St. Clement is headed to the Catholic Central League playoffs thanks to Saturday’s 8-0 victory over the Marian Mustangs.

By Colin Walsh

St. Clement (4-2) clinched a playoff berth and share of the Catholic Central League title for the second time in three years this past Saturday with an 8-0 victory over the Marian Mustangs (2-4) of Framingham.

Coming into the game, both teams could clinch a playoff berth with a victory but Marian would be eliminated with a loss.

The top two defensive teams in Division 6 would provide just what should have been expected – a low scoring nail biter.

After a scoreless first quarter the games only points would come on St. Clement’s second drive of the game going 90 yard on a drive capped off by Senior Ivan Mertilus’ four yard rush to go up 6-0.

Mertilus has 11 TD’s this season, which places him second in scoring in the division and tops in the Catholic Central League.

Senior quarterback Michael Gonzales hit Sophomore Michael Thompson in the end zone on the 2-point conversion pass to cap the scoring at 8-0.

Both teams played scoreless for the next two quarters, but Marian made things interesting in the final minute of the game, driving down the Anchors’ 11-yard line before finally being stopped on four consecutive plays to secure the victory and another shot at the playoffs for St. Clement.

“Our kids have been working hard all season and they deserve this victory and this chance going forward,” said St. Clement Athletic Director Ryan Murphy.

The win was the fourth straight for the Anchors, who now enjoy a bye week before heading into the MIAA playoffs Halloween weekend.

Earlier in the week, the St. Clement Anchor JV squad beat Melrose 30-6 to bring their season record to 2-2.

The JV travel to Winchester for an away game Thursday, October 22 for a 3:30 p.m. match up.