By Pat Ouellette, Globe Correspondent

MANSFIELD - Mansfield coach Mike Redding has used Mike Abany mainly as an offensive weapon this season but it was his tackle of North Attleboro's Dan Rayburg on fourth- and-2 with three minutes left while playing linebacker that Redding called the key to the Hornets' 21-14 victory over the Red Rocketeers.

Abany's tackle gave Mansfield the ball at the North Attleboro 36-yard line and a 35-yard pass from Mark Gilson to David Westhaver set up Abany for a 1-yard score.

"Mike Abany was huge tonight," Redding said.

"He stepped up in an important situation for us and gave us the ball on a short field."

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By Rob Greenfield, Globe Correspondent

Almost one year ago, BC High traveled to Xaverian with an 8-0 record and the team-to-beat label for Catholic Conference foes. A 41-6 loss to the Hawks Nov. 4, 2006, spoiled a perfect season for coach Ron St. George and the Boston birds.

But history didn't repeat this year. The Eagles, 9-0 overall and 2-0 against the Catholic Conference, escaped with a 7-3 win at home against the Hawks last night.

BC High running backs Kyle Ewanouski and Brian Sullivan combined for 141 yards rushing on 24 carries in a hard-fought win.

"Defense wins championships," St. George told his team after the game. "And it was defense that won it again tonight."

For Xaverian, it was a lost opportunity. The Hawks led for most of the game, controlling the clock and keeping the BC High ground game on the sidelines. But 3 points wouldn't hold up against the Eagles' offense.

Despite hurting itself with five penalties for 45 yards, BC High finally took charge with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles began their winning drive on Xaverian's 37 with 9:22 left after a punt deflection resulted in a 21-yard kick.

Ewanouski went 4 yards up the gut. A botched snap led to a fumble but the Eagles recovered, and quarterback Billy Kiley connected on a 15-yard play-action pass to Tom Conley on third and 7.

Sullivan took it up the middle for a tough 11 yards on the ensuing play, and Ewanouski finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown rush for a 6-3 lead.

It was a demoralizing turn of events for the Hawks, who blanked BC High (a team averaging over 34 points per game) for more than three quarters.

"They have a tough defense," St. George said. "And we knew it. They're quick and athletic, and they get to the ball."

After a scoreless first quarter concluded in just over 15 real-time minutes, the Hawks had established themselves as a legitimate threat to BC High's undefeated season again. In the second quarter, the Hawks executed a textbook drive that ate up more than half of the quarter.

Xaverian began on its 20, and quarterback Anthony Varrichione kick-started things with consecutive completions, to Matt Guay for 6 yards and to out Tomas Kearney for 11 up the right sideline.

Xaverian's biggest offensive play was a run by fullback Paul Freeman inside left guard for 28 yards after he broke free down the left sideline. The Hawks continued to test BC High's quickness on the exterior on sweeps outside the tackles, and Freeman took two more carries for 15 yards before the drive stalled.

Paul Asack nailed a 36-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the second quarter, and the Hawks hopped into the visiting locker room with a 3-point lead over the mighty Eagles.

In the end, however, Xaverian couldn't recapture the 2006 magic, and BC High remained one of two undefeated teams in Division 1.

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By Ricky Popolizio, Globe Correspondent

WESTFORD - The mess that was a four-way tie atop the Dual County League was tidied up a bit last night. No. 12 Wayland visited Westford in a matchup of division leaders, but only the Warriors had much left in the tank by the end of their 20-0 win.

Lincoln-Sudbury and Acton-Boxboro also won last night to remain even with Wayland in the loss column in league play.

The Grey Ghosts (7-2, 4-2) had just two first downs and went three-and-out three times in the first half, while Wayland (8-1, 6-1) worked with great field position and benefited from a lack of execution by Westford.

As the Warriors' second drive seemingly came to an end at their 45, Westford was flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Three plays later, with Wayland facing a fourth and 1, the defensive line jumped early and the Warriors again were awarded an automatic first down. The Grey Ghosts were bailed out by senior Riley O'Keefe, who sacked Jeff Brewington on second and 14, forcing third and long.

Looking to push back in the game of field position, Westford began from its 10 and worked out to the 22. Then, on third and 8, senior Steve Demaras (10 of 22, 132 yards, 2 interceptions) found Ian McEnaney on a quick slant through the middle. McEnaney raced 57 yards before he was chased down by senior Mike Mitchell just outside the 20-yard line. Mitchell came over the top to strip the ball and Wayland recovered, terminating Westford's best scoring chance.

