROTON — Nick Konovalchik caught eight passes for 141 yards including a 34-yard touchdown, but Brooks fell to Lawrence Academy 28-6.

Lawrence Academy jumped out to a 21-0 lead before Brooks QB K.J. Moore hit Konovalchik for the team's lone score. Chris Cervizzi rushed for a team-high 69 yards.

GROTON — After a rocky first half saw his squad trailing by a touchdown, Brooks coach Pat Foley decided to make the plan very simple.

"We just decided, keep handing it to Chris (Cervizzi) and everything would be OK," the coach said with a laugh. "And it was."

NORTH ANDOVER — Brooks trailed by two scores midway through the second quarter, but by halftime had already tied the game and from there went on to defeat St. Marks 38-28 Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 21-7 in the second, Owen Rosenberger flipped the momentum in Brooks' favor when be broke in to block a punt to put the ball at the St. Marks 2-yard line. Two plays later North Reading's Chris Cervizzi plunged in for a touchdown to cut into the deficit.

The Green and White defense than struck, as Luke Hajdukiewicz picked off a pass shortly before halftime, and Brooks tied the game when K.J. Moore hit Nick Konovalchik for a 16-yard touchdown.

St. Marks bounced back to retake the lead after the break, but Brooks would not be denied.

First it was Cervizzi (team-high 159 yards) who scored his second touchdown of the day on a 22-yard run to make it 28-28 going into the fourth.

Haverhill's Coy Candelario then struck, hauling in a pass from Moore and taking it 35 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Kicker Andrew Hulshult then added the insurance with a 30-yard field goal.

Brooks (5-1) travels to face Groton on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

NORTH ANDOVER — Brooks has suffered more than its share of losses the past four years, but maybe none of them stung quite as much as the one last night.

That in itself might be the biggest proof the Green and White are headed in the right direction.

Looking for its first victory over perennial power Governor's Academy in five years, Brooks held its own, but was unable to build off the pregame hype in a 25-6 loss. Governor's, which has won at least a share of the Independent School League regular-season title each of the past three years, has now won 30 of its past 31 games.

WESTON — North Andover's Nick Konovalchik and Haverhill's Coy Candelario each caught a first-quarter touchdown pass as Brooks continued its torrid start to the season by rolling over Rivers 28-7 on Saturday.

Konovalchik started the scoring, hauling in a pass from K.J. Moore and taking it 27 yards for a score. Candelario was up next, catching a pass from Moore and breaking free for a 55-yard score.

Star running back Chris Cervizzi added to the Brooks lead in the third when he scored a 1-yard touchdown and Moore finished off the scoring in the fourth with a 54-yard scramble for a touchdown.

Candelario finished with five catches for 110 yards, his second straight 100-plus yard game, while Cervizzi carried 14 times for 97 yards.

North Andover's Kyle Neyman led the Brooks defense with an interception.

Chris Cervizzi rushed 31 times for 220 yards and thee touchdowns to lead Brooks 41-32 over St. George's.

Brooks QB KJ Moore completed 5 of 8 passes for 141 yards. He connected with Coy Candelario three times for 108 yards.

DEDHAM — North Reading’s Chris Cervizzi erupted for 288 yards and three touchdowns and Kyle Neyman made three interceptions as Brooks overcame turnover troubles to roll past Nobles 30-13 Saturday afternoon.

NORTH ANDOVER — Brooks christened its new field and lights last night with a 38-18 win over Thayer.

Junior Jalen Martinez of Methuen scored two touchdowns. K.J. Moore threw TD passes to Coy Candelario of Haverhill for 42 yards and 27 yards to Nick Konovalchick of North Andover. Chris Cervizzi of North Reading added a 41-yard TD run.