Williams captures first win in historic

first night game at home

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AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger

Norwell’s Forrest Detwiler (22) celebrates after he catches a long pass for a touchdown, giving the visiting Clippers a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

By Justin A. Rice

For The Patriot Ledger

Posted Oct 03, 2008 @ 10:35 PM

Last update Oct 03, 2008 @ 11:19 PM

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BRAINTREE — Friday night was an evening of firsts at Memorial Field.

On the first Friday night football game under the lights at home in Archbishop Williams school history, the Bishops (1-4) also collected their first win of the season in an 18-16 thriller against Norwell that came down to Nick Querzoli’s game-saving blocked field goal with 19.2 seconds left in the game.

“I came off the end, I jumped the snap and blocked that thing,” the senior captain said.

Trailing 18-6 with 5:10 left in the third, Norwell senior running back Jamie Waters brought it down to the 7 with a 25-yard run before junior running back AJ DeBenedictis scored on a two-yard run. That touchdown cut the score to 18-14 with 2:17 left in the quarter after DeBenedictis also added the two-point conversion.

Norwell got within two with 10:01 left in the game. After pinning the Bishops at the 12, a long snap sailed over the head of Dan Varasso and out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Then Norwell seemed poised to score the game winner before DeBenedictis fumbled at the 15 to the Bishops’ Tim O’Brien. Two plays later, Williams fumbled the ball back to Dan Regan at the 22 with 5:45 to play.

The Bishops put in a goal-line stand after sophomore Sean Provenzano sacked senior quarterback Mike Lodigiani on fourth down at the 15-yard line. Then Provenzano ripped a 40-yard run that still didn’t clinch the game for the Bishops.

After Norwell regained possession, Lodigiani, who finished with 123 passing yards, completed four huge passes that set up the winning 25-yard field goal attempt. Norwell senior Marshall Haskins, who was kicking the first field goal of his career in place of injured Christian McInnis, was blocked by Querzoli.

“We like to keep them close,” Williams coach Bill Kinsherf said. “You couldn’t ask for a better end to a great night. The crowd was great, the lights were awesome, and the field was awesome.

Besides two huge sacks in the final quarter, Provenzano ran for 105 yards and one touchdown.

He was joined in the backfield by another sophomore, Alex Furtado, who ripped Norwell for 155 yards on 18 carries, including a 79-yard touchdown.