"That was a momentum-shifter right there," said Wayland coach Scott Parseghian. "Who knows what would have happened if they got seven there."

As Wayland threatened at the Westford 24 with less than a minute to play, junior Justin Belinsky nearly picked off a pass by Jeff Brewington (12 of 19, 137 yards, TD) on second down. Then, on fourth and 2 at the 22, Westford jumped offside. Brewington threw incomplete three times before senior Brian Harvey drilled a 34-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining.

Harvey scored the first points of the second half as well, hitting a 38-yarder.

Brian Flynn (20 carries, 170 yards, TD) and the Warriors weren't done, driving 70 yards on their next possession, culminating with a 26-yard connection from Brewington to Julian Ponsetto.

Ponsetto, who also played well in the secondary, took advantage of a perfect 24-yard pump-fake pass by Brewington on the next drive. Flynn then followed his blocks 41 yards for another score.

***

By Matt Porter, Globe Correspondent

MATTAPOISETT - Even though he was doused in ice water in 40 degree weather, Seekonk coach Dave Morgado wasn't cold at all following the Warriors' 26-0 blanking of Old Rochester. The win clinched the South Coast Conference title, and Seekonk's first MIAA playoff berth.

"It's unbelievable," said Morgado, after toweling off. "Unbelievable."

Seekonk (8-0, 7-0) uses fakes and counters to keep opponents guessing who will carry. But last night, there was no question who Old Rochester had to stop.

Chris Hanoian, a 220-pound bull of a runner, romped over the Bulldogs (5-4, 5-1). He found the end zone three times, and added a conversion rush. He steamrolled opposing tacklers from start to finish.

"He ran like a man possessed today," said Morgado. "Absolutely ran like a man possessed."

Teammate Alex Lyman added a touchdown in the third quarter.

Seekonk's defense, who came in allowing a tidy 4.7 points per game, posted its fifth shutout of the season, and its fourth on the road. It bottled up Bulldogs star back Franck Tebou, who struggled to get through an experienced Warriors front.

Morgado said his squad did it all.

"Defensively we did a good job, and we had the field position [on offense]," he said. "And when you have a kid running on you like that, every time it's like a punch to the teeth."

The teams started off like prizefighters feeling each other out. Then Seekonk threw it all at Old Rochester, and took them out of the fight.

After Old Rochester made a goal-line stand to end the first quarter, it was forced to punt, and the Warriors made haste downfield. They got to the ORR 13 in six plays, then Hanoian took the handoff and bowled over Zach Choquette on his way to the score.

Old Rochester again punted, but Choquette intercepted Josh Rosa's deep ball, and the Bulldogs were only down, 6-0, through the half.

But Seekonk threw the knockout blow to start the third quarter.

Bobby Jeannotte returned the kickoff to the Seekonk 39, and seconds later, Hanoian rumbled 61 yards for a 12-0 lead.

With 3:20 left in the third, Lyman pounded in a 22-yard run for an 18-0 lead.

Old Rochester punted again, and Seekonk marched downfield to set up Hanoian's 3-yard touchdown.

"The way we played tonight was the same way we've played against Apponequet, the same way we played against Wareham," said Morgado. "Just flat-out taking it to you."

The win was another step in the Warriors' colossal turnaround. Long the bottom-feeders of the SCC, they've romped undefeated thus far. For Hanoian, it's the first taste of success at Seekonk.

"I remember coming here as a freshman, and the program wasn't too hot," he said. "We really put a lot of work in, and we made it what it is today. And that's because of Coach."

***

By James Schneider, Globe Correspondent

Holliston and Abington went into last night's games hoping to stay undefeated, but their opponents had different plans last night.

The Panthers and Green Wave came into their games as the only undefeated teams in Division 3, but were knocked off by conference foes.

Holliston lost to Bellingham, 13-8, on a 19-yard touchdown run by Rich Barche in the fourth quarter.

Dave Showdale threw a touchdown pass and ran 75 yards for a clinching score as Cohasset denied Abington, 20-6.

Abington and Holliston still control their destinies, but the upsets made things much more interesting as the season winds down.

