Foxboro (11-1), Hanover (11-1) to clash for Div. 5 crown
Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli is synonymous with winning in Massachusetts high school football and recently reached the 300th win plateau.
Now Martinelli is finally back where he belongs.
Martinelli and the No. 2 Warriors return to the championship platform for the ninth time in Martinelli’s illustrious 42-year career to face top-seeded Hanover in the Division 5 Super Bowl title game Friday (8 p.m.) at Gillette Stadium. This is the first trip since back-to-back visits to the finals in 2005 and 2006, which was a 21-10 victory over Burlington.
Foxboro had made the Final Four the past three years with the new power-ranking playoff format but finally Martinelli and the Warriors are over the hump and return to big stage spotlight.
“I take each year for what it is, but it was great to see the kids rise to the occasion,” said Martinelli, whose record of 305-139-5 is good enough for fifth all-time in Massachusetts wins.
Hanover also comes into the contest at 11-1 with its only blemish coming on Thanksgiving Day as head coach Brian Kelliher rested his starters for the chance at winning a title for the first time since 2016 – the year before Kelliher joined the Hanover staff.
“They are a big, strong, physical team that has a lot of talent,” said Kelliher, who was an assistant for six years before taking over this season. “For us, they have a big size advantage up front, and we have to be able to match them physically. We can’t let them pound the ball down the field on us.”
Foxboro has won six straight after a loss to King Philip and is led by multiple fronts out of the spread but certainly talented enough to pound the ball between the tackles like the Martinelli offenses of yesteryear.
Quarterback Mike Marcucella has thrown 14 touchdown passes, while tailback Ben Angelini leads the Hockomock League with 23 touchdowns along with 1,100 yards on the ground. Nolan Gordon adds to the offensive power at split end with five touchdowns in the playoffs alone.
“We feel in the second half of the season we’ve been able to do both styles,” Martinelli said.
Linebacker Lincoln Moore and hard-nosed defensive end Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, who owns multiple blocked punts, are the Warriors’ defensive leaders.
“Hanover is a very talented football team, they throw the ball as good as anyone I’ve seen, and they have 11 good athletes on the field, hiding no one offensively or defensively,” Martinelli said. “We like the way their linebackers play and are certainly concerned. The best defense is to have a good offense ourselves and I believe we are good enough unless they are fooling me.”
The Hawks will lean heavily on senior quarterback Ben Scalzi, whose numbers jump off the page with a 67 percent completion rate, 2,407 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
With great quarterback play, comes the dynamic wide receiver duo of John McDonald and Mehki Bryan. Each senior wideout has 12 touchdown receptions, with McDonald leading the team with 15 scores, 52 receptions and 830 receiving yards in 11 games.
Vinny Mancini leads the rushing attack with Aiden Boutin, who plays both ways as a linebacker with 82 tackles and four sacks. Other names to watch for on the Hawks are John Regan (four sacks), Sebastian Brown, Owen Cross, Connor Hutchison and Brendon Errico.
“We have to play a sound and disciplined game, execute on offense, and can’t afford to make mental mistakes or turn the ball over,” Kelliher said. “They are such a dominant team so, if we are punting, we are giving them more opportunity to control the clock. What we need to do is take advantage of our offensive opportunities.“
DIVISION 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hanover (11-1) vs. Foxboro (11-1), Friday, 8 p.m. at Gillette Stadium
HANOVER HAWKS
Head coach: Brian Kelliher
SEPT. 7: Hanover 28, DUXBURY 18
SEPT. 15: Hanover 37, HINGHAM 15
**SEPT. 21: HANOVER 35, Stoughton 7
SEPT. 29: Hanover 42, PLYMOUTH SOUTH 7
OCT. 6: Hanover 42, SCITUATE 28
OCT. 13: HANOVER 35, Quincy 16
OCT. 20: HANOVER 31, Pembroke 8
OCT. 27: Hanover 42, NORTH QUINCY 13
NOV. 3: HANOVER 42, Gloucester 16
NOV. 10: HANOVER 31, Bishop Stang 0
**NOV. 18: Hanover 27, Danvers 24
NOV. 23: NORWELL 32, Hanover 0
* – Home team in caps. ** – Neutral field
FOXBORO WARRIORS
Head coach: Jack Martinelli
SEPT. 8: Foxboro 18, HOLLISTON 15
SEPT. 15: Foxboro 14, NORTH ATTLEBORO 0
SEPT. 22: FOXBORO 24, Scituate 14
SEPT. 29: Foxboro 41, SHARON 13
OCT. 6: FOXBORO 31, Stoughton 7
OCT. 13: King Philip 13, FOXBORO 7
OCT. 20: Foxboro 35, CANTON 0
OCT. 27: FOXBORO 49, Oliver Ames 6
NOV. 3: FOXBORO 42, Wilmington 0
NOV. 10: FOXBORO 37, Newburyport 0
**NOV. 17: Foxboro 42, Shawsheen 12
NOV. 23: Foxboro 30, MANSFIELD 17
* – Home team in caps. ** – Neutral field
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY
Hanover is appearing in its sixth championship game and boasts a 5-0 record. The Hawks last appeared in a title game in 2016 when they defeated Grafton 21-0 to claim the Div. 3 crown. Brad Rogers was the star as he rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries.
Foxboro is making its ninth appearing in the finals, having won three times. The last time the Warriors captured a title was in 1991 where they defeated Whitman-Hanson 43-14 in the Div. 3B Eastern Mass. championship game. Brian Harding ran for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 25 carries for Foxboro.