FOXBORO — Throughout its stellar run to the state final, the Tewksbury High football team embraced the concepts of teamwork and camaraderie.
This team-first approach to winning carried the Redmen to the brink of a state championship.
Unfortunately, the final chapter of a storybook season doesn’t always come equipped with a happy ending.
Springfield Central jumped out to a quick two-touchdown lead in the first half and then held on for a 20-7 victory over Tewksbury in the MIAA Division 3 state title game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
The Redmen finished the season with an 11-2 record. Springfield Central, a perennial Western Massachusetts power, is 11-1.
Kyle Zervas scored Tewksbury’s touchdown on a nifty 66-yard run early in the third quarter. Tyler Keough kicked the conversion after the Redmen score.
Springfield Central couldn’t put the game away until Isaac Boston returned a fumbled punt seven yards for a touchdown with 51 seconds left to play.
“This team has been amazing,” said Zervas, a senior co-captain. “Everyone doubted us. We proved we could get to Gillette. There’s nothing better than playing here on this team. This team is my family. I’ll never forget this season.”
Tewksbury received a great effort from its defense in the second half. Derek Graffeo, who had a terrific game in the secondary, intercepted a pass at the Redmen 8 yard line to end a Springfield Central scoring threat in the third quarter. Then Jack Kelly came away with an interception, which he returned to the Springfield Central 42 with 2:57 left to play, and Tewksbury only trailing by six points.
But the Springfield Central defense made some big plays with the game on the line and Tewksbury turned the ball over on downs.
“I thought we had one more drive in us,” said Zervas, who rushed for 70 yards. “I thought we were going to put one in there and win the state championship. We had good preparation going in. We just tried to fight like dogs. We just couldn’t get the job done.”
The Golden Eagles’ defensive front applied constant pressure on Redmen quarterback Jay Connolly, while limiting Tewksbury to only 145 yards of total offense.
“The pressure was strong,” said Tewksbury coach Brian Aylward. “They did a good job. It didn’t matter what protection we were in. It was really hard to execute anything down field.
“They have good athletes. They’re a good team. It was a tough battle. You are supposed to play good teams in the Super Bowl. And they were certainly a good team.”
Springfield Central led 13-0 at halftime
The Golden Eagles carried the play much of the first half. Springfield Central had 227 yards of total offense in the first half, while holding Tewksbury to nine yards of total offense. Tewksbury’s defense limited Springfield Central’s explosive attack to only 67 total yards in the second half.
Springfield Central took the opening kickoff and marched in for a score. Kwame Kyles capped off the drive with a 3 yard touchdown run. Andrew Carroll kicked the conversion and the Golden Eagles had a 7-0 lead with 5:48 left to play in the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles drove to the Redmen 17 on their second possession. But Tewksbury’s defense stiffened and came up with a key stop.
Tewksbury followed the defensive stand by putting together its best drive of the first half. The Redmen moved down to the Sprinfield Central 27 before a sack pushed them back 21 yards and they ended up punting.
Springfield Central stretched its lead to 13-0 in the second quarter as Cqari Bacote hauled in a 22 yard touchdown pass from Boston.
The Golden Eagles drove to the Redmen 14 in the final minute of the first half. Carroll’s 32-yard field field goal attempt on the final play of the first half was no good.
Josh Sughrue was Tewksbury’s leading receiver with four catches for 38 yards. Connolly passed for 67 yards in the final game of his brilliant high school career.
“These guys will be friends forever,” said Aylward. “This will be a tough memory right now. But those are the memories that drive you in life. The ones when things don’t go your way. How did everybody in the program react when the times are tough? That’s the true measure of character.
“I think all these guys passed that test by the way they continued to fight and continued to believe (throughout the game). It’s a great group of kids. They accomplished so much. I’m proud of them. I’m proud to be their coach.”
Follow Carmine Frongillo on Twitter @cwfrongi
SUMMARY
SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL 20, TEWKSBURY 7
Springfield Central (11-1) 7 6 0 7 — 20
Tewksbury (11-2) 0 0 7 0 — 7
SC: Kwame Kyles 3 run (Andrew Carroll kick)
SC: Cqari Bacote 22 pass from Isaac Boston (Pass failed)
T: Kyle Zervas 66 run (Tyler Keough kick)
SC: Boston 7 fumble return (Carroll kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing: T, Kyle Zervas 5-70; Shane Aylward 5-12; Jack Kelly 5-8; Kyle Darrigo 5-5.
Passing: T, Jay Connolly 8-22-1-67.
Receiving: T, Josh Sughrue 4-38; Shane Aylward 1-25; Tyler Keough 1-9; Jack Kelly 1-3; Connor Brincklow 1-(minus)8
