Cougars Stumble Out of the Gate

The Arlington Catholic football team dropped its opening game Friday night to Shawsheen Valley Tech, as opposing halfback Andrew Dascoli rushed for 172 yards in the Rams' 12-8 win at Arlington's Pierce Field.

Dascoli, a junior, changed field position in the first half and wore down the clock in the second with a number of tough runs up the middle.

"He ran hard on every play," Arlington Catholic coach Serge Clivio said of his opponent.

Dascoli, with 28 carries, was the lion's share of the Rams' offense, but fullback Devin Connearney took all the glory, scoring each of the team's two touchdowns.

Rams quarterback Ryan Woolaver connected with Connearney on a play-action pass for a 13-yard touchdown to cap a 63-yard drive and break a scoreless tie halfway through the second quarter.

After a missed extra point and the ensuing kickoff, Arlington Catholic's Jamey Conley took the ball 59 yards to the house on the Cougars' next play from scrimmage. A two-point conversion by Pat O'Donnell put the Cougars on top 8-6 at the half.

In the second half, the Cougars first drive stalled and then a blocked punt gave the Rams the ball at their opponents' 25-yard line. After three Dascoli carries, Connearney scored from five yards out to put the Rams up 12-8.

The Cougars had some chances in the fourth quarter; a bad punt gave them the ball at their opponents 44-yard line with 6 minutes left in the game. However, the Rams' defensive pressure forced quarterback Peter Barsam out of the pocket, and he failed to connect with receivers on a number of short crossing patterns and out routes.

The Cougars only returned a few starters from last year's 9-2 squad, which split the Catholic Central League title with Austin Prep, and Clivio said his team's youth and inexperience showed in the opening game.

"We fought hard," he said, "we just didn't seem to click."

Shawsheen (Billerica) finished near the bottom of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference last year. The Rams celebrated as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

On defense, Cougars safety Alec Matys, a junior, had an interception in the first quarter and a pass deflected, while defensive back Bernard Lynch, also a junior, played shutdown corner.

The Cougars travel to Franklin High School for a tough out-of-league game at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Franklin won the Hockomock League last year with an 11-1 overall record.

Arlington Catholic High School

Passing

Peter Barsam: 5-17 Comp-Att, 107 yards, 1 interception

Aaron Swenson: 0-2 Comp-Att

Rushing

Jamey Conley: 4 carries, 76 yards, 1 touchdown

Peter Barsam: 4 carries, 45 yards

Pat O'Donnell: 8 carries, 24 yards

Bernard Lynch: 5 carries, -7 yards

Alec Matys: 1 carry, 0 yards

Receiving

Pat O'Donnell: 2 receptions, 43 yards

Alec Matys: 1 reception, 43 yards

Bernard Lynch: 1 reception, 12 yards

John Mattera: 1 reception, 5 yards

Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

Passing

Ryan Woolaver: 2-7 Comp-Att, 15 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

Rushing

Andrew Dascoli: 28 carries, 172 yards

Steven Reynolds: 3 carries, 21 yards

Ryan Woolaver: 3 carries, 15 yards

Devin Connearney: 4 carries, 9 yards, 1 touchdown

Receiving

Devin Connearney, 2 receptions, 15 yards, 1 touchdown