Champions Q&A: Xaverian coach Al Fornaro

December 13, 2023

It was quite a year for the Xaverian Hawks. Injuries hit this team hard, but it kept winning at a high level. The finishing run included wins over Springfield Central, Needham, and St. John’s Prep (twice in six days). So, yes, this D1 state title? The Hawks earned every bit of it. We spoke to Xaverian coach Al Fornaro to get his thoughts on the season, and how it came……

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Former Patriot Ninkovich embraced opportunity to help out D1 champs

December 9, 2023

You may have known this if you covered Xaverian or rooted for the school, but many probably didn’t know that Rob Ninkovich was an assistant coach for the Hawks this season as the team soared to the D1 title. There was never much fanfare or talk around Ninkovich helping out because he wasn’t there all the time, but helping young players was an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up…

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Hasselbeck cements his legacy at Xaverian with a legendary performance

November 30, 2023

FOXBORO- Henry Hasselbeck had a performance for the ages on Wednesday night in Xaverian’s 31-25 win over St. John’s Prep in the Division One Super Bowl. The senior signal caller rushed for 122 yards and threw for 100 yards and three touchdown passes in a signature performance that cemented his legacy at Xaverian. Hasselbeck’s path to Xaverian was unconventional. He started at Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee and then transferred to……

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Division 1 Super Bowl – Xaverian 31, St. John’s Prep 25 – Hawks win 1st title since 2015

November 29, 2023

FOXBOROUGH – Six days after playing an instant classic on Thanksgiving, Xaverian and St. John’s Prep one-upped that game on Wednesday night. With the Division 1 Super Bowl on the line at a frigid Gillette Stadium, the Hawks came out with a wild 31-25 win for the program’s first title since 2015. Xaverian (11-2) got 122 rushing yards, 101 passing yards and three passing TD’s from star quarterback Henry Hasselbeck……

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Xaverian 23, St. John’s Prep 21 — Bell’s boot lifts Hawks

November 23, 2023

WESTWOOD — When St. John’s Prep and Xaverian met Thursday morning, there was some thought that this would be a minor preamble to Wednesday’s D1 state championship. But, by the end of it, the fans were hoping that the encore could be anywhere near as good as the original. With a 30-yard field goal as time ran out, Xaverian junior kicker Luke Bell sent the Hawks home happy with a……

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(2) Xaverian 20, (3) Needham 17 — Resilient Hawks hold on, set up date with SJP in D1 Super Bowl

November 17, 2023

BROCKTON — It is nice to have depth, until you have to use it. You take away two of the best weapons on any offense, you will see a sharp downturn in performance. In that respect, maybe Xaverian is a little different. In Friday night’s D1 state semifinal against Needham, starting running back Denzil Pierre and wide receiver Jonathan Monteiro each left the game in the first half with injuries…….

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(2) Xaverian 21, (7) Springfield Central 20 — Defense sends Hawks to D1 Final Four

November 10, 2023

WESTWOOD — The last three times Xaverian played Springfield Central, each game followed a familiar script. For a little while, Xaverian would hang close with Central, but then the same thing happened. The Golden Eagles hit big play after big play, and either ran away with a dominant win, or held on as Xaverian was forced out of its game plan. Then, finally, on Friday night in a D1 quarterfinal,……

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Catholic Memorial 41, Xaverian 38 — Knights stun Hawks late

October 6, 2023

WESTWOOD — Over the years, Catholic Memorial and Xaverian have played their share of classics. The two schools, separated by about five miles, have only seen their rivalry intensify since coach John DiBiaso went to Baker Street. And as good s some of those games have been, it would be hard to top the drama that took place at the Hawk Bowl Friday night. Lasean Sharp threw a halfback option……

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Springfield Central 44, Xaverian 41 — Young guns shine for Golden Eagles

September 22, 2023

WESTWOOD — As Springfield Central players went through Friday night’s postgame handshake line, star Xaverian wide receiver Jonathan Monteiro had a message for his opponents. “We’ll see you again,” Monteiro repeated over and over. Fans and observers of Massachusetts high school football could only be so lucky to see these teams in a rematch. In a wild game that has to be considered one of the year’s best at this……

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