Ram tough: Shawsheen Tech blanks Foxboro, claims Div. 5 state title

FOXBORO — The only thing missing on the resumes of Shawsheen Tech’s talented senior class was added on Friday at Gillette Stadium.

Led by a defense that held reigning Division 5 champion Foxboro to 71 yards of total offense and a do-everything performance from quarterback Sid Tildsley in his final effort in purple and white, the Rams won their first title since 2010, 14-0, over the Warriors.

It completes a four-year stretch that saw Shawsheen (13-0) win 42 of 48 games and make it to Gillette twice. Fittingly, it was Tildsley who scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to break a scoreless stalemate.

“These kids worked so hard to make this dream come true,” Shawsheen coach Al Costabile said. “Our defense came up huge time and again and the offense had a great second half. I’m so proud of all of them. They deserve this.”

It was a rock fight for the first three quarters as neither team could sustain anything offensively, combining for 11 punts and only four first downs. It was the fourth time in Super Bowl history that neither team scored through the first three quarters.

Shawsheen Tech’s Zack Timmons (33) stiff-arms Foxboro’s Cam Deleskey (12) during the Div. 5 state title clash. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

It truly felt like whoever scored first would have a huge advantage. Late in the third quarter, the Rams took over at their 17 and began a drive into history.

Tildsley (20-69) did damage with his legs and arm as the Rams methodically moved downfield. A third down pass to Dyllon Pratt to begin the fourth quarter kept the march going. Tildsley then found Zack Timmons out of the backfield for 22 yards to the Foxboro 10.

Two plays later, Tildsley bulldozed in from the one and the Rams had a 7-0 lead with 7:15 to play.

“Our best players made the big plays when they needed to be made,” Costabile said.

Tildsley ended the next drive when he picked off a Mike Marcucella (6-of-21, 35 yards, 3 INT) pass but the Rams couldn’t convert and punted with 4:20 left.

Shawsheen Tech’s Jake Banda (42) celebrates the Div. 5 state title win over Foxboro. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

The Warriors (8-5) got a pair of pass completions to Ben Angelini before Nathan Malandain pressured Marcucella and forced a bad throw that Jake Banda corralled and returned to the one. Tildsley scored on the next play to give the Rams a chance to finally let loose on the sidelines.

“We knew they wanted to go to Angelini,” Costabile said. “He’s a great player and we knew he needed extra attention. We wanted to pressure the quarterback and I thought we did that in the fourth quarter. All the credit goes to our defensive coordinator, Brian Tildsley. He did a great job.”

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