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Caggionelli, Raiders swarm all over Lexington

LAWRENCE — The whole Central Catholic football team was ready and determined to open the Division 1 playoffs on a high note Friday night against Lexington.

But no one could have been more determined than two-way senior AJ Caggionelli.

Caggionelli scored three touchdowns in Central's resounding 40-9 win, sending the Raiders (6-2) to Everett (8-0) next Friday, and two were of the unforgetable category.

With Central already ahead 7-0 early after he scored on a 4-yard run to cap a quick 75-yard opening drive, Caggionelli made it 14-0 when he intercepted an ill-advised pass from highly touted Lexington quarterback Tony Bianchi and weaved his way through the middle of the field 50 yards to the end zone to make it 14-0.

It was a mighty impressive return but Caggionelli wasn't done.

With the Raiders already ahead 30-0 following a safety, Caggionelli returned the ensuing kick 18 yards to the Lexington 41 and, on the next play, got the ball on a sweep, slipped two tackles, hurdled another tackler and twice spun past defenders all the way to the end zone.

It was a run clearly worthy of an ESPN Top 10 play of the day.

"It's the best run I've ever had," said Caggionelli. "It makes all the practice moves we work on worth it — juking, spinning, everything."

As for the interception, Caggionelli said: "I had actually lost my man a little bit and I was getting back to him when the ball came. I was just in the right spot and saw an opening."

Caggionelli finished with four carries for 61 yards and three touchdowns. But he was hardly the only Raider ready from the start.

Quarterback Jared Silverio was 6 for 8 for 62 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown. His TD pass went to Shaun Morgan, who caught three passes for 34 yards.

Kicker Nick Mazzie, meanwhile was 5 for 5 on extra points and booted a 27-yard field goal as the Raiders moved ahead at halftime 40-0.

And the defense was just as impressive. Led by outside linebacker Cam Boes, the Raiders allowed just one first down in the first half and swarmed all over Bianchi, limiting him to 22 yards passing on 3 of 12 passing before he left following a rough tackle.

"I'm really happy with the way we played," said Central coach Chuck Adamopoulos. "That (Lexington) is a good team — we were worried about them — but we were ready to play.

"We wanted to keep their quarterback contained, because he can run around and hurt you, but we did a good jod. We have good speed and our kids have gone to the ball well.

"We're playing well now. It's been fun to watch the kids improve the last five games."

As for playing Everett, Adamopoulos is looking forward to it.

"They've got a great team and we want to see how our kids respond," he said. "They've got a great tradition and it's a great environment."

Adamopoulos will no doubt be hoping for a similar fast start next week.