Fairhaven football rolls into D-VI title game after semifinal rout of Bishop Fenwick

ASSABET VALLEY— Even if his team had an extra week to practice, No. 7 Bishop Fenwick football coach David Woods still isn’t sure if they would have stopped No. 3 Fairhaven’s triple option on offense.

That’s not a slight to his defense, which held No. 2 Abington to 14 points the week before; the Blue Devils’ offense is just that good.

“When you don’t see an offense like that all season, then you can’t really replicate it in practice,” Woods said. “You can draw up all the schemes and defensive fronts to stop it. If you aren’t used to seeing it, you are going to have a real hard time to stop it.”

It didn’t seem to matter who was getting the ball in the backfield for Fairhaven Friday night at Assabet Valley. Whoever quarterback Evan Lamontagne could hand off or pitch to got yards and eventually found the end zone.

Three different guys tailed rushing touchdowns for the Blue Devils in the MIAA Division VI semifinals, taking down Bishop Fenwick 49-20 to secure their spot at Gillette Stadium for the third straight season.

“We are all excited. It’s the greatest thing ever. I’m going to the bowl again with my family,” senior running back Grant Darmofal said.

Along with Aaron Lague, the duo each found the end zone three times on the night, combining for four in the first half.

“Our best players have raised their level, which brings everyone up,” Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida said. “These guys are playing like men. They play the game the right way and set the tone.”

Lague got things rolling for the Blue Devils on the first possession of the game. Handling a pitch from Lamontagne, he bounced his way up the right side of the field for a 14-yard score to give the team a 7-0 lead after the PAT.

From there, it was Darmofal’s turn to find the end zone.

Fairhaven forced Bishop Fenwick to turn the ball over on downs on back-to-back possessions, each of which led to Darmofal scoring on goal-line runs up the middle.

It was midway through the second quarter, and Fairhaven was already up 21-0.

The early scoring was fair from over has Lague flashed his receiving skills on a 44-yard catch and run up the middle of the field to extend the lead.

“We have a lot of different areas that we can go to. A lot of kids who can carry the ball,” Almeida said. “We have a vertical passing game this year. I think that makes us tough to defend.”

Despite being down four scores, the Falcons refused to roll over. With under a minute left in the half, Bishop Fenwick quarterback Andrew Kiricopoles found Jesse Timson for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-7.

The sophomore quarterback did what he could with his arm and legs to keep the offense moving. He completed 14-30 passes and threw for 200 yards. All three of Fenwick’s scores came through the air.

“Andrew is a stud,” Woods said. “He’s a special kid. He’s got a lot of fight in him.”

Timson caught ten passes, two for scores, for 159 yards.

While Bishop Fenwick managed to chip into the lead, every score was met with another touchdown from Fairhaven.

Lague led the Blue Devils with 202 yards on the ground on 13 carries. Darmofal also kept busy in the backfield with 14 rushes for 54 yards.

Not to be outdone by his teammates, Ian Alexion proved to be a big body up the middle. With Fairhaven up 42-20 in the fourth quarter, Alexion completed the scoring trio with a push up the middle from the two-yard line to score the team’s seventh touchdown on the night.

While the championship game is familiar territory for the Blue Devils, for the seniors this year is a chance to go out on top.

“It means a lot,” Darmofol said. “I could not have asked for anything better. I’m playing football with my boys, who I grew up with.”

After winning the championship in 2023, Fairhaven lost to Stoneham 21-14 in last year’s title game. The Blue Devils will face the winner between No. 1 Norwell and No. 5 Hudson.