ATTLEBORO - It was midway through the 2006 football season and the Bishop Stang High football team was more than rounding into form when the Spartans arrived at McGrath Stadium for an EAC game against Bishop Feehan.

Forty-four minutes and four quarters later, the Spartans held on at the one-foot line for a 20-13 victory over the Shamrocks, the sixth of their 10 victories taken thus far this season.

Bishop Stang will want to extend its unbeaten streak for another game tonight at Stonehill College, where the Spartans meet Foxboro High in an MIAA Division 2 playoff game.

As much as Bishop Feehan High coach Tony Wood knows of the Foxboro High Warriors, he knows that Bishop Stang is a formidable task for anyone.

"They're a good football team, they're explosive," said Wood of the matchup. "They're a very capable team."

Bishop Stang scored touchdowns on its first two offensive series against the Shamrocks, driving 57 yards on nine plays, consuming nearly four minutes of the clock to take the lead and then marching 72 yards on 13 plays, consuming 6:37 of the clock. The Spartans' wishbone offense is all about running, all about time management and all about minimizing turnovers.

Against Bishop Feehan, the Spartans rushed for 250 yards and threw the ball just once, while not having a turnover.

The Spartans take their cue from sophomore quarterback Rob Giafranttee (5-10, 185) and two very good running backs, senior Brandon Sullo (5-11, 170) and senior Josh Weinstein (6-0, 185). Against Bishop Feehan, Giafrantee notched 58 yards on the ground, Sullo totaled 97 yards, including a 62-yard TD run two plays into the second half and Weinstein picked up 68 yards.

Sullo suffered an MCL injury last season and Weinstein stepped in to star. This year, a hamstring injury slowed Weinstein during the month of October and Sullo took off.

Impressively, the Spartans were able to contain the Shamrocks' primary offensive weapon, Nick Schwieger, who had 91 yards rushing.

Bishop Stang, making its second straight MIAA playoff appearance (losing the Division 2A title game to Duxbury last year), has size, too, especially 6-2, 290-pound junior Lenny Simmons and 6-4, 340-pound senior Marcus Ferro.

"I know that there's a lot of good football played in the Hockomock League," added Wood, "but, Bishop Stang is good - they held us in check until our two-minute drill there at the end of the game."