Massachusetts

Record-setters and more: Who were the top 10 Super Bowl players at Gillette Stadium?

Published

12 months ago

December 2, 2023

Record-setters and more: Who were the top 10 Super Bowl players at Gillette Stadium?

On the biggest stage, these high school football stars shined the brightest.

We decided to rank the top 10 performances we saw at Gillette Stadium this week in the eight MIAA Super Bowls. There were record-setting performances, programs’ first state titles, a rematch of a 2021 state championship and plenty more.

This was certainly not an easy list to cut down, as the biggest game of the season brought out tons of top-notch performances. Let’s dive into what was a stellar week of Super Bowls.

10. Jackson Belsan, Scituate

Although his Sailors lost to Duxbury in the Div. 4 final, Belsan’s passing prowess kept the Sailors alive for much of the second half. Belsan finished 14 of 26 passing for 328 yards and three TDs (70, 9 and 64 yards). Scituate’s 33 points were the most the Dragons surrendered in a game this season after giving up 13 points in their three previous tournament wins.

9. Caleb Brown, Xaverian

Entering Wednesday’s Div. 1 final, Brown had scored three TDs all season. He doubled that total with a breakout performance in a 31-25 win over Xaverian. The Brockton resident’s three receptions turned into 62 yards and three TDs. The last TD put the Hawks ahead for good on an 18-yard grab from Hasselbeck early in the fourth quarter.

More: Brockton resident brought his best game for Xaverian in thrilling D-1 Super Bowl win

8. Patrick Miller, Milton

The senior first-year starter has been a TD machine for the Wildcats all season, and Thursday’s Div. 3 state championship was no different. Miller, who was 16 of 26 passing for 148 yards, threw four TD passes in a 42-21 win over Walpole. Ronan Sammon was his favorite target, hauling in six catches for 75 yards and a pair of TDs.

Miller broke the school record for passing TDs in a single season with 33. Owen McHugh, last year’s starter, was the previous record holder with 31.

More: Comeback kids: Milton football rallies from early deficit to win Div. 3 Super Bowl

7. Connor Muldoon, West Boylston

The Lions offense was nearly unstoppable in a 41-7 win over Carver in the Div. 8 Super Bowl. West Boylston completed only one pass in the win, of which Muldoon was the recipient in the form of a 54-yard TD. Muldoon was one of five WB players with at least 50 yards rushing. He turned his 11 carries into 62 yards and a pair of TDs.

More: West Boylston captures second straight state championship as Lions roll past Carver

6. Tommy McLeish, King Philip

The Warriors’ offense was surgical in a 42-14 win over Marshfield in the Div. 2 Super Bowl. McLeish, a senior QB, was precise behind center. He completed 11 of his 15 passes for 166 yards and three TDs. He connected on TD throws of 7, 42 and 12 yards.

5. Lincoln Moore and Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, Foxboro

Moore and Mazenkas-O’Grady spearheaded the Warriors’ suffocating defensive outing as coach Jack Martinelli took home his fifth Super Bowl in the Div. 5 game. Moore had an interception, and scored a TD offensively, and Mazenkas-O’Grady scooped up a fumble and returned it 39 yards for score. Together, the two collapsed the pocket and lured a high-flying Hanover offense into four turnovers, capping to just 36 rushing yards and an uncharacteristic output of 21 points.

4. LaChapelle brothers, Uxbridge

The brothers ran wild as the Spartans defeated Amesbury, 42-16, in the Div. 7 Super Bowl. They combined for 31 rushes for 302 yards and six TDs. Kellen LaChapelle tied an MIAA Super Bowl record with five TD rushes. He finished with 14 carries for 148 yards. He also threw for 25 yards. Camden rushed 17 times for 154 yards and one TD.

3. Henry Hasselbeck, Xaverian

Although his father, 17-year NFL QB Matt, never won a game at Gillette Stadium, Henry put on a show in a thrilling Div. 1 final victory over St. John’s Prep, 31-25. The dual-threat QB was 7 of 13 passing for 101 yards and three TDs. He also turned 13 carries into 122 yards, highlighted by a 55-yard run, as the Hawks knocked off the defending Div. 1 state champs for the second time in less than a week.

More: Xaverian’s Henry Hasselbeck adds to family’s football legacy with Super Bowl win

2. Justin Marques, Fairhaven

The junior set an MIAA Super Bowl record with 46 carries (the previous record was 45) in the Blue Devils’ 26-22 win over Salem in the Div. 6 final. Still, his coach thought he didn’t give him the ball enough.

“I think I gave it to him almost every time tonight,” said Fairhaven coach Derek Almeida to The Standard-Times. “I probably should have gave it to him more. He just runs the ball so hard.”

Marques turned the 46 carries into 228 yards and four touchdowns. His 46th carry was a 3-yard TD with 3:48 remaining to seal the state title. Marques tallied 38 TDs this season, bringing his career tally to 68.

More: ‘Greatest moment of my entire life’: Fairhaven beats Salem to capture Div. 6 Super Bowl

1. Alex Barlow, Duxbury

In a Thanksgiving win over Div. 2 finalist Marshfield, Barlow ran for 292 yards and three TDs. In Friday’s Div. 4 final win over Scituate, 62-33, Barlow rumbled his way to 275 yards and five TDs on 32 carries. His five TDs tied an MIAA Super Bowl record. His TD jaunts, four of which came in the second half, covered 1, 1, 3, 9 and 35 yards.

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts should get ‘much-welcomed’ rain, even snow in spots amid ‘Critical Drought’ as wildfires keep burning

Published

8 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

Massachusetts should get ‘much-welcomed’ rain, even snow in spots amid ‘Critical Drought’ as wildfires keep burning

Have you ever been so excited for some rain?

