Mayo Claims South's Offensive MVP at Shriner's Game

After leading the Holliston High football team to a at Gillette Stadium in December, former Panther quarterback Sean Mayo shined in his return to Foxborough on Saturday, winning offensive MVP for his South team in the Shriners All Star Football Game.

Mayo completed seven of 11 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown - a nine-yard strike to Attelboro's Nate Robitaille - in the South squad's 17-14 loss to the North. Teammate and offensive lineman Ethan Rayner also played for the South, while coach Todd Kiley served the team's offensive coordinator.

The Shriner's Game has been a Massachusetts tradition for 32 years, raising money for the Shriners Hospital for Children. Every June, some of the best senior players in the state get together for one last game of football.

The game started not with a bang, but with a surprise. The South team caught just about everyone off guard with a pooch kick to start the game. With no one on the right side of the field, the short kick left Robitaille unguarded to catch the ball and start the game with possession.

"I just ran up and caught it. We practiced it twice and worked it into the game," said Robitaille.

That would not be his only big play of the game. Robitaille gave the South a 7-0 lead with his touchdown catch from May to cap a nine-play, 64-yard opening march.

"It was a slant. I went across the middle, no one covered me and caught it," said Robitallie. 

North, however, answered quickly. A five-yard pass from Methuen's Cal Caroll to Anthony Arcari of Tewksbury tied the game up at 7-7. A field goal gave North a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Continuing the high level of competition, South roared back in the second half to take a 14-10 lead with seven minutes left in the third quarter. The touchdown came on a 15-yard pass from Scituate's Tyler Park to Jack Carrier of Cohasset.

In the fourth quarter, North twice drove deep into South territory. A fumble recovery from Rob Barrus of Weymouth put an end to the first drive, but North would not be denied on the second drive.

Carroll scored from one yard out to give North a 17-14 lead with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter.

South had one more chance to win, but Billerica's Justin Hood sacked Mayo three straight times on South’s final possession to erase all hope.

A final kneel down locked up the win for North in what was a very close and well-played game by both sides.

“Our kids played well. North played very well,” said South coach Jim Sullivan.

While the score said North won, the real winners were everyone who had the chance to play.

“Its an honor. They pick the best of the best, so it’s an honor just to be picked. That's awesome. That's so cool,” said Foxboro’s Max Guy.

While players like Guy were excited to play in Gillette Stadium, others were just happy to be able to play in the game.

“It means so much. It’s an experience you don't want to forget. It was fun to be apart of,” said Robitaille.

With the game over, it is not only the end for the seniors who played but for Sullivan, who recently retired as the head coach of Norwell. In the end, it was Sullivan’s words that summed up the game best.

"Both teams won and, more importantly, Shriners won," he said.