Hendricken proves old adage that defense wins championships. Here's how

CRANSTON — Hendricken was on an unfamiliar side of Cranston Stadium.

It was away from the large grandstands on the opposite sideline reserved for visitors. But the Hawks are certainly not tourists in the football State Championship or its venue. An up-and-down season, by its own regard, landed Hendricken the No. 3 seed in this year’s tournament.

Its rival, La Salle, resided on the home side as the state’s top seed. And maybe that was enough motivation for Hendricken to add to its trophy case. Or maybe, the Hawks defense had heard enough about its shaky season and saved the best performance for the game that matters.

Either way, state bragging rights reside in Warwick for the third straight year. Lincoln Tiernan’s 32-yard interception return for a touchdown capped a scintillating defensive showcase as Hendricken handled La Salle, 13-3, on Friday, Nov. 21.

“We kind of had a dicey game last time we played them during the season,” Tiernan said of the defense. “And just coming here and not letting them do what they did to us previously in the season, meant everything.”

Tiernan’s game-breaking interception, that gave Hendricken its final edge, was one of three interceptions for the Hawks. It was an opportunistic chance as Tiernan jumped a pass over the middle on La Salle’s first play after a Hawks’ turnover. The pick-six dashed any chance of a La Salle rally before it could even begin.

All told, Hendricken held La Salle to just 157 yards of total offense with three interceptions. And their three points allowed is Hendricken’s lowest in a state championship game since a shutout of Cranston West in 1981.

“[The interception] meant everything but it goes back to the coaches,” Tiernan said. “Just calling the right plays, giving us the ability to play open, make plays, it just goes back to the coaches.”

Giulio Broccoli also blocked a field goal in the fourth frame as Hendricken won its 14th title in the last 16 season. Jeremy Seidi provided plenty offensively with 164 yards over 24 carries and a touchdown and the game’s MVP chipped in defensively.

It was an old-school performance for Hendricken (4-3 in the regular season) during a year that was un-Hendricken like. The Hawks, after surrendering 34 points to North Kingstown in the semifinals, had buy-in throughout during its final game of the season.

“[North Kingstown] messed us up pretty bad,” Tiernan said. “We knew we had to come back here and prove everyone wrong. There was a lot of questions through the season about what we were capable of, we had to show everyone today.”

Elijah Guertin was sidelined these playoffs with a broken left wrist. That didn’t stop the junior from playing with a wrapped hand, like a club, after he was medically cleared. His presence alone, healthy or not, added to La Salle’s troubles. Ryan Santo, a sophomore, looks like he might be next in waiting on both sides of the ball.

“Those two weeks on the sideline, I just felt sick to my stomach,” Guertin said. “I had to play and I had to be there for the team. I had to play – I just had to.”

“We played great all-around,” Santo said. “We came up with the big plays when we needed to. It’s my second championship and I still have two more years to go.”

Nobody will remember Hendricken’s regular season, only that the Hawks won another title behind its defense.

“There was a lot of struggle this season,” Guertin said. “More downs than there were ups, but just being able to play with my team and being there, felt amazing.”

Hendricken 13, La Salle 3

Second quarter

LSA - Quincy Marino 29-yard field goal, 6:08

Hend - Jeremy Seidi 1 rush, :10

Third quarter

Hend - Lincoln Tiernan 32-yard interception return, 3:09

TEAM STATISTICS

RUSHING – Hendricken – 31-247, La Salle 10-36. PASSING – Hendricken 4-13-35, La Salle 17-41-121. TOTAL OFFENSE – Hendricken 282, La Salle 157. FIRST DOWNS – Hendricken 13, La Salle 10. TIME OF POSSESSION – Hendricken: 28:32, La Salle: 19:10.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Hendricken - Jeremy Seidi 24-164-1; Jabari Jackson 4(-10); Isaiah Brito 7-15; Rollins Sonpon 1-5; Ryan Santo 1-11; Jeremy Dennis 4-62. La Salle - Blaze Coogan 4-4; Sam Perry 6-22.

PASSING – Hendricken - Isaiah Brito 4-13-35. La Salle – Sam Perry 17-41-121.

RECEIVING – Hendricken - Jackson 3-10; Seidi 1-25. La Salle - Jaden Givens 3-28; Blaze Coogan 6-26; Antonio Bearden 5-61; Kobe Downing 2-1; Donald Young 1-5.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hendricken defense slows La Salle in Super Bowl championship