Boxers go the distance

They just hold off Dartmouth at end

BROCKTON - What a difference a year makes.

Fueled by an underdog spirit and a relentless ground assault, and surviving a thrilling comeback, Brockton avenged last season's embarrassing semifinal loss to Dartmouth, defeating the previously unbeaten Indians, 20-13, last night at Rocky Marciano Stadium to advance to the MIAA Division 1 Super Bowl.

The Boxers (9-3), who were systematically taken apart by Dartmouth last season, 40-7, rode a stout defensive effort and workhorse senior running back Khalil James-Offley (three touchdowns) to the victory.

"That's Brockton football," said coach Peter Colombo. "It was a duel. Two great teams going blow for blow. They weren't going to go down easy, but we got it done."

Holding a 20-0 advantage entering the fourth quarter, the Boxers narrowly escaped.

On its first drive of the fourth quarter, Dartmouth finally broke through. Indians quarterback Sean Sylvia capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive with a 19-yard run.

The Indians got the ball back at their 39-yard line after a fourth-down stop midway through the quarter. Dartmouth then cut the deficit to 20-13 on a 2-yard touchdown by Justin Mello.

With Brockton trying desperately to run out the clock, quarterback Sam Previte fumbled on a dive up the middle. Dartmouth's Justin Cruz recovered at the Indians' 45 with 1:22 remaining.

Dartmouth advanced to the Boxers' 30-yard line before time ran out. Brockton linebackers Brien Massie and Henry Thevenin combined for a sack to end the game.

It's not the first time a seemingly overmatched Brockton squad upended the Indians. In 2006, a 5-5 Boxers team beat an undefeated Dartmouth squad, 15-14, in the semifinals. That year, Brockton fell to Everett in the Super Bowl.

"I never doubted they'd come back at us," said Colombo. "We were fortunate to have enough left to stop them."

The Boxers scored once in each of the first three quarters, all on James-Offley runs. His first score came on the Boxers' opening possession. After converting a fourth and 5 from the Indians 35, he dashed 26 yards to paydirt on a sweep down the visitors' sideline.

On Brockton's second possession, James-Offley capped a 13-play drive with a 1-yard plunge to the right of center. That put Brockton ahead, 13-0, at the intermission.

After halftime, the Brockton defense asserted itself. On Dartmouth's third play from scrimmage, senior linebacker Carlito Weaver stripped Arthur Lynch after a reception and the Boxers recovered the fumble.

"The defense has improved all year," said Colombo, whose squad lost three of its first four games before winning eight straight. "We've come a long way."

James-Offley wasted no time capitalizing. Needing just two rushes, of 23 and 17 yards, he scored for the third time.

Dartmouth (11-1) entered the contest the favorite thanks to its high-octane offense. However, the Indians failed to find a rhythm as Brockton controlled the line of scrimmage and the clock. Only late in the game did Dartmouth find its stride, but by then it was too late.

James-Offley finished with 153 yards on 23 carries. He now has 25 touchdowns on the season.

Dartmouth's Sylvia had 22 carries for 142 yards and was 12 of 24 passing for 155 yards.

Having wiped away the painful memories of 2007, the Boxers would like nothing more than to exorcise their 2006 demons with a belated Super Bowl title. The stage is set: Brockton will meet BC High at Gillette Stadium Saturday.

"They're great athletes on [Dartmouth and Brockton]," said Colombo. "Three years in a row we've had great battles. Kids know the tradition. This is one for the ages."