Stingy Foxboro cashes in

ACTON -- Few expected Foxboro in the playoffs after two early-season losses . But the Warriors knew what they had to do -- keep winning and believing.

And now they're Super Bowl champions.

Senior quarterback Drew Connolly completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 132 yards and two touchdowns (both to Ryan Wilson) as the Warriors defeated Burlington, 21-10, in Division 2. The victory avenges last year's 8-3 Super Bowl loss to Natick.

"They believed in each other," said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli of the victory that was the 200th of his career. "They were down and out at one point but stuck together and made the sacrifices that were necessary. Now, here we are as champions."

The Red Devils were no match for Foxboro's hard-hitting defense, which limited the Middlesex League champions to 38 total rushing yards and a season low in points. The Warriors were dominant in the first half; they allowed only one first down and did not have to punt. Foxboro held the ball for 15:40 of the half.

"We couldn't get our running game going the way we wanted to," said Burlington coach Shawn Maguire. "We were pretty nervous in the first half. This loss isn't going to ruin our year, we set history in Burlington this year with our first outright title. To go 12-1 and make it to the Super Bowl is the best since football started at Burlington in 1949."

Foxboro scored on its first possession with a meticulous 60-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by Tim Mogan with 3:34 remaining. Foxboro scored on its next possession, going 52 yards on nine plays. Connolly connected with Wilson in the corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Burlington's offense struggled throughout the first half, gaining only 19 rushing yards. There was one highlight, however, a 48-yard pass from Dan Walsh to Ryan Harrington that put the Red Devils on Foxboro's 11. The pass set up a 27-yard field goal by Matt Valley with 8:09 remaining in the second.

Any momentum Burlington created was squashed soon after. Burlington gained possession of the ball on its 27 after Foxboro failed on a fourth-and-10 attempt. The possession lasted only two plays as Harrington fumbled the ball after a 6-yard reception, giving the Warriors the ball at the 27. Wilson hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Connolly three plays later, with 16 seconds remaining in the half, giving the Warriors a commanding 21-3 lead at the break.

"The fact that we held [running back Ted] Marmanidis was the key to the football game," Martinelli said.

Burlington cut the deficit in the second half, scoring on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Walsh to Kyle Pierce. Valley added the extra point.

Desperate, Burlington adopted the pass in the second half and threw the ball 20 times -- but only seven fell into the hands of a receiver.

"I'm proud of it," said Martinelli of the milestone win. "But if it wasn't for 25 years of Foxboro kids, there'd be no 200 wins.

"The Super Bowl was the crowning point today, right now I'd stay for another 25 years."