FOXBORO – As mother nature opened the skies, nothing was going to rain on the Foxboro parade.

In essentially a home game for the Warriors, three turnovers in the first half buoyed No. 2 Foxboro to a 48-21 victory over top-seeded Hanover in the Division 5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium in the final of eight Super Bowl games played at the home of the New England Patriots this week.

It’s the fifth championship victory in nine tries for the Warriors all under the tutelage of head coach Jack Martinelli, who is in his 42nd year running the ship at Foxboro. Martinelli’s squad finished 12-1 on the season and like fine wine, the wins only get better for Martinelli.

“I always thought the kids took the stadium and the Patriots for granted because they were in their backyard. But being here and finishing this way makes it even more special, said Martinelli. “Right now (this win) is on the top of the heap, couldn’t replace it with anything else. But now I’ll get phone calls from the other kids with ‘how come you said that? You said we were the best.’ ”

After each team exchanged possessions, Hanover scored first as John McDonald, who finished with five catches and 109 yards, broke free down the middle of the field for a 66-yard touchdown from Ben Scalzi with 7:39 left in the first quarter.

But Foxboro answered quickly as Warriors’ quarterback Mike Marcucella engineered a perfect play-action pass on his first sling of the game to Ryan Foley down the right sideline for the 44-yard touchdown to tie things up at 4:18 of the first.

On the next Hawks possession, senior captain Shane Henri jumped the route and stepped in front for an interception return for Foxborough down to the Hawks’ 25-yard line.

But the series stalled on a fourth and goal inside the 10 for a turnover on downs to put Hanover back in charge.

But on the first play from scrimmage, Trevor Palmer picked up a loose ball at the six-yard line and junior tailback Ben Angelini scored for the Warriors on the next play for the 14-7 lead off the second turnover in a row for the Hawks.

Hanover (11-2) was rattled to say the least and defensive end Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady took advantage and took a scoop-and-score 40-yard fumble recovery for the second touchdown off a Hanover offensive mistake.

“Turnovers – but don’t take anything away from (Foxboro), they were a really good team,” said Hanover head coach, Brian Kelliher, who is in his first year as the head coach and seventh season overall on the sidelines for the Hawks. “They were tough, strong, and physical and we knew we couldn’t come into this game and turn the ball over but unfortunately, we did. We couldn’t make up five possessions.”

With Foxboro out front 21-7, a muffed a punt on fourth down resulted in great field position for Foxboro at the Hawks’ 28 and Angelini took over for there.

Angelini took the ball from Marcucella 21 yards on a sweep right and scored on the second play of the series off right tackle for the 28-7 lead with 9:28 left in the second quarter.

The Hawks did not fold as Hanover put together their best drive of the day trailing by 21 points with a 14-play series capped off by Sebastian Brown’s 12-yard touchdown reception from Scalzi, but the Warriors were not done.

Senior captain Lincoln Moore scored from one yard out on a fullback dive right up the middle and the Division 5 crown was wrapped up for the holiday season for Foxboro with 21 seconds left in the first half.

Foxboro tallied 208 yards of offense in the first half, which was all Martinelli’s squad needed.

“We’ve been able to do this in the second half of the year. Brandon, Lincoln – they can make those plays – plays you can’t practice. I’m sure glad they’re on our side of the field,” said Martinelli. “

Moore added to the Hanover misery train on the other side of the ball with an interception late in the third quarter for the Hawks’ fourth turnover overall and fifth miscue with the ball. Tony Sulham completed the dominate victory with an 11-yard touchdown run with 7:53 left in regulation and added another rushing touchdown in the end as time expired.

“Seventeen years has been too long, since 2006 was the last time we made it and last time we won it. I was born in 2006 so it just seems like destiny,” said Angelini. “I’m so proud of us and coach with his historic season. He got his 300 wins a couple of games ago and he definitely deserves this because he works harder than any man I know.”

Foxboro graduates 24 seniors from the program and when asked if this is the end – Martinelli didn’t mince words.

“Yeah, I’d like to do it again,” added Martinelli.

Foxboro High head coach Jack Martinelli gets a bucket of water dumped on him after his team defeated Hanover in the Div. 5 state title game. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)