There were a lot of reasons why Xaverian was considered by many to be the premier football team in Massachusetts at the start of the season. But defense was the reason that took center stage Saturday afternoon.

Chris Tamasi forced a fumble and recovered another, while Ryan Farrell added a late interception. As such, the Hawks held BC High to just 43 yards of offense in the first half.

On the other side of the ball, Chris Calvanese completed eight of 10 passes for 139 yards, as well as two touchdowns, to go with 58 yards and a TD on the ground as Xaverian stifled the Eagles to the tune of a 28-0 shutout at the Hawk Bowl.

The win keeps Xaverian (7-2, 2-0) in a tie atop the Catholic Conference standings with St. John's Prep. Each team has two league games remaining, including a Thanksgiving date in Westwood.

"I feel that was our most complete game all year long," said Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson. "Offensively, defensively and special teams-wise. If it wasn't our best effort of the year, I'd like someone to tell me which one was better."

The Hawks scored once in each quarter and wasted little time asserting themselves, as Calvanese faked a handoff to Joey Colton and burst right down the middle of the field for a 51-touchdown run.

"It was a great fake by Joey and the line had a great push there," Calvanese said. "just a well executed play. When no one is there in front of you, it's a great feeling."

With 17 seconds remaining in the half, receiver Tommy Jenkins made a one-handed, diving circus catch of a Calvanese pass in the end zone, and Jules Murphy's extra point sent Xaverian into the break with a 14-0 lead.

"That TD pass to Tommy Jenkins was huge," Calvanese said. "Not only was it a great play but it was a great play for the game. One play and they could get right back in the game and instead we had a 14 point lead. That was a huge momentum swing."

In the third, Tamasi recovered a botched BC High (4-4) snap at midfield, and the Hawks needed just six plays to reach paydirt in the form of an eight-yard Colton touchdown run. Xaverian capped the scoring in the fourth when Calvanese hit Matt Stapleton from 11 yards out.

On a day of highlights for Tamasi and the defense, one play showed what kind of player Tamasi is. After getting beat on a short pass, the Hawks senior chased his man down and knocked the ball loose for a fumble that Colton quickly pounced on.

"I'll never quit," Tamasi said. "On the forced fumble I missed a tackle so I chased him down and got a good crack from the backside and popped the ball loose."

The win marks two straight since a two-game skid earlier in the season, and Xaverian is getting back on track at precisely the right time with conference games against Catholic Memorial and St. John's Prep looming.

"That was our first playoff game," said Stevenson. "We're playing week two of the playoffs next week."