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FOXBORO - Though the Shamrocks had a pair of fumble recoveries during the first half of play offset by officials ruling that the plays had ended, that didn't stop the Bishop Feehan High defense in pursuit of the ball and in pursuit of the MIAA Division 2 Super Bowl championship.

So what did the Shamrocks do on defense at the outset of the second half? Recover fumbles.

Sophomore Ted Schwieger picked up a loose pigskin two plays into Walpole's first series of the second half, Bishop Feehan taking possession of the ball at the Rebels' 49-yardline.

Then, four plays into Walpole's second series of the second half, junior Matt Boulter came up with another fumble recovery, this one at the Bishop Feehan 40-yardline.

In shutting out Walpole in the third quarter, stopping the Bay State League champions on their first three series of the second half, the Shamrocks set the tone for a 26-20 victory Saturday evening at bone-chilling Gillette Stadium. "We put some pressure on them and our linebackers and defensive backs did a good job of coming up to make the tackles," said Bishop Feehan senior tackle Jake Curren.

Ryan Izzo, Walpole's fast-footed sophomore running back amassed 141 yards rushing (on 19 carries), but that was matched by the Shamrocks' backfield star Nick Schwieger, who produced 142 yards on the ground.

And after both teams had scored touchdowns on drives in the first half, deadlocked in a 13-all stalemate by intermission, defense would settle the Super Bowl - and it did.

"We came ready to play, our coaches motivated us and our captains gave us some great speeches," said Shamrock senior defensive back Nick Linehan, who stole the ball out of the hands of Walpole receiver Marc Carrie in the end zone with under a minute left in the game, a potential six-point score which would have tied the game.

"I had coverage on him and good position and we were playing prevent coverage," added Linehan of the Super Bowl-saving swipe.

The Shamrocks nearly had two other takeaways in the first half, which may have effected the outcome sooner. Because after the Shamrocks had taken the lead on their initial series, a 79-yard, 13-play march, junior Dan Effler recovered a potential fumble of the Rebels' ensuing kickoff return by Nick Mastromatteo at the Walpole 37-yard line. But officials ruled Mastromatteo was already down upon losing possession.

Then, with less than a minute left until intermission and Walpole in Bishop Feehan territory at the 41-yard line, Rebel QB Sonny Mastromatteo had his arm cocked, ready to throw, but Curren knocked the ball loose - and Jason Brown recovered. However, officials ruled Mastromatteo had a forward motion, thus an incomplete pass.

"Our defense came up real big," emphasized Schwieger as the Shamrocks did not allow Walpole past midfield until the fourth quarter. After the Rebels scored to pull to within six points and then stopped Bishop Feehan on three downs on the Shamrocks' ensuing series - using all three time outs too - Walpole regained possession of the ball at its 38-yard line with 1:55 left.

But Linehan stole the ball.

"We knew what was coming," said Shamrock guard Kyle Schmitt of the pressure that Walpole would put on QB Mike McGowan (eight completions for 127 yards), "but we stuck to our game plan." And the Shamrocks did not have a turnover either.

"We executed and stayed with what was working," said Shamrock senior fullback Mynor Chacon. "We stuck together as a team, it was all heart."

In winning their eighth straight game, the Shamrocks did yield first half scoring drives of 63 and 26 (a 44-yard punt return by Nick Mastromatteo), but Bishop Feehan limited Walpole to 95 yards rushing and 59 yards passing - with Izzo having just two runaway runs, a 26-yarder and an 18-yarder.

The Shamrocks arrived at Gillette Stadium at approximately 6:30 for their 7:30 p.m. kickoff, but the game didn't start until after nine with the temperature hovering at game time at 19 degrees. And the Shamrocks and Rebels were deciding a Division 2 Super Bowl in single-digit wind-chill temperatures after 11 p.m. on a winter's night in December.

"It might have been about 10 degrees warmer in the bubble, where we warmed up," chuckled Curren. "It was pretty cold. But once we got on the field and started playing, you try not to think about it. All you want to think about is winning the game, the Super Bowl."