The Bishop Hendricken football team kept finding new ways to win this season, and because of that it has further solidified its place in history.

The latest came when the Hawks overcame a fumble in the final minute at their own 26-yard line to get the best of La Salle for the fourth time in their run of six consecutive Division I championships and complete the undefeated season, 24-20.

“This win was a little special because last year was unchartered territory, this year is unchartered, no one