In ISL action, previously undefeated Buckingham Browne & Nichols fell to Thayer, 40-14, to put an end to its perfect season.

Division 1

Greater Boston: Everett 34, Medford 6 - Joe Conti threw for two touchdowns and Isaac Johnson rushed for two.

Cambridge 14, Somerville 0 - Ray Doucette threw two touchdown passes.

Old Colony: Bridgewater-Raynham 21, Barnstable 7 - Rob Cormier's 2-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown capped a 21-point run by Bridgewater-Raynham, which improved to 2-1 in the league.

Dartmouth 41, Attleboro 6 - Jordan Todman ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.

Nonleague: Malden 16, Bedford 13 - Renan Silva's 16-yard field goal with six seconds remaining won the game for Malden.

Bishop Feehan 36, Durfee 7 - Nicholas Schwieger scored five straight touchdowns for Bishop Feehan.

Division 1A

Dual County: Newton South 33, Boston Latin 6 - Isiah Quinones caught a touchdown pass and ran for one in the first quarter.

Lincoln-Sudbury 31, Concord-Carlisle 7 - Jason Roth threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one as Lincoln-Sudbury improved to 7-2.

Acton-Boxboro 20, Tyngsboro 0 - Trevor Jeanson ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Merrimack Valley: Andover 42, Methuen 12 - Mike Pierce was 12 of 14 passing for 159 yards and four touchdowns, and added 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Dracut 42, Lowell 6 - Jordan Murphy had 118 yards receiving, 75 yards rushing, and two TDs.

Atlantic Coast Dennis-Yarmouth 28, Falmouth 18 - Joe Jamiel added two touchdowns to his Division 1A leading total as Dennis-Yarmouth stayed unbeaten.

Division 2

Hockomock: Franklin 19, Stoughton 7 - Matt Carini's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game away for Franklin (7-2).

Foxboro 45, King Philip 7 - Brian Swanton threw two touchdown passes to lead Foxboro.

Middlesex Woburn 26, Lexington 13 - Chris Martin ran for two touchdowns and caught one while Dan McLaughlin threw for two scores.

Division 2A

Patriot: Rockland 40, Pembroke 0 - Corey McCauley scored Rockland's first two TDs on a 3-yard run and a 50-yard punt return, and James Gonsalves added two scores.

Cape Ann Large: Wilmington 10, North Andover 7 - Wilmington rallied in the fourth quarter on Kyle Moon's touchdown pass and Stephen Stewart's 27-yard field goal.

Northeastern Large: Gloucester 48, Lynn English 8 - Andrew Fulford ran for two touchdowns for undefeated Gloucester.

Division 3A

Boston North: Madison Park 20, Charlestown 0 - Davaughn Goss ran for 165 yards and a touchdown.

East Boston 36, Boston English 8 - Andrew Swain ran for two touchdowns for East Boston, which had more than 400 yards of total offense.

South Boston 38, West Roxbury 32 - Daquan Hill had three touchdowns, including the winner in overtime.

Commonwealth Large: Shawsheen 33, Lynn Tech 6 - Sophomores Chris Clark (124 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Cory Foss (118 yards, 2 touchdowns) led Shawsheen (7-1).

Cape Ann Small: Newburyport 47, Ipswich 21 - Joe Clancy threw for 108 yards and a touchdown and ran one in as Newburyport (6-3) cruised.

Division 4

Boston South: Dorchester 16, Burke 0 - Eric Lott scored his 16th touchdown of the year on a 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Dorchester improved to 7-1.

O'Bryant 16, Hyde Park 6 - David Mahoney and Chris Parkins each rushed for a touchdown as O'Bryant (4-5) crept closer to .500.

Brighton 32, Boston Latin 14 - Kameel Lashley lead his team back from a 14-8 deficit with a touchdown pass (his second) and rush.

Mayflower Small: Nantucket 13, Tri-County 12 - Chris Welch's 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Ferreira as time expired won the game for Nantucket (2-5).

ISL

Lawrence Academy 26, Governor's Academy 21 - Chris Lane scored twice, including the winning 29-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left.

St. George's 37, St. Paul's 6 - Patrick Guerriero ran for three touchdowns as St. George's improved to 5-2.

Nobles 46, Brooks 15 - Patrick Noone ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and McCallum Foote threw for four touchdowns as Nobles (7-0) stayed perfect.

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