Fagan runs for five TDs as Blue Hills rolls over Bristol-Plymouth

CANTON — When Joe Fagan and his teammates made the jog downhill to the field Thursday afternoon, they knew that they weren’t just playing for head coach Ed Catabia, set to manage his final game with Blue Hills. They were also doing so for freshman coach Matthew Siwik, who tragically passed away last December.

Determined as ever, the senior running back proceeded to close out his own career at Blue Hills in style. Fagan would go on to rack up 17 carries, finishing with 247 yards and five touchdowns rushing, as Blue Hills completed the perfect season with a convincing 49-6 rout of Bristol-Plymouth.

“I give the kids credit,” Catabia said. “They play the games. Our job as coaches is to prepare them. We kind of just let them play the game, and give them all the credit. I give them all the credit, and our coaches are super. It’s not about any one particular person.”

Some were referring to Thursday’s tilt as a championship of sorts for the Mayflower Athletic Conference, as Blue Hills captured the North title, while Bristol-Plymouth took the South division.

However, it was clear from the opening drive that Blue Hills (6-0) had an advantage. Using Catabia’s trademark wing-T offense, the Warriors established the run, and methodically worked down the field. Fagan capped things with a 1-yard touchdown run, and the Warriors were quickly ahead, 6-0.

Later on in the first quarter, and with his team already leading 14-0, the Warriors gave the ball to Fagan once again. The senior found a seam, broke two tackles and then took off up the sideline for a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 22-0. From there, Blue Hills would coast.

With 7:13 remaining in regulation, Fagan put a bow on things, as he took off for his fifth and final touchdown of the day, this time from 41 yards out to seal things at 49-6.

It was the perfect ending to a great career for Catabia, who closed his 13-year stint as head coach of the Warriors with a record of 91-55. His tenure included two Super Bowl trips, one of which resulted in a Div. 4A title for Blue Hills (a 16-14 win over Cathedral in 2011).

While his coaching career might have come to a conclusion, Catabia is staying true to Blue Hills, where he has served multiple roles on the football team since 1979. He will remain as the athletic director for the near future.

As the rain fell during the postgame celebrations, Fagan smiled, knowing he and his fellow players had completed the ultimate goal of honoring two coaches who have meant so much to the program in recent years.

“It felt great,” Fagan said afterward. “Leading up to the season, we knew it was (Catabia’s) last, so we put everything out there for him. It wasn’t just for Catabia, it was for Siwik, too. He raised all of us. … That’s why we did so well. We had something to look up to.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3aOlvio