The Division 8 Super Bowl between Carver and West Boylston will showcase two formidable offenses, each averaging over 41 points per game.

After winning only three games last year, Carver (11-1) is relishing the opportunity to take the field for Wednesday’s opening state championship game at Gillette Stadium at 5:30 p.m.

“We’re pumped. We’re thrilled.” said Carver head coach Ben Shuffain. “It’s nice when the work the kids and staff put in throughout the year pays off and you get to the big game again.”

Carver has multiple weapons to choose from on offense. Quarterback Tyler Lennox poses a serious threat through the air, with his 37 touchdown passes and 2,711 passing yards ranking among the best in the state.

“His growth the last couple of years has been tremendous,” Shuffain said. “He’s a terrific leader on and off the field. A high character kid with a good arm and he’s very smart athletically.”

The most versatile player on the Carver roster is Jameson Helms, who can play running back, receiver and middle linebacker.

“We spread the ball around a little bit more this year than we did last year,” said Shuffain. “So, his yards (and) touches have dipped. But his touchdowns (14) have gone up, and he has over 90 tackles on defense. He’s got 18 tackles for loss, a bunch of sacks. So, he’s a great all-around football player.”

Robbie Peterson (925 yards, 18 touchdowns) is the go-to receiver for the Crusaders, with Derek Lopes (765 yards, eight touchdowns) providing another tall target on the outside. On the other side of the ball, Peterson has five interceptions. Carver’s defense has limited its opponents to fewer than 15 points per game.

Meanwhile, West Boylston (12-0) punched its ticket to Gillette with a 36-0 victory against Cathedral. The Lions have been spurred all season by their prolific rushing offense.

“We have four or five backs who are all good,” said West Boylston head coach Mike Ross. “Jon Ruas, he’s a fast, explosive back. Jamie McNamara’s a fullback. He’s fast, but he has a lot of power behind him. Conor Muldoon’s also fast, explosive. Then (running back/tight end) Jackson Caramanica is just sound at everything he does.”

West Boylston’s opponents have been averaging fewer than 10 points a game. But Ross knows that it will be difficult for his defense to neutralize Carver.

“We’re gonna have to control the clock,” Ross said. “Then we’ll play our game. But they’re really good on offense.”

Shuffain paid his respects to his opposition as well, and added it would be very significant that his team wins the battles at the line of scrimmage.

“West Boylston probably runs their offense more perfectly than I’ve ever seen any other team run it before,” he said. “I mean, their offensive line is excellent. … For us to win this game, we’re gonna have to out-tough them.”

Both teams are expecting an entertaining game, but for the powerful offenses of Carver and West Boylston, it will be all about who puts more points on the board.

“We gotta score more points than them,” said Shuffain. “Both teams have good defenses. But the offenses of both teams are their high points, and I think the first team to have two to three stops wins the game.”

DIVISION 8 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Carver (11-1) vs. West Boylston (12-0), Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium

CARVER CRUSADERS

Head coach: Ben Shuffain

SEPT. 9: Carver 40, NANTUCKET 6

SEPT. 15: CARVER 49, Tri-County 0

SEPT. 23: Carver 55, McCANN 0

SEPT. 29: CARVER 50, Martha’s Vineyard 12

OCT. 6: CARVER 42, Cohasset 39 (ot)

OCT. 13: Carver 32, RANDOLPH 21

OCT. 20: CARVER 45, Hull 0

OCT. 27: Carver 40, MASHPEE 16

NOV. 3: CARVER 55, Franklin Tech 0

NOV. 10: CARVER 49, KIPP 27

**NOV. 17: Carver 44, Hoosac Valley 0

NOV. 23: Middleboro 56, CARVER 0

*Home team in caps, **State semifinal, neutral field

WEST BOYLSTON LIONS

Head coach: Mike Ross

SEPT. 8: WEST BOYLSTON 51, Northbridge 13

SEPT. 15: West Boylston 44, FITCHBURG 6

SEPT. 22: West Boylston 42, ASSABET VALLEY 0

SEPT. 29: West Boylston 52, BLUE HILLS 14

OCT. 5: WEST BOYLSTON 53, Clinton 19

OCT. 13: WEST BOYLSTON 42, Tyngsboro 7

OCT. 21: West Boylston 51, LUNENBURG 14

OCT. 28: West Boylston 20, BLACKSTONE VALLEY 0

NOV. 3: WEST BOYLSTON 49, Brighton 14

NOV. 10: WEST BOYLSTON 43, Blackstone-Millville 7

**NOV. 18: West Boylston 36, Cathedral 0

NOV. 23: WEST BOYLSTON 50, Maynard 20

*Home team in caps, **State semifinal, neutral field

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Carver has appeared in one prior state championship, losing to Fairhaven (35-14) in the 2000 Div. 4 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl. The school did get to a pair of Super Bowls when it was known as Plymouth Carver, losing to Andover in the 1975 Div. 2 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl (7-3) and defeating Methuen (18-14) in the 1984 Div. 2 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl.

West Boylston is a perfect 3-0 in championship games. The Lions defeated Grafton (15-6) in the 1988 Div. 3 Central Mass. Super Bowl and Leicester (14-6) in the 2012 Div. 5 Central Mass. Super Bowl. Last year, West Boylston defeated St. Bernard’s 29-6 in the Div. 7 state championship game as Luke Foley connected with Connor Muldoon on a 91-yard TD pass to get the winners off and running.

West Boylston coach Mike Ross celebrates his team’s Super Bowl win at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 2, 2022. (Photo By Jim Mahoney/Medianews Group/Boston Herald)