NORTH KINGSTOWN One half into Fridays Division I State Championship semifinal, Hendricken wasnt doing what Hendricken normally does this time of year. The Hawks were chucking the ball all over the yard and were a sieve on defense.
But in the second half they reverted to form and now are headed to play for another state title.
The path Hendricken took to the Super Bowl looked much different than it has in the past and Fridays game against North Kingstown went in a direction no one could have predicted. The Hawks offense was led by a big-play passing attack and with the Skippers answering the call in the first half, the Hendricken defense locked down in the second half and the run game put the finishing touches on a 38-34 win over NK.
We had a lot of doubters doubting us really the whole season, but we knew what we had to do, Hendrickens Jabari Jackson said. We know were Hendricken, we know the standard and we just played to the best of our ability.
Its been an un-Hendricken-like season for the Hawks, as an inexperienced roster battled through some ups and downs. The team was in search of an identity and in the biggest game of the year so far, they showed it.
Throwing the ball against North Kingstown was always in the game plan, but Hendricken didnt expect to do it as often as it did Friday night. Isaiah Brito completed his first pass of the game, an 18-yarder to Jabari Jackson, and the two connected later on a 40-yarder that set up a 12-yard Jeremy Seidi score.
Hendricken sticks with what works and with the passing game clicking, it continued to let Brito chuck. The junior threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Jackson on the Hawks second possession and in a crazy second quarter where the teams combined for 38 points in the final 4:13, Brito connected with Jackson on a 40-yard touchdown and hit Jaylen Reynolds for a 48-yard score.
I always knew I was a deep threat and a problem when I get the ball in my hands, Jackson said. Weve been practicing doing it in games all season, so to be able to perform and do it here was a blessing.
We have athletes all over the field. Our o-line blocks really well and our receivers are all really good, Seidi said. Jabari did great, Jaylen Reynolds did great and Brito is a great passer, so I had amazing confidence and they were playing man coverage and I know we have the better athletes so I was confident there.
Hendrickens offense was firing, but its defense was getting gouged up and down the field. Trailing 14-6, North Kingstown went 80 yards on nine plays, the last 32 on a reverse by A.J. Parry, with Nick Staffords conversion tying the game at 14.
With the Hawks hitting every pass play, North countered with run. Hendricken could not stop Stafford, who hit on a 35-yard touchdown un with 3:11 left in the second quarter that tied the game at 21, then after Jack Diano hit a chunk play to Greg Kerwin scored on a 1-yard run just before the end of the half to send the game to the locker room tied at 28.
Hendricken had reason to be worried, but the team remained calm. While the Hawks might have a roster littered with first-year starters, being around a program that consistently wins titles teaches a certain mindset. There was no panic. Thats not what the Hawks do.
North got the ball to start the second half and had a chance to steal momentum. Instead, Hendricken came up with a stop. Stafford who has one of the best legs in the state boomed a ball that was hit like a flop shot. It traveled 11 yards and with the Hendricken sideline screaming poison a sign to leave the ball alone Zion Hightower had other ideas. The nose tackle picked it up and ran to the NK 11-yard line.
Seidi scored on the next play and in an instant, the field was titled.
It just set the tone for the second half, Seidi said. We came out, we told ourselves we needed a stop here. This was going to set the tone and if they scored, it was going to be very bad. We made the stop and Zion made a great play.
Coach calls the play and I have to listen. If I have to block, I have to block, but I want the ball on those plays just to end the game.
It was just lock in, keep calm and keep composure, Jackson said. It really was do what Hendricken is and be the standard.
The rest of the game looked like Hendricken football of old. The Hawks defense slowed North Kingstown down and while the offense didnt light up the scoreboard, it ate clock. Xavier Calderons field goal with 5:29 left in the third quarter made it a two-score game. Hendrickens defense took care of the rest and North Kingstown didnt help itself with penalties and a bad snap and after the Skippers scored with 3:35 left to play on another Stafford touchdown, the Hawks imposed their will with Seidi and Jeremy Dennis picking up yards and first downs before Brito was able to kneel out the clock.
Every offensive drive, Im looking to score no matter if its throwing, running or whatever it takes, Seidi said. Im just glad to see my guys eat.
North Kingstown left everything it had on the field, but the loss was still tough to take. This was one of the best Skippers teams in the history of the program, one that seemed destined to play for and possibly win a state title.
This team was very special. I watched this team come up as freshmen and put in a lot of time and discipline, NK coach David Giorgi said. I thought this was our year and I feel like I let them down.
It hurts and I hurt for those kids. To not finish it hurts.
Hendricken knows whats next. When the game ended the other State Championship semifinal wasnt finished, but La Salle was in control (and went on to win). The Hawks were eager for that matchup, especially after the Rams beat them in overtime during the regular season, and they will be ready to revert to form when they face off in next weeks Super Bowl.
Were going to look back, watch film, see what we did wrong, and then back to work next week creating a game plan and doing our assignments, Seidi said. Its another team on the schedule.
Its the same as this week, Jackson said. Keep calm, keep composure and keep the Hendricken standard.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from Division I Football semifinal between Hendricken and North Kingstown