By CHRISTOPHER SHABAN
Eagle Times sports
MANCHESTER — Quinten Bicknell, Phillip Mason and Keaghan McAllister have been playing together since the third grade” We are such a close family, they are my brothers” said Mason. Although this season ended before they wanted under the bright sunshine on a turf field at Trinity, this group will close out their careers with something that has never been done before at Stevens high school.
“It’s never easy to loose your last game but this group has won 27 games over the last 4 years, been to 4 straight semi-final games and won a state championship, I don’t think that have ever been done before at Stevens High school, this team has great character and so much pride” said Stevens head coach Paul Silva.
Trinity opened up the game on Saturday with John Thibault’s 76 yard run on the very first play and never let up” Stevens is just too good to give them a chance at all, I have friends on that team and coach Silva is incredible, I think we’re just happy to get a win today” said Thibault. The Cardinals defenders Braxton LeBlanc, McAllister and a Colby Shepard sack slowed the high powered a bit until the other Thibault, James punched it in for a 21-0 lead midway into the second quarter. “ This team showed today just how proud they are and never quit” said Silva. That determination was on display as the Cardinals mounted a monster drive near the end of the half. McAllister, Lucas Mudge, Matt Jones all took turns blasting into the Pioneer defense while the Taylor brothers connected on an 18 yard pass play as Owen hit Alex to get the ball down to the 11 yard line. With time running down, a McAllister leap over both lines into the end zone behind the blocking of Mason, Bicknell and Mudge got Stevens on the board 21-7.
That momentum that would have followed the Cardinals into the break was ripped away by a 50 yard kickoff return by Dantre Taylor that set up a field goal by Liam Mccoy as time expired. Giving Trinity a 24-7 lead at the break.
Trinity received the opening second half kickoff and when Peter Alisandro connected with Taylor on a 50 yard bomb, the Pioneers were on their way to a date with Lebanon for a division 3 championship game. Thibault would add his third touchdown along with 247 yards rushing on the day later but the Cardinals weren’t done yet. “ We play football, we are a family and we all stick together no matter what, nobody gave us a chance this season and we will not quit until the final whistle” said Bicknell.
With the game well in hand, McAllister would close out his 3700 plus yard rushing career with a touchdown late in the game as Stevens just wouldn’t quit. “ I couldn’t stop, this team is my family and it’s a lifestyle, I don’t know what I’m going to do on Monday, this is the worst feeling in the world” said McAllister after the game among a very emotional Cardinal sideline. “ That is a scrappy team, well coached, determined and tough, I’m just glad to get past them and we didn’t take that team lightly” said Trinity coach Bob Cathcart.
Trinity would end up with a 48-15 win while the Cardinal team wouldn’t leave the field well after the stadium had emptied, mulling around seeming lost. “ This is the first group of players I’ve been with since I joined the program 4 years ago, It’s tough because this is such a special group, it has been an honor to be with these players” said assistant coach Matt Bean as he wiped away a tear.
Stevens ends the year with a 6-5 record and will graduate 11 seniors but Silva knows this game is more about wins and losses. “ This game teaches life lessons, it teaches you about hard work and dedication and more importantly it shows what kind of character a player from Stevens has, when people from other schools tell me about the class from our players and that we do it the right way, the pride I feel is beyond words” said Silva. “ I love these guys”.
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