BROCKTON -- Top-ranked Xaverian struck for two touchdowns less than five minutes apart in the second half and escaped with a 14-7 triumph over host and second-ranked Brockton Friday night at Marciano Stadium.

In what has become one of the state's top nonleague rivalries, the two football powerhouses engaged in a defensive battle with the title of Eastern Mass.'s top dog (early season, anyhow) at stake.

Despite mustering little in the way of offense in the first half, Xaverian put together a sustained scoring drive late in the third quarter (capped by an 18-yard touchdown reception by Joe Colton on a screen pass from Alex Phelan with 15 seconds to play in the frame), then watched Chris Tamasi punctuate their next offensive series with a 25-yard touchdown run with 6:35 to play.

"It was an off-counter pitch, where the quarterback pulls the ball from the running back and has me out on the pitch," said Tamasi. "The pitch was there, the guy downfield was thrown off, so the whole field was open. I just kept running, i wanted it bad."

How did all that open field look?

"It looked damn nice," said Tamasi with a wide smile.

Brockton's next possession sputtered early and a miscommunication led the team to go for a fake punt on 4th and 14 from its own 33. A pass attempt fell short and, while the Boxers would get the ball back with 2:23 to go and one last chance, they never came close to tying the game.

"Those are the kind of football games that Xaverian and Brockton have been playing for a long time," said Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson. "The intensity and phsyicality of the game was really high tonight and we were very fortunate that we came out in the second half and we were really able to put our act together better than the first half."

Check out video highlights inside this entry (more to come in a bit), and check out postgame reaction video at the top.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES

Xaverian forces a turnover on downs and will win this game, 14-7. More to come postgame.

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Boxers with a final chance. They have ball at own 37 with 1:03 to play.

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Brockton fake punt fails at own 33. X with the ball with 3:20 to go.

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Xaverian TD: Chris Tamasi 25-yard run. Hawks up, 14-7, with 6:25 to go.

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End of 3rd quarter: Tied, 7-7.

Offley, who was examined by the trainer (shoulder) during Xaverian's last drive is back on the field for Brickton's current drive.

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Xaverian TD: Joe Colton 18-yard TD reception on a screen pass from Alex Phelan. Tied with 29 seconds to go in third quarter. Six-play, 67-yard scoring drive.

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Second half underway. Brockton punts on 1st possession.

Defense the story of the first half, but Brockton puts together a 12-play, 56-yard scoring drive late in the half after recovering a Xaverian fumble and Trevon Offley scores on a four-yard pitch on fourth down to put the Boxers out front, 7-0, at the intermission.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

Trevon Offley 4-yard TD run on fourth down. Brockton, 7-0, 3:03 to go in first half.

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End of the 1st quarter ... Scoreless. Defenses owning this game.

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Xaverian with ball at its own 47 and a new set of downs with 1:48 to go in the first quarter.

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Xaverian fumbles away first possession, but doesn't hurt the Hawks.

Scoreless, late first quarter.

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BROCKTON -- We'll be live from Marciano Stadium tonight where No. 1 Xaverian visits No. 2 Brockton in an early season, nonleague showdown of area powers.

It's a lovely day in these parts right now. Temperature hanging in the low 60s as the sun begins to fade, but temperatures will drop into the 50s by game time. Virtually no chance of precipitation.

Remember to check back later tonight for video highlights from the game (we might even try to sneak something up at halftime).

Back with more after kickoff.