MEDFORD — Everything Catholic Memorial football did on Friday night was methodical.
An MIAA Final Four game to many is the highlight of a high school career.
But to the Knights?
It’s the expectation. They showed why
Catholic Memorial didn’t break a sweat against a 10-0 Winchester team, going up 35-0 in the second quarter and never looking back to punch its ticket to the Division II state title game with a 49-0 win over the Red and Black.
“They work their tails off, and now they get an opportunity to go back,” Catholic Memorial coach John DiBiaso said. “But we don’t want to look past Thanksgiving.”
The Knights were led by star senior quarterback Kise Flannery, who shone once again under the bright lights of the state tournament. He finished his night with 130 total yards and three touchdowns.
“ I like not to put myself in one box,” Flannery said. “So it just helps out both of those facets of my game. And I think it’s really important that it allows the offense to be very multidimensional.”
While Catholic Memorial has traditionally rolled through its D-II opponents come November, No. 4 Winchester appeared to be a challenge to the Knights’ crown. The Red and Black came into Friday’s game 10-0, powered by an explosive offense led by senior quarterback Ronan O’Connell.
“We told them before the game, they’re very explosive offensively,” DiBiaso said. “We didn’t want to let them get going offensively.”
Unfortunately for Winchester, it didn’t have much of a chance to get going as Flannery and the Knights came out red hot in a cold Hormel Stadium. Catholic Memorial scored touchdowns on all five of its first-half possessions.
Flannery wasted no time opening up the game, leading a speedy six-play drive that ended with the senior keeping the ball for a 19-yard touchdown run. The Knights followed that up with an even faster, four-play drive that ended with Christian Simmons finding a crease on third-and-long for a 34-yard score.
In the blink of an eye, it was 28-0 with Jayden Martinez and Flannery both reaching the end zone on rushing attempts.
“Everyone wants the ball, obviously,” Flannery said. “It’s great seeing everyone eat and having a good game.”
Where the Knights really punched their ticket to Gillette came late in the second quarter when Flannery stepped up in the pocket and delivered a dazzling strike down the field for Ramar Thomas for a 37-yard touchdown.
It was the type of throw that is often seen on Sundays, not on Friday nights. But for Flannery, it has become second nature. It’s a big reason why CM has yet another chance to capture a state crown.
“It makes us very difficult to defend,” DiBiaso said. “But he, like a good point guard in basketball, distributes the ball around, which is great. He threw it to (Caleb) Garrity, and he gave it to Simmons. He threw it to Thomas. He just gives the balls to the running backs. He just knows how to spread the ball.”
Catholic Memorial is now on the precipice of its fourth Div. II state title in five years. But for Flannery and the rest of the Knights, they don’t view it as pressure.
“We just see it as it’s a privilege to have that kind of pressure on us, and to get that kind of response from other people, because some people don’t get any attention,” Flannery said. “We look at it as fuel, and it’s a good thing for us.”
Catholic Memorial will match up with No. 2 Bishop Feehan at Gillette Stadium for the Div. II state title game next month. The Shamrocks are riding high coming into Gillette after overcoming a 13-point second-half deficit to knock off Bridgewater-Raynham. A time and date will be announced at a later time.
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