Top-seeded Shawsheen (11-0) was dominant again in Friday night's 28-7 semifinal win over fourth-seeded Old Rochester (9-2) at Scituate High. The Rams did not surrender a single point to Gavin Martin, Jack Leconte, and Old Rochester's offense until there was less than two minutes remaining in the game. By then, it was clear Shawsheen had already punched its ticket to the D5 Super Bowl.
"I am so lucky to be a small part of this, man," said Shawsheen coach Al Costabile. "These kids deserve everything. They're the hardest working group of kids I've ever coached in 30 years."
Tildsley led Shawsheen with 20 carries for 108 yards and three touchdown runs, including a 1-yard TD scamper in the fourth. Jake Banda ran for 114 yards and a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that expanded the Rams insurmountable lead to 28-0 with under four minutes remaining.
Zack Timmons added 61 yards on 10 carries to contribute to Shawsheen's ground assault.
"We do everything for coach C," Tildsley said. "We won't have him retire without a ring -- a real ring."
Immediately after taking a knee in the victory formation, Tildsley ran up to his father, Brian, Shawsheen's defensive coordinator, and muttered the word, "Revenge."
As Shawsheen secured the win in Scituate, about two hours away from their home base in Billerica, the Rams learned they would be facing No. 3 Foxborough in the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.
The Warriors routed Shawsheen, 42-12, in last year's Division 5 semifinal matchup. It was a bitter disappointment that was seared into Tildsley's memory
"It's revenge," Tildsley said. "We got the team that we were hoping for, and now we're on a quest for Gillette."
With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Martin, who had completed 2 of 13 passes for 12 yards and an interception, zipped a pair of passes for a 64-yard gain to set up Leconte's 1-yard touchdown run. But it proved too little too late for Old Rochester.