NEW BEDFORD — Cape Cod Tech went into its MVADA Small Division championship game with an underdog mentality as the seventh seed against first-seeded South Shore Tech.

The Crusaders utilized this to claim a 30-24 victory and win the program’s first MVADA championship Wednesday night at Great New Bedford Voke.

“It truly means these kids respond to everything we’ve done, all the coaching we have done, and that was our motivation as the underdog mentality,” said Crusader head coach Calvin Castillas. “We aren’t supposed to be here was the message I told them from the get go, we have only five seniors on the team, and a lot of people say we’re far ahead of schedule.”

Cape Cod Tech started the season 1-4 but then won seven straight games after its loss to South Shore Tech on Oct. 10 to reach this point of the season. They moved through the MVADA tournament with victories over No. 2 Franklin County and No. 3 Pathfinder. Meanwhile, South Shore Tech beat Minuteman and Keefe Tech for its sixth MVADA championship appearance since 2004, and had won all of their previous five appearances, with the most recent being in 2021.

South Shore Tech’s Dillion O’Brien intercepts a pass next to Cape Cod Tech’s Anthony Bartlett during the second half. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

The Crusaders went on offense first, and had a three-and-out despite Chaz Thomas making the first down on a 4th and 1, but was held back by an offensive penalty, causing them to punt.

On the opening drive for the Vikings, Johnny Burgio had two big runs, including a touchdown run of 36 yards. Burgio had 76 rushing yards on four carries on just the opening drive. Dillon O’Brien ran it in for a two-point conversion and made it 8-0.

The Crusaders had another drive stall in the quarter, as Mark Byron would sack junior QB Daniel Handville on third down, which caused another punt.

The Vikings ended the first quarter strong with runs of 15 and six yards, respectively, by O’Brien, which made it third and one. The Vikings, however ended the drive with two straight plays for losses to start the second quarter

The Crusaders went big during the second quarter as Handville had two touchdown passes of over 85 yards. The first was a 92-yarder to Thomas Allen, and Thomas ran it in for the two-pointer to even the score at eight. The second was an 87-yard throw to Anthony Bartlett, as the Crusaders ended the half with a 14-8 lead.

Things got crazy in the second half, as on the Vikings’ opening drive of the half, Dillon O’Brien ran for a 55-yard play right up to the eight-yard line, and then South Shore Tech fumbled at the goal line, causing the Crusaders to take it at the one-yard line. That would be no problem for the Viking defense however, as the Crusaders fumbled and then the defense recovered in the end zone, and the Vikings retook the lead.

It wouldn’t be long for the Crusaders to strike back as Handville went for another big pass play for a touchdown, this time a 43-yarder to Jordyn Wilson, making it 22-16.

Burgio went for another big run, this time a 45-yarder in the next drive, which helped QB Ryan Holmes score on a two-yard quarterback keeper.

Cape Cod Tech’s Landon Marrifield-DePaula screams out in celebration with Ethan Doherty (7) and Tario Whyte (67) during a tough 30-24 victory. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

The Crusaders went for what would be their biggest play of the season on their next drive, running back Thomas Allen threw a pass off a toss from Handville (277 passing yards) and got a 29-yard passing touchdown to Jordyn Wilson, with Thomas getting it in for a two-point conversion to make it 30-24.

The Vikings went one more drive on offense; however, it stalled, and a Holmes incomplete pass intended for Logan Baldwin on 4th down ended the game for them as the Crusaders were able to chew the rest of the clock out to win their first MVADA championship.