DANVERS– It’s been an up and down season for the St. John’s Prep football team. With a handful of injuries, the Eagles were forced to turn to young, inexperienced players to fill key vacancies throughout a season that saw them match up against some of the tougher teams in the state.
Thursday morning’s Thanksgiving game against rival Xaverian at St. John’s Cronin Memorial Stadium was a prime example of the struggles and growing pains the Eagles have gone through this season. The Eagles rode a two-game winning streak into Thursday’s rivalry game, after victories over Lowell and Andover, but the wave of momentum wasn’t enough to trounce the Hawks.
Xaverian, bound for a Super Bowl clash against the Everett Crimson Tide next week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, blanked St. John’s 30-0 for the Thanksgiving victory. With the loss, the Eagles end their 2017 campaign at 5-6.
Prior to the game Eagles coach Brian St. Pierre noted that the Eagles would have to avoid turnovers in order to come away with the victory. Unfortunately for St. John’s, the Eagles committed a handful of costly turnovers and Xaverian cashed in on the opportunities.
The Hawks drew first blood with a 6-0 lead and saw that advantage increase to 21-0 after Xaverian forced a pair of St. John’s interceptions. The Eagles moved the ball on their final possession of the first half but the drive stalled and ended in another Hawks interception. At the half, Xaverian led 21-0.
Things didn’t get any better for the Eagles in the second half of play. The Hawks added another touchdown in the third quarter to bump their hefty lead to 27-0 after three period. Xaverian added a field goal in the fourth quarter to seal the scoring and claim the 30-0 victory.
The Hawks move to 7-4 on the season with the win and now turn their attention to next week’s Super Bowl clash against the Crimson Tide.