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Dominic Papa, Andover nip rival Central Catholic, 22-20

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LAWRENCE — Despite only holding the starting quarterback job for two weeks, Dominic Papa looks like a natural.

Papa totaled three second-half touchdowns while Sean Napolitano had 3.5 sacks as part of an Andover defense that forced a pair of turnovers as the Golden Warriors defeated Central Catholic, 22-20, on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

It is the second straight victory for Andover over Central Catholic and it awards them the inaugural ‘Captain’s Cup.’

“The defense was the MVP of this game. They put me in the best positions possible,” Papa said. “My line played amazing and allowed me the cushion to get the ball to our best players.”

Central Catholic (2-5) held a 6-0 lead at the half and a chance to double its lead early in the third quarter, but Papa led his team on a seven-play drive that culminated in his 11-yard scramble for a touchdown to put the visitors on top 7-6.

The Golden Warriors then recovered the ensuing squib kick, allowing Papa to once again engineer a scoring drive, this one capped off by an eight-yard touchdown rush for the junior quarterback to push the lead to 15-6 after a successful two-point try. An interception by James Flagg helped Andover maintain its lead into the fourth.

Central Catholic got back within a score on a 25-touchdown reception from Drew Alsup, but with 10:20 remaining Papa came through with the play of the game. He escaped the rush, then ducked under a Central defender before getting outside and heaving the ball down field to Andrew Walles, who dashed home for a 51-yard score and a 22-13 lead.

Papa’s three scores came after he threw an interception to start the second half.

“My line has been doing an amazing job all week and on that play I got outside,” Papa said. “I saw that (Andrew) was adjusting up field and I just threw it up there to let him make a play.”

Central Catholic got back within one possession on a Jaxon Pereira six-yard touchdown rush but the Golden Warriors picked up a clutch first down to drain the clock before Napolitano came through with the game-clinching sack as time expired.