'We’ll grow, we’ll build': St. John's coach John Vassar remains confident after Pioneers' home loss to BC High
SHREWSBURY — The St. John’s football team is in its third full season in the Catholic Conference, which is arguably the most competitive league in the state.
But since a promising debut in 2021, it’s been rough going, the latest disappointing showing coming Saturday afternoon as the Pioneers were unable to build on an early lead and lost to Boston College High, 34-15, at rain-soaked and wind-swept Pioneer Field.
“It’s not easy when we make mental mistakes,” first-year coach John Vassar said after reiterating that message to his players following the final whistle.
It was the third straight loss — all in conference play by a cumulative score of 111-24 — for the 3-4 Pioneers.
They’ve lost seven of eight conference games since the start of start of last season, the lone win coming against Malden Catholic, a Division 4 program.
And while the three-game skid has come against high-powered programs in St. John’s Prep and Catholic Memorial, the defending Division 1 and 2 state champions, respectively, and resurgent BC High, which is 5-2 and ranked seventh in the latest D1 power rankings, that’s the stark reality of playing in the Catholic Conference.
So what are the Pioneers to do?
“The bottom line is we have to keep building our base,” Vassar said. “We have to keep building our base here at St. John’s. I believe in Central Mass. I believe if we put the best football players in Central Mass. together against Eastern Mass. teams, we can be victorious.
“It’s a new staff this year, a lot of new changes. We’ll grow, we’ll build. We’re behind, but we’re not out (of it).”
The Pioneers led, 9-0, midway through the second quarter on the strength of a safety following a high snap on a punt and a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Logan Mercer two plays after gaining possession at the BC 2 following a — repeat after me — high snap on a punt.
At that point, the Pioneers also had seen junior Griffin Harding recover a fumble on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
But from then on, it was all Eagles, who scored touchdowns on five of their next six possessions, the lone exception coming courtesy of an interception by senior safety Luke Lengel on a pass that went off the hands of a receiver.
The scores came on a 42-yard run and pass plays of 75, 81, 19, and 12 yards in which rarely was a hand laid on the ball carrier.
“They were able to catch the ball in the rain and we weren’t,” Vassar said. “A lot of mental mistakes. We played a lot of cover 4 (four deep defenders and three underneath) and then guys got behind us.”
The Eagles finished with 454 yards on 51 plays, with junior quarterback Carter Carroll completing 14 of 19 passes for 293 yards and four TDs. He was intercepted twice with junior safety Dan Wing also having a pick — off a tipped pass by junior cornerback Daijon Rondeau — and a pass defensed, while senior linebacker Ron Burton recorded a sack.
The Pioneers finished with 108 yards on 51 plays, 38 coming on a juggling catch by senior Antonio Wiafe two plays before junior Liam Mall made a toe-dragging, 8-yard TD reception with 1:23 to play to close out the scoring.
Both of those completions were delivered by reserve sophomore quarterback Jayden Ortiz, who got snaps in both the first and second halves in place of junior starter Dylan DiPietro.
“I think both guys are very talented,” Vassar said. “They both give us a little bit to offer in different ways. This week I saw that with (Ortiz), the ball was just coming out a little bit harder, a little bit further. … I wanted to give him some opportunities to show what he could do.”
Despite their sub-.500 record, the Pioneers checked in 13th in the latest D1 power rankings thanks to their impressive strength of schedule. The top 16 teams qualify for the state tournament.
So does this feel like a playoff team?
“I don’t feel like we’ve been executing like a playoff team to be honest with you,” Vassar said. “I don’t. Physically we can do it. Physically we’re up for the task.
“It’s when we go to put everything together, we can’t play football with mental mistakes," the coach added. "Big plays are what cost us today. We can’t give up big plays in the playoffs.”
After the game, the Pioneers honored Burton with the Francis X. Corsac Memorial Award as the homecoming game MVP, while junior Braden Cooney was presented with the Hazelhurst Award as the most valuable lineman in the game.
—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: St. John's football falls to BC High for third straight loss
