Austin Prep turned to its star tight end, Brendan Burke of Andover, after falling behind 7-0 to heavily favored and previously undefeated Holliston three minutes into the Division 3A Super Bowl last fall.
Call him Big-Game Brendan because he delivered.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder caught a 61-yard touchdown pass on his team's opening offensive possession to quickly shift momentum as the Cougars scored 22 unanswered points and won 38-15 at Gillette Stadium that day.
"No one really thought we'd win," Burke said. "(Holliston) had blown out a bunch of teams. Two plays into the drive we had that 60-yard touchdown. That kind of set the tone for the rest of the game. We pretty much demolished them."
The Super Bowl victory marked a perfect ending to a nearly perfect senior football season for Burke, a starting defensive end/outside linebacker and tight end.
Burke scored five touchdowns and recorded 12 sacks as a senior.
Burke is being recognized for his terrific senior season. He will make another trip to Gillette Stadium tomorrow. The graduating senior, who will play at Tufts next fall, was selected to play in the 32nd annual Shriners Football Classic tomorrow at 7 p.m. He was one of 99 players from Eastern Mass. to accept an invitation to play in the game. He will be a member of the North team.
Stellar high school career
Just for the record, Andover High football never really had a chance of getting Burke because his dad, four uncles and two brothers all attended and played at Austin Prep.
"We were certain Brendan was going to go there (to Austin Prep) from early on," his father Terry Burke said. "It was a family decision that we made."
Burke began starting on the varsity team as a sophomore, being thrust into a starting spot because of an injury to a teammate.
"But he rose to the challenge," his mother Melissa Burke said.
Burke quickly became one of the best players in his league and the state.
He was a two-year Catholic Central League Large Division all-star and the league's co-MVP last fall.
And Burke also played great defensively in the Cougars' Super Bowl victory.
"Everyone remembers him for that (TD catch)," Austin Prep coach Bill Maradei said. "But he had a great defensive game, too. He was in the quarterback's face."
Burke also competed in track at Austin Prep and will continue to do it at Tufts. His personal best in the shot put is 51-6. For the discus, it is 132-11.
Burke won the Division 4 indoor state meet in shot put and came in sixth at All-States.
He won the shot put and finished third in discus at the Division 4 outdoor state meet.
Helping out a teammate
Maradei said that Burke has more talent than anyone he coached in the Burke family.
"I had his brother Chris and his brother Pat play for me," Maradei said. "The other two guys are great players but he is the best. He's got the heart of a lion."
Maradei said he would remember Burke for not only his talent but also because Burke is a terrific young man who helped out Maradei's son Billy.
"He was very good with my son Billy who is the other defensive end and deaf," Maradei said. "Brendan helped him a lot with little things. Billy is very physical but it's hard for him to pick things up, especially in drills."
Burke added, "To be honest, most of the time I didn't even think about the fact that he's deaf. We played the same position on defense. If he missed something, I'd be the one that could explain it."
One last high school game
Practicing with the North team for the Shriners game has been a terrific experience, Burke said.
"I'm really looking forward to the actual game," he said. "I've enjoyed the practices. It's a lot different playing against kids who are as good or better than I am. It's not what you're used to in high school, so it's been a really rewarding experience and it's getting me ready for the next level."
Burke said BB&N fullback Derek Papagianopoulos and Brooks quarterback Jordan Johnson are two of the best players he has practiced with on the North side.
"Derek is going to the University of Virginia to wrestle and he's very, very impressive," Burke said. "He's just really, really strong, fast and an all-around athlete. He was the No. 4 heavyweight wrestler in the nation. And Jordan Johnson is going to BYU (for football)."
Maradei is excited to watch Burke play tomorrow night.
Shriners football Classic
When: Tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
Locals playing, with 2009 stats:
Jordan Johnson, Brooks: 37 of 72 passing, 590 yards, five TD passes
Zack Lattrell, Central: 67 rushes for 480 yards, 7.2 yards per carry
Harvey Blanco, Lawrence: 74 rushes for 459 yards, 6.2 yards per carry
Zac Iovanella, North Andover: 220 rushes, 1,277 yards, 5.8 yards per carry
Nate Allen, Whittier: seven TDs, 12 PATs, 54 points
Stoglin's frustrations boil over following Duke loss-2/12
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
La Salle vs. St. Louis Highlights - 2/11
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Collins takes the blame for the Sixers' final possession
Sixers vs. Clippers highlights
Sixers defensive effort not enough vs. Clippers
Post game plus crew on the Sixers loss
Rose and Zumoff recap the Sixers last second loss
Penn vs. Harvard highlights
Stefon Diggs chooses Maryland, Randy Edsall comments-2/10
Cal Ripken says the Orioles will go as far as their pitching-2/10
Sandusky makes a statement
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
Marcus Johansson Caps lone goal in loss to Bruins-2/5
Matt Hendricks throws down with the Bruins' Adam McQuaid--2/5
Vinatieri, Law, Brown recount Super Bowl XXXVI
