Cape Cod Tech wins thriller over South Shore Voke

NEW BEDFORD Cape Cod Tech went into its MVADA Small Division championship tournament with an underdog mentality as the seventh seed against first-seeded South Shore Tech The Crusaders utilized this to claim a - achievement and win the effort s first MVADA championship Wednesday night at Great New Bedford Voke It truly means these kids respond to everything we ve done all the coaching we have done and that was our motivation as the underdog mentality revealed Crusader head coach Calvin Castillas We aren t supposed to be here was the message I communicated them from the get go we have only five seniors on the gang and a lot of people say we re far ahead of schedule Cape Cod Tech started the season - but then won seven straight games after its loss to South Shore Tech on Oct to reach this point of the season They moved through the MVADA tournament with victories over No Franklin County and No Pathfinder Meanwhile South Shore Tech beat Minuteman and Keefe Tech for its sixth MVADA championship appearance since and had won all of their previous five appearances with the majority of modern being in South Shore Tech's Dillion O Brien intercepts a pass next to Cape Cod Tech's Anthony Bartlett during the second half Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald The Crusaders went on offense first and had a three-and-out despite Chaz Thomas making the first down on a th and but was held back by an offensive penalty causing them to punt On the opening drive for the Vikings Johnny Burgio had two big runs including a touchdown run of yards Burgio had rushing yards on four carries on just the opening drive Dillon O Brien ran it in for a two-point conversion and made it - The Crusaders had another drive stall in the quarter as Mark Byron would sack junior QB Daniel Handville on third down which caused another punt The Vikings ended the first quarter strong with runs of and six yards respectively by O Brien which made it third and one The Vikings however ended the drive with two straight plays for losses to start the second quarter The Crusaders went big during the second quarter as Handville had two touchdown passes of over yards The first was a -yarder to Thomas Allen and Thomas ran it in for the two-pointer to even the amount at eight The second was an -yard throw to Anthony Bartlett as the Crusaders ended the half with a - lead Things got crazy in the second half as on the Vikings opening drive of the half Dillon O Brien ran for a -yard play right up to the eight-yard line and then South Shore Tech fumbled at the goal line causing the Crusaders to take it at the one-yard line That would be no dilemma for the Viking defense however as the Crusaders fumbled and then the defense recovered in the end zone and the Vikings retook the lead It wouldn t be long for the Crusaders to strike back as Handville went for another big pass play for a touchdown this time a -yarder to Jordyn Wilson making it - Burgio went for another big run this time a -yarder in the next drive which helped QB Ryan Holmes outcome on a two-yard quarterback keeper Cape Cod Tech's Landon Marrifield-DePaula screams out in celebration with Ethan Doherty and Tario Whyte during a tough - supremacy Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald The Crusaders went for what would be their biggest play of the season on their next drive running back Thomas Allen threw a pass off a toss from Handville passing yards and got a -yard passing touchdown to Jordyn Wilson with Thomas getting it in for a two-point conversion to make it - The Vikings went one more drive on offense however it stalled and a Holmes incomplete pass intended for Logan Baldwin on th down ended the challenge for them as the Crusaders were able to chew the rest of the clock out to win their first MVADA championship