Shawsheen Tech Wins First Football Playoff Game Since 2010

BILLERICA, MA -- It was closer than the 22-8 final score would indicate, but Shawsheen Tech survived a scare from Whittier to advance to the semi finals of the MIAA Division 6 North Tournament. On Friday, Tech will travel to play second-seeded Stoneham (6-2), which beat Ipswich 36-14. Kick-off is at 6:30.

Third-seeded Shawsheen Tech (6-2) needed a fourth-quarter surge to dispatch Whittier (6-2), which led 8-6 after three quarters. With 9:46 left to play, Tech's Cody Sughrue broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run which put the rams ahead 12-8. A two-point conversion gave the Rams a 14-8 lead.

With 6:04 left to play, Shawsheen Tech added insurance when Brendan Study recovered a fumble and ran it 55 yards for a touchdown. Following the 2-point conversion, the Rams led 22-8. The ram's only other score was a first quarter, touchdown pass from Sughrue to Brendan Studley with 53 second left in the first quarter.

At halftime of Friday night's game, the Ram retired number 45 to honor Principal Robert Kanellas and his 45 years of service at Shawsheen Tech. The ceremony featured Superintendent Tim Broadrick and members of the school committee for Shawsheen Tech, which serves Burlington, Wilmington, Bedford, Tewksbury and Billerica.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).