This one was about as thrilling as high school football gets.
Behind the entire game until 1:36 remained on the game clock in the 4th quarter, the Barnstable Red Raiders (2-1) erupted in joy following senior Dereck Pacheco's 32-yd. field goal on 4th and 5 to make it 15-14 and seal a major upset of top-ranked Xaverian (2-1).
It was a sight - and a game, frankly - to behold.
BHS senior quarterback Kristian Lucashensky - in just his second-ever varsity start - proved invaluable and dead-on as he went 8-15 in the air for 125 yards and two touchdowns. A 40-yard pass to Colby Blaze, under heavy pressure and rolling to his right out of the pocket, proved to be Lucashensky's piece-de-resistance as time was running out in the 4th quarter.
Barnstable's defense was equally spectacular against a weighty and sizeable Xaverian offensive line and a punishing crew of running backs. Xaverian's size mattered little, however, as Derek Estes picked off a Jake Farrell pass in the 2nd quarter, senior defensive end Conor Walsh hammered the ball loose in the red zone to set up the Red Raiders' first score in the 2nd quarter (recovered by Drew Lambert), Pacheco had a key sack (his first of the season) and Blaze turned in his second straight solid performance in the defensive secondary.
Barnstable's two touchdowns were scored by Blaze (a 23-yard reception to make it 7-6) and Estes (a 16-yd. reception) to go along with Pacheco's magical field goal.
Senior co-captain Hayden Murphy actually turned in his best defensive performance of the season as an outside linebacker. He also had four receptions for 49 yards on offense.
