RallyNorth.net

Fri, Sep 29, 2017 07:00 PM @ Billerica

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Central Catholic	0	24	14	6	44
Billerica	7	0	0	7	14

Central withstands another slow start

BILLERICA - Billerica's game plan against powerhouse Central Catholic was evident from its first snap: Run the offense at a pace a turtle would think is slow.

It started as a sound strategy. Keep the ball away from Central's array of playmakers while chewing up as much clock as possible. And, thanks to a muffed punt and an interception on Central's first play, Billerica held a 7-0 lead after the first quarter - a quarter that the Raiders' offense ran just two plays in.

But Central, the No. 2 ranked team in Eastern Mass., overcame its second slow start in consecutive weeks in a big way. The Raiders exploded for 44 unanswered points over the next two and a half quarters, and the backups finished the eventual 44-14 victory.

As a senior co-captain, lineman Kalvin Guillermo wasn't going to allow his team to let the slow start linger.

"I was just telling them to stay together through the entire first quarter," said Guillermo, whose team moved to 4-0. "We just tried to stick together the entire time and get the offense going."

While the offense did get going, and in a big way, it was the defense that shined for Central.

Led by Guillermo in the middle of the line, the Raiders allowed just 72 rushing yards on 28 carries - a chunk of that coming well after the game was already in hand. Linemen Cameron Chase, Nathan Driscoll and Osho Omoyeni were in the Billerica (2-2) backfield all night.

Joe Howshan came up with an interception, and Ty Donatio was on the spot to recover a fumble.

"I think we're just pursing the ball well," said Guillermo. "Everyone is going hard every snap right until the whistle. We just kept playing hard for all four quarters."

After the sluggish start on offense, quarterback Bret Edwards made sure to find speedster Mathias Villafane often. The two connected on a 36-yard pass early in the second quarter to put Central on the board, and on their next drive Edwards found Villafane in the flat and the latter juked two defenders and outran several more on his way to a 44-yard score.

Villafane hauled in three touchdown passes on the night, finishing with 107 yards on four receptions.

"The offense was tough at the beginning with the turnovers, but once we got the ball moving with the run game things opened up," said Villafane. "We saw that they really didn't play safeties over the top, so we were able to pass on them easy."

Max Faro led Central on the ground with 80 yards on eight carries and a 55-yard touchdown run. Ty Donatio punched in a score from a yard out, and Howshan also broke off a 46-yard scamper for a TD.

Central hosts Haverhill next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

 

 

Central Catholic 44, Billerica 14

Central Catholic (4-0):    0 24 14 6 - 44

Billerica (2-2):    7  0  0 7 - 14

First Quarter

 B - Clifford Lois 2 run (Ian Gibbons kick), :21

Second Quarter

 CC - Mathias Villafane 36 yards from Bret Edwards (Zach DeBay kick), 9:31

 CC - Vallafane 44 pass from Edwards (DeBay kick), 6:41

 CC - Ty Donatio 1 run (DeBay kick) 2:44

 CC - DeBay 30 field goal, :02

Third Quarter

 CC - Villafane 23 pass from Edwards (DeBay kick), 5:49

 CC - Max Faro 55 run (DeBay kick), 3:30

Fourth Quarter

 CC - Joseph Howshan 46 run (kick failed), 9:55

 B - Shawn Colby 4 run (Gibbons kick), 4:59

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: CENTRAL (25-188): Max Faro 8-80, Joseph Howshan 1-46, Ty Donatio 4-23, Bret Edwards 7-12, Mark Kassis 1-10, Aidan Gordon 1-7, Jared Silverio 1-5, Anthony Caggianelli 1-3, Deven DeBay 1-2; BILLERICA (28-72): Pat Quinn 12-33, Clifford Louis 8-18, Rob Moore 3-23, Shawn Colby 3-10, Nolan Houlihan 1-(-5), Kevin Kennedy 1-(-7)

PASSING: CC - Bret Edwards 11-17-1, 167; B - Tom Landry 5-11-1, 20, Houlihan 4-5-0, 44

RECEIVING: CC - Mathias Villafane 4-107, Nicolas Donatio 2-25, Jake Delaney 2-20, Anthony Farelli 2-15, Howshan 1-0; B - Leo Alba 2-17, Morgan Mulkerin 3-11, Andrew Ciciotte 1-18, Kennedy 1-12, Colby 1-9, Moore 1-(-3)