Persistent BC High finally downs Everett

LYNN - If at first you don't succeed, try again. And again. And again.

That was BC High's motto as it beat Everett, the defending Division 1 champion, 9-0, in last night's MIAA semifinal matchup at Manning Field in Lynn. The victory avenged last season's semifinal loss to the Crimson Tide, as well as the Super Bowl-bound Eagles' lone blemish this season.

"All week, no one really gave us a chance," said coach Jon Bartlett. "We told the guys as long as all 74 of us, every single one of us, believed coming on this field we could win this game, that's all that mattered."

BC High will take on Brockton in Saturday's Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

The Eagles proved to be the tidier team on a night when both were sloppy. The Tide turned the ball over six times, including two interceptions by BC High quarterback Bill Kiley and one by Niall Murphy, the duo that connected on the game's only touchdown.

"This is the best cornerback we got; he's been all year," said Kiley of Murphy. "It's just great to see him step up his senior year in the biggest game. He's my boy, he's my best friend."

Starting at its 26 after an Everett fumble, BC High put together one of its trademark drives, eating up more than five minutes and converting on two fourth-and-1 attempts, the first a fake punt that was turned into an 8-yard run by workhorse Tyler Horan, and a short run by Kyle Ewanouski accounting for the other. A 27-yard screen pass to Ewanouski then set up the sole touchdown of the game - a 19-yard strike from Kiley to Murphy with 36 seconds left in the half. Conor Flaherty, who accounted for the first 3 points on a first-quarter field goal, missed the extra point, but BC High headed into halftime with a 9-0 lead.

"We knew we had to open it up," said Murphy. "I put a double move on [Everett cornerback Jim] Noel, and Billy put the ball on the money."

Everett opened the game with a promising drive that fizzled. Starting at their 10, the Crimson Tide followed a 25-yard play-action pass from Joe Conti to Dio McCloud with a 32-yard dash by J.W. Forte that got the defending champs into BC High territory. The next three plays, all power runs by Alan Dancewicz, did not produce a first down, and coach John DiBiaso sent out Igor Garcia to attempt a 46-yard field goal that fell short.

BC High responded with its first drive, netting 41 yards on nine plays, keyed by a 21-yard pass from Kiley to AJ Okereke on third and 9. The Eagles, however, were stuffed on a fourth and 2 when Ewanouski slipped taking the handoff.

On Everett's ensuing possession, the Crimson Tide converted on third and long on a 20-yard scramble by Conti. But on the next play, Conti was picked off by his counterpart, Kiley, who was moonlighting as a safety. Kiley (5 of 9 passing for 70 yards) returned it more than 30 yards to Everett's 37. BC High was unable to take advantage, though, going three and out thanks to a jarring hit from defensive back Jesus Crawford, causing Okereke to drop a sure first-down catch. The punt pinned Everett at its 1, where the Tide were forced to punt it right back. However, the punt sailed out of bounds at Everett's 22-yard line, setting up Flaherty's 35-yard field goal, which bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights.

Everett looked set to answer BC High's field goal, getting a 43-yard run from Jean Bordeau that brought the Tide to the Eagles' 32. A few plays later, however, McCloud fumbled a pitch and defensive lineman Rob McCourt recovered, leading to the Eagles' touchdown.

Senior lineman Mike DiMatteo, who was injured in the first game of the year and returned to record a sack in the last game of the regular season, was a defensive force for the Eagles, sacking Conti twice.

"Still not over yet, though - we got another game Saturday," said Murphy. "This isn't everything."

Maybe not everything, but Murphy and the Eagles will enjoy it. It's been a long time coming.