Rashaud Conway ’19 rushes for his first touchdown giving Choate a 14-6 lead in the second quarter. Photo courtesy of Pete Paguaga
Last Saturday, Boys’ Varsity Football won its opening matchup against St. Thomas More by a score of 31-6. Choate Football has been dominant the past few years, with the most recent victory being the team’s 40th straight win. On paper, St. Thomas More appeared a formidable opponent, making Saturday’s game an intriguing matchup.
The first quarter got off to a slow start, with both defenses coming out extremely strong. Choate’s defensive line put consistent pressure on the St. Thomas More quarterback. A huge play for Choate occured when defensive end North Peters ’19 sacked the St. Thomas More quarterback, leaving STM with an insurmountable fourth down and 20. A punt left Choate with fantastic field position, but the offense was unable to capitalize.
Penalties played a major role during the first quarter, with both teams receiving penalties on offense and defense. Offensive lineman Cameron Polemeni-Hegarty ’20 said, “We could have done better in getting fewer penalties and staying more disciplined.” The first of two crucial penalty flags came two minutes into the game, when quarterback Jack Maley ’19 had a long touchdown run that was called back for unnecessary roughness. A couple of minutes later, Maley broke out for another long run. Again, it was called back, but this time it was for holding.
Action picked up in the second quarter. St. Thomas More struck first, returning an interception for a touchdown. The team failed to convert a two-point conversion, making the score 6-0. With five minutes left in the half, Choate answered with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Michael Monios ’19. Will Powers ’19 made the extra point, giving Choate a 7-6 lead.
But Choate wasn’t done just yet. After a string of turnovers by both teams and a key defensive stop, Choate regained possession of the ball, with time for one more drive before halftime. The offense moved quickly up the field, and ended the drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Rashaud Conway ’19 with twenty-two seconds left in the half. The Wild Boars lead 14-6.
The second half was a totally different game. Choate players were winning more one-on-one matchups. A 44-yard touchdown run by Maley essentially sealed the game. On Choate’s strong second half start, Polemeni-Hegarty said, “Coach told us that we can’t let up, and we need to keep our foot on the gas pedal. We just made sure to come out strong and set the tone for the second half.”
On the other side of the field, St. Thomas More players seemed to tire out. Captain James McCarthy ’19 said, “I think the main aspect that separated the two teams was our conditioning. That was a huge point of emphasis during our preseason and other practices, and it paid dividends.” Multiple St. Thomas More players left the field with cramps or injuries in the second half.
Choate ended the game strong, starting the fourth quarter with a long drive that resulted in a field goal with seven minutes left in the game. Choate’s defense remained virtually impenetrable. Minutes later, Conway scored his second rushing touchdown, making the score 31-6. That would be the final.
As the Choate football program seeks to maintain its undefeated streak and win a fifth straight championship, this early success can be attributed to various factors: stellar coaching, superb recruits, and an unmatched work ethic. Coach Jonas Akins noted that it was the tradition and sense of family that sets this program apart. “It’s no accident that we refer to ourselves as Team 119, as the 119th Choate Football Team to have taken the field,” he said. “That’s a long lineage of which we are rightly proud and for which we strive to play our best. We also put a lot of time, both during practice and during our team meetings, into emphasizing the importance of playing not just for yourself but for all of those on the field with you.”