As Massachusetts enters the “Critical Drought” status with dozens of wildfires burning across the region, meteorologists are predicting that some “much-welcomed” rain should arrive soon. Even wet snow will be possible in higher elevation spots on Thursday night.

The Bay State desperately needs this precipitation following an unprecedented lack of rain in recent months, triggering this brutal drought and sparking brush fires.

Over the past 30 days, most of the state has received less than an inch of rain, which is 3 to 4.5 inches below normal. Many areas recorded their lowest rainfall ever for this time of the year.

“Slow-moving frontal system brings overcast and much-welcomed rains Thurs into Fri, which could mix with wet snow at locations above 1,500 ft elevation Thurs night and Fri.,” the National Weather Service’s Boston office wrote in its forecast discussion.

The latest wildfires in the region were reported in Blue Hills Reservation on Tuesday, as firefighters battled the 40-acre blaze.

“The DCR Fire Control team, in coordination with the Milton Fire Department, is actively working to contain the fire and ensure public safety,” the state Department of Conservation and Recreation posted. “DCR urges the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to work safely and to take precautions against smoke.”

As of Tuesday, there were about 37 active wildfires across the state. This year’s fire season has lasted longer because of the dry conditions. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across the state since the start of October, burning more land than Massachusetts usually sees in an entire year.

A “Critical Drought” was declared across most of the state on Tuesday, except for the Cape and Islands regions.

“Massachusetts is experiencing critical drought conditions that are fueling unprecedented and destructive wildfires across the state,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “Climate change is reshaping our region’s weather patterns, resulting in warmer and drier fall and winter seasons.

“Water conservation is more important than ever,” Tepper added. “We urge municipalities, residents, and businesses — including those with private wells — to help us reduce stress on our water systems. We need to work together to ensure we have enough clean drinking water, protect wildlife habitats, and maintain effective fire control. Every small effort counts.”

Tree workers stroll through the smoke as firefighters battle the Blue Hills brush fire. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Originally Published: November 19, 2024 at 4:19 PM EST

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Massachusetts

Blue Hills brush fire sends smoke into surrounding Massachusetts towns

Published

15 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

Blue Hills brush fire sends smoke into surrounding Massachusetts towns

Next Weather: WBZ morning forecast for November 19, 2024

01:42

MILTON – A new brush fire has developed in the Blue Hills State Reservation, sending smoke into surrounding Massachusetts communities.

The fire near Houghton’s Pond in Milton has burned 41 acres of the popular hiking area, and was only 10% contained as of Monday evening, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. A smoky smell was reported in towns to the southeast, including Braintree, Brockton and Randolph.

Fire departments from several nearby towns are helping to fight the flames. Canton firefighters in a social media video showed crews performing a controlled “back burn” to keep the main fire from spreading further.

FINAL UPDATE: Units are being released from the brush fire. Tomorrow, Two Brush Fire Task Forces are being sent to Milton. One from Norfolk County, the other from Plymouth County. Here is footage of the “Back Burn” performed at the Blue Hills brush fire. This performed under controlled conditions. It burns back towards where the fire is spreading to and burns the area in between.
Posted by Canton Firefighters IAFF Local 1580 on Monday, November 18, 2024

Red flag warning for Massachusetts

A red flag warning is in effect for all of Massachusetts Tuesday, as the dry weather continues and winds could gust up to 25 mph.

“Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly,” the National Weather Service said. “Outdoor burning is not recommended.”

Some relief is expected Thursday, as the first rain storm to hit the area in weeks could put a dent in the state’s severe drought.

Fires in Massachusetts

In addition to the Blue Hills incident, state fire officials said a new fire in the Boxford State Forest has grown significantly. That fire along Thomas Road in North Andover had spread to 220 acres and was just 10% contained. At this time, no homes are at risk.

The largest brush fire in the state is burning in the Lynn Woods Reservation. The 440-acre fire is 50% contained.

Firefighters are also continuing to patrol the Middleton Pond fire that has burned 242 acres and is 60% contained.

Neal Riley

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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Massachusetts

How Mass. leaders are responding to Trump's mass deportation promises

Published

23 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

How Mass. leaders are responding to Trump's mass deportation promises

Elected officials in Massachusetts are reacting to President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants by declaring a national emergency and using military assets.

Trump campaigned on a promise of the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, and he says he intends to deliver on it.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who declared a state of emergency around migrant arrivals last year, says something needs to be done, but she expressed concern about communities being uprooted.

“I think it’s absolutely appropriate that there be enforcement and deportation of individuals who commit crime, including violent crime. That’s very, very important,” Healey said. “We recognize it would be devastating if there were mass raids, here and across the country, that took out people who’ve been working in this country for a long time, who have families and kids here.”

While Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, it has eight sanctuary cities.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called attention to the Trust Act, passed in 2014. It distinguishes the difference in roles between Boston police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

“We know that the fear of someone who might be living, coming from an immigrant family, not then reporting crimes or not speaking out about different issues, actually then makes the entire community less safe,” Wu said.

Cambridge is also a sanctuary city — it has been since 1985.

“Cambridge affirms the basic human rights and dignity of every human being and provides education, health and other critical services to all residents of Cambridge, regardless of their immigration status,” a city spokesperson told NBC10 Boston in a statement.

Leaders in Worcester, the state’s second-largest city, say it will always remain inclusive and will never target individuals based on their immigration status.

At the former ICE detention center in Dartmouth, there are no plans for the sheriff to reimplement any future detention programs.

“This organization has been there and done that,” said Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux.

ICE closed the detention center in 2021 after President Joe Biden took office.

Heroux’s predecessor, former Sheriff Tom Hodgson — a strong ally of Trump who served as the president-elect’s campaign chairman in Massachusetts — blasted the Biden administration and called the center’s closing “a political hit job” orchestrated by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

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