2018 CM Super Bowl Preview

Foxboro, Mass.—The wait is finally over.

After impressive wins over Attleboro, Needham, and Catholic-Conference rival Xaverian, CM arrives at Gillette with a 9-2 record and a Division 1 State Championship on the line. For the second straight playoff game, CM must avenge a regular season loss to a conference rival before it stakes its claim as the state’s best. This time, it’s St. John’s Prep in its way.

Head coach John DiBiaso is no stranger to the big game. He has 12 Super Bowl championships on his resume, after all. But, here at CM, this is our first time playing on this big of a stage in forty years.

Need a primer before the game? Well, look no further. We got you covered.

Opponent: St. John’s Prep (9-2)

Where: Gillette Stadium

When: December 1^st, 2018; 8:00 p.m.

Record: 9-2

Super Bowl Titles: ’62, ’73, ‘78

Note: First Appearance in a Super Bowl since 1978

1.) Keep the Chains Moving: Catholic Memorial led the Catholic Conference in average points per game (32.9) thanks to a balanced offense led by quarterback Barrett Pratt, running back Darrius LeClair, and the Khari Johnson-Hunter Tully receiver tandem. Now, they face a stout St. John’s Prep defense that frustrated the Knights in the first half of their regular season meeting in October. During that game, the Knights offense stalled on third down early. A pair of costly turnovers gave the Eagles a two-score lead at halftime.

CM needs to wear-down the Eagles’ top-ranked defense early and grind out drives to set the tone in their favor early.

2.) Field Positioning: Don’t underestimate the importance of special teams in a game between two immoveable defenses. Khari Johnson, who separated himself as a true triple-threat option this season, showcased his ability to score from anywhere on the field when he returned a 97-yard kickoff for a touchdown against Xaverian. If he uses his vision and speed to set up offensive drives on a short field, it gives the CM offense more room for play-calling creativity.

3.) Discipline on Defense: The defense faces an Eagles offense that knows how to score from anywhere on the field. Expect playmakers Owen McGowan and Lucas Folan to set a physical edge early and to throw the Eagles offense off its tempo.

Path to Gillette: St. John’s Prep beat Central Catholic, the Cinderella Story of the North Sectional playoff, 21-0 to win the Division 1 North Sectional Final. The Eagles rolled through the latter half of their schedule under the leadership of head coach and former NFL quarterback Brian St. Pierre. The coach’s offensive mind complemented a suffocating defense led by Catholic Conference MVP James Taylor.

Head-to-Head: St. John’s Prep beat CM 27-20 in the regular season.

James Taylor, DT: Few offensive linemen know how to slow down, let alone block, the 6’0’’ and 350 lbs defensive tackle. The recipient of this year’s Catholic Conference Defensive MVP, Taylor limits opposing offensive playbooks and forces coaches to use creativity when scheming around him. CM needs to keep Taylor out of their backfield at all costs-- even if it means assigning two blockers to the defensive menace.

Matt Crowley, QB: Under the tutelage of former NFL quarterback Brian St. Pierre, Crowley broke the Eagles’ school record for passing yards this past season. Expect more yards to pile up on Saturday. In the Eagles pro-set offense, Crowley keeps defenses guessing with a pair of elite running backs in Aise Pream and Trent Tully. Speedy receiver Wes Rockett gives Crowley a reliable option on the outside. Hunter Tully and Khari Johnson must play their best games of the season in the secondary if they hope to slow down Crowley’s explosive offense.