Horan and BC High clock CM

BC High is returning to the postseason, despite Catholic Memorial's best effort to derail the now two-time defending Catholic Conference champion. The clock on CM's Cinderella season struck midnight as it lost the fourth consecutive Pumpkin Bowl between the teams, 17-7, yesterday at Viola Stadium.

BC High's defense gobbled up the Knights all game, and a decisive fourth-quarter scoring drive keyed by running back Tyler Horan iced the contest for the home team.

"The last drive was real important," said BC High coach Jon Bartlett. "The kids ran hard and the line blocked well."

Nursing a 10-7 lead with just under seven minutes left, BC High running back Kyle Ewanouski fumbled a kickoff return at the 35, but the Eagles retained possession after a scrum.

Horan started the drive with a 19-yard run, followed by a short gain by Ewanouski. Bartlett then called Horan's number seven consecutive times, accumulating 41 yards, including a back-breaking 8-yard run on fourth and 1 from the CM 24 with less than three minutes remaining. Ewanouski capped things by scoring from 4 yards out, his fourth Thanksgiving touchdown in two years.

"We started out strong," said Horan, who ran 19 times for 104 yards. "We had to get this game to guarantee a spot [in the postseason], so getting this game was clutch. It was a great game. We needed that last drive, it's really what sealed the win."

BC High (9-1) set the tempo with the first play from scrimmage. Starting with favorable field position after Horan's 36-yard return of the opening kickoff set the Eagles up at their 44-yard line, senior quarterback Bill Kiley ran a keeper to the right and went untouched 56 yards to the end zone. Conor Flaherty's kick gave the home team a 7-0 lead.

"We've got our two stud backs in Kyle and Tyler, so it's good to know the quarterback can run a little," said Kiley.

CM (8-2) finally found an offensive flow in the third quarter. The Knights' rushing attack was squashed (16 carries, 43 yards) until running back Chinedu Chukwu turned his only three touches into 18 yards and the first third-down conversion of the day for CM. On a third-and-14 later in the drive, senior quarterback Dave Marshall threw a 30-yard touchdown pass into double coverage to Joe McCarthy.

In the second quarter, the Eagles ran 14 plays (12 rushes) as the clock wound down to halftime. After converting on two third-and-short attempts, BC High was inside the 10, but failed to punch it in. Flaherty drilled a 22-yard field goal for a 10-0 halftime lead.

The game ended when senior defensive end Mike DiMatteo - who broke his ankle in the first game of the season against Brockton - sacked Marshall.