The Road to Gillette Begins on Friday Night for CM
The Knights play Attleboro at home on Friday night in the Division 1 football South Sectional Quarterfinals. Read up on what to watch for in our first-round playoff preview!
By, Brendan Galvin ’22 and Matthew Cunningham ‘19
Friday Night Lights, a perfect record on the road, and, of course, a new head coach.
Last week, the Catholic Memorial School football team and head coach John DiBiaso put their memorable regular season in the rearview mirror and set their sights to postseason play. With one more win than their regular season total from last year, the Knights enter the postseason with plenty of excitement surrounding the team. Only four wins separate CM from a trip to Gillette Stadium’s Division I Super Bowl after all. However, in a South Sectional bracket featuring one-loss Xaverian Brothers’, the Knights will have their work cut out for them. The team’s first hurdle?
A visit from Attleboro in the sectional quarterfinals on Friday night at CM.
Below, we preview the matchup with an overview of both teams and some players to watch on Friday night. For a look at the Division 1 South Sectional Bracket, click here.
A visit from Attleboro in the sectional quarterfinals on Friday night at CM.
Below, we preview the matchup with an overview of both teams and some players to watch on Friday night. For a look at the Division 1 South Sectional Bracket, click here.
SOUTH SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS: ATTLEBORO @ CATHOLIC MEMORIAL SCHOOL
James R O’Connor Stadium | 7:00 PM
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL SCHOOL
Record: 5-2 (Third Seed in MIAA Division 1 South Sectional Bracket)
Conference: Catholic (1-2)
Points Scored: 223 points
Points Allowed: 137 points
Players to Watch:
Lucas Folan
Defensive End / Tight End
Senior (Captain)
6’2’’ ; 235 lbs.
The senior lineman tore apart offensive lines this season. After piling up nine sacks in seven games, he needs to use his strength and agility to shed blockers and intimidate quarterbacks. The 2017 All-Scholastic couples his six-foot-two frame with a high-motor to set the edge on run plays and quarterback scrambles. On offense, CM uses Folan at tight end. His schematic expertise on defense allows him to pick out soft spots in an opposing scheme when blocking or running routes. Overall, he is a menace on both sides of the ball. Expect Folan to bring the heat and force Attleboro to use quick passing plays on Friday night.
Owen McGowan
Linebacker / Running Back
Sophomore
6’1’’ ; 220 lbs.
Owen tormented interior offensive lineman while rushing the passer this season. The sophomore used a combination of speed and instinct to tackle ball-carriers for losses whenever running lanes developed. He excelled at patrolling the hashmarks and breaking up plays on late-down situations. On offense, McGowan translates into a running back and a receiver. His versatility on both sides of the ball should allow his teammates to lock in on their one-on-one assignments against Attleboro.
Darius LeClair (Sophomore)
Running Back / Linebacker
5’11’’ ; 190 lbs.
Good luck stopping the sophomore running back when he cuts upfield. Thanks to his explosive down-field approach, Darius’ 12 touchdowns led the Catholic Conference at season’s end. While his numbers look impressive, they fall short in telling the full story. His true value lies in the eyes of the quarterback. Junior quarterback Barret Pratt trusts the running back to run receiving routes and move the chains on third-and-short. In the red zone, Darius demands respect from opposing linebackers and safeties. This gives receivers Hunter Tully and Khari Johnson opportunities to face corners one-on-one in the passing game.
ATTLEBORO
Record: 4-3 (Fifth Seed in the MIAA Division 1 South Sectional Bracket)
Conference: Kelley-Rex (2-3)
Points Scored: 163
Points Allowed: 108
Players to Watch:
Justin Cote
Running Back / Outside Linebacker
Senior
5’8’’ ; 160 lbs.
Every week, it seemed like the senior running back threatened opposing defenses with a hundred-yard performance. His ability to bounce off tackles and squeeze through holes on the offensive line strikes fear in any linebacker. On special teams, he gave his offense solid field position with numerous returns of 40-plus-yards over the course of his seven games played. Justin's nine total touchdowns placed him among elite company across the Division 1 landscape. Expect Coach DiBiaso to respect the Attleboro rushing attack in his game plan.
Jason Weir
Quarterback / Defensive End
Junior
6’2’’ ; 210 lbs.
A quarterback with a defensive end’s frame? Sheesh. The Knights’ defense must prepare for the unexpected when Jason drops back to pass on Friday night. In his first season splitting duties at defensive end and quarterback, the junior tallied five touchdowns and brought a physical edge to Attleboro’s signal-calling duties. CM’s defensive line must stay patient and remember sound technique when bringing down the 210-pound quarterback.Want to follow the action on Friday night? Follow our CM Super Fan account @CMSuperFan on twitter for live game updates.
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CM prepares students for the rigors of college and beyond. While here, boys embark on service-learning opportunities, leadership development, and character formation programs inspiring them to become confident, courageous young men motivated to do good in the world.
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Catholic Memorial
Catholic Memorial
235 Baker StreetWest Roxbury, MA 02132P. (617) 469-8000F. (617) 977-5689
About Us
Catholic Memorial, the Christian Brothers School of Boston, prepares boys for college, manhood and a world full of unknown challenges, ambiguity and complex problems and the importance of relationships.
