November 5, 2024 By Kevin Riordan
The long practices and a dedication to conditioning has paid off as the 8th graders Raiders repeat as conference Super Bowl champions beating the Natick Red Hawks 42-1. This may be the best team Hingham youth football has ever fielded, beating each opponent by an average of 30 points, dominating both lines of scrimmage and going undefeated two years in a row. Readers will certainly be hearing many of these players names at the high school level. But the season is not over as they advance to the state playoffs in November.
Congratulations to the 4th and 6th grade Raiders who are also champions by winning their super bowls on Sunday.
On this chilly night the Raiders began on offense with pivitol blocks from Brooks Johnson, Will Berkeley and Frank Cavagnaro clearing a path for Rhett Shevlin and Hudson Garrity to run for first downs. Just three plays into the game Hudson Garrity followed blockers Johnson and Denny Costello into the end zone and a 6-0 lead. Natick quickly shot back with their powerful rushing attack picking up first downs until Brayden Huber and Frank Cavagnaro made critical 3rd down stops. Facing a 4th and goal Natick punched it in for a rushing TD giving them an 8-6 lead. Two possessions later and finding themselves in unfamiliar territory trailing for the first time all season when Rhett Shevlin picked off a pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown putting the Raiders back in the lead 12-8. Defensively Denny Costello, Shamus Devine and Rhett Shevlin made tackles to force a quick Natick punt. On offense QB Hudson Garrity outran a sack and on 4th and long he threw a pass to Cole Shevlin but was stopped short on 4th down. Natick began moving the ball gaining multiple rushing first downs. Each week someone steps up on this team and in this game the linebackers Mason Aframe, Cam Forger, Rhett Shevlin and Johnny Heller continuously disrupted Natick’s run game with bone jarring tackles. With seconds ticking away in the first half, John Peterson and Grant Riordan made a critical tackle and Denny Costello ended the half with a sack of the QB.
In the second half the Raiders began to pull away as QB Garrity scrambled behind his blockers Shamus Devine and Brooks Johnson to throw a 32 yard TD pass to his wideout Cole Shevlin for an 18-8 lead. On defense linebackers Rhett Shevlin, Mason Aframe and DB Evan Tomasello stuffed the run as Frank Cavagnaro overpowered the Natick lineman and sacked the QB causing a fumble that Cam Forger recovered at the 25 yard line. One play later QB Garrity used his legs to sprint for a touchdown and the 24-8 lead. The defense would bend but not break to Natick’s strong rushing attack that Denny Costello would shut down and Evan Tomasello would deflect a pass to force a punt. On the first snap from Brooks Johnson QB Garrity threw a pass to a crossing Shamus Devine for a 32 yard gain. He followed that up with a 33 yard touchdown pass to Cole Shevlin for a domineering 30-8 lead. Natick capitalized on a tip ball that managed to land into the hands of their receiver to cut the lead to 30-14. Natick tried a are onside kick that backfired as Cole Shevlin returned it 37 yards. One play later QB Garrity connected with Rhett Shevlin for a 36-14 lead and deflate any momentum Natick felt they had. To cap off the scoring Johnny Heller caught a 32 yard pass and QB Garrity ran behind his blockers Will Taylor, Duncan Wilder and Braden Oun for a 7 yard TD and the convincing 42-14 Super Bowl victory.
A heartfelt thank you and appreciation from the parents and fans to coaches Glenn Forger, Michael Garrity, Scott Huber, Mitchel Syp, Mike Taylor, John Peterson, Jake Heller, Shane Nolan and Jenn Huber who selflessly gave their time over the years to develop these young boys into champions.