Wilmington Represented as North Wins Shrine Bowl

Few high school football players ever even have an opportunity to play in a professional football stadium, so for Wilmington High School tight end Brian Hurley, it was going to be a night to remember no matter how it turned out.

But grabbing a 17-14 win at Gillette Stadium as a part of the Shrine Bowl made it a night Hurley will never forget.

Tewksbury's Anthony Arcari snagged a momentum-changing touchdown early in the second quarter after the South had taken a 7-0 first period lead.

"It was a great feeling," Arcari said after the North Squad pulled out the victory over the South. "My grandfather passed away earlier this week so I wanted to do something in memory of him. It's something I'll always remember."

Methuen quarterback Cam Carroll led an 81-yard,  17-play drive that appeared to have stalled out on the South's five-yard line when Carroll got stuffed for no gain on a third-down quarterback sneak. But the North squad went for it  on 4th-and-goal from the five yard line, and Carroll found Arcari slipping out of the backfield undetected by the South defense.

Carroll zipped a short pass into Arcari's hands and the Merrimack College bound Tewksbury graduate knifed his way into the end zone for the score.

The North squad took a 10-7 lead into halftime after Hamilton-Wenham's James Brao kicked a 32-yard field goal with five minutes to play in the second quarter.

But the South team regained the lead in the third period when Scituate High quarterback Tyler Park connected with Cohassett's Jack Carrier on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

The North squad produced the winning touchdown with just 1:33 to play in the game, when Carroll scored on a quarterback sneak on third and goal from the South one-yard line.

Tewksbury High quarterback/defensive back Sean Connolly also played in the game, defending several passes and assisting on several tackles. Wilmington's Brian Hurley saw action at linebacker and the Dracut tandem of quarterback Matt Carroll and wide receiver Chris Malonis also played well.

Arcari only carried the ball one time in the game, but he made it count, picking up 13-yards and a first down on the play. His five-yeard touchdown catch was his only reception in the game.

The North squad was coached by Shawsheen Tech's veteran head coach Al Constabile. Shawsheen Tech was also represented by defensive lineman David Summiel, a Tewksbury resident, and Billerica resident Derek Bent, who played tight end.

Constabile had high praise for his squad after the dramatic comeback win.

"These kids only practiced together for two weeks, so for them to come back and put a drive together like that, it's amazing," said Constabile. "The athleticism they have and the resiliency they had, and the ability to turn it around and execute they way they did, it was really amazing."

Carroll, who threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the game, marveled at the talent with which he was surrounded.

"It's  amazing, it's almost surreal watching (Everett's)  Matt Costello, (Everett's) Manny Asparilla and (Draqcut's) Chris Malonis run routes," Carroll said. "And my offensive line I can't even see over them when I'm under center. That's how great these guys are. And even though we only practiced together for two weeks it feels like we're an actual team that's been playing together forever."