A number of botched plays that still scored and flying fists between the two teams resulted in a 52-28 Crusader win, as the bragging rights to the city go back to Maplewood Avenue for the first time since 2004.
"We played great offensively today," St. Joe's coach Gary Bianchi said. "We really started to play the best football we've played about midway through the first quarter last week. We really continued that today. This is far and away the most complete game we played."
In a single game, the Crusaders came two scores away from matching their total points tallied in the previous eight games (66), as the squad finished the season with its third consecutive win. For Pittsfield, dropping the rivalry game marks another tough outing for the Generals' defense, as the game marks the third consecutive week they've given up more than 45 points.
"We're a work in progress defensively," Pittsfield coach Brian Jezewski said. "We'll make one good play, then have four bad ones. You can't be successful doing that. But, we're young. It's a step. You know, whether it's a step forward or a step backwards, you've got something to work with."
The rivalry game also found tempers reaching a boiling point. A number of punches were thrown in the game, highlighted by an incident late in the fourth quarter
With a fourth-and-2 at the Pittsfield 22, Crusaders fullback Levante Wiggins took the handoff to the left side and found open space, scoring easily. But, it wasn't the score that attracted attention. A tussle had broken out between two players on the field. After scoring, Wiggins proceeded to run to the fight in defense of his teammate.
Both Wiggins and his coach say he didn't throw a punch, but that he did take off his helmet and begin shouting at the Pittsfield player involved. That action resulted in the referees asking Bianchi to refrain from putting Wiggins back in for the rest of the game.
"Tempers just started going up," receiver Dan Joslyn said. "It's made 10 times worse because it's not just the city series game. It's a big rivalry, too."
Flared tempers spilled out at one point into the sidelines, as well, as a visibly upset St. Joe's assistant was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct less than 2 minutes later.
"There were a lot of dirty things going on," Crusaders running back Kyle Storie said. "Guys on both sides were really getting heated."
The bizarre nature of the game started to become apparent from the first score, when Pittsfield quarterback Mike Mancivilano threw a 27-yard touchdown pass that was deflected into the air at the goal line by cornerback Mark Metivier, then juggled and finally caught by running back Steven Sumpter. Pittsfield failed to convert for two points, but still had its only lead of the game.
Then, on the first play of St. Joe's drive at the 41, Wiggins broke off a 16-yard run. The play didn't end there, as Wiggins fumbled at the 25. With the ball bouncing around awkwardly, Metivier then picked up the ball for the Crusaders and took it to the end zone. St. Joe's runner Kyle Storie ran in the two-point conversion to give the Crusaders a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
St. Joe's would score on its next three possessions -- highlighted by a 48-yard run by Storie for the score -- as the team racked up 24 points in the quarter, and extended that lead in the second quarter to 31-6. Pittsfield had a chance to get back into the game late, but Mancivilano threw an errant pass into the end zone that was intercepted by linebacker Taverick "Tank" Roberson to end the half.
The Crusaders came out firing in the second half as well, scoring on another two consecutive drives that included another long run by Storie, who racked up 180 yards in the contest, and Wiggins' 22-yard score, to give St. Joe's a 46-6 lead. Wiggins finished with 125 rushing yards.
"We really had a lot of space to run on the weak side of the formation," Joslyn said.
Then, the Generals finally found the end zone again, on an 80-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Derek Saunders.
They scored again on their first possession of the fourth quarter on another botched play, as Mancivilano coughed up the ball at the 1-yard line. Pittsfield receiver Tyler Mayes managed to fall on it in the end zone for the score.
A similar play happened on Pittsfield's next possession, when Sumpter nearly scored from 21 yards out, but put the ball on the turf at the 1.
Another General fell on it in the end zone again, but this time it was Eddie Appiah, who brought the score to 52-28.
"This is how I wanted to end my senior year," Storie said. "We talked about the championship, and we talked a lot about the rivalry. This game was really important."
To reach Dane Truxell: dtruxell@berkshireeagle.com, (413) 496-6252.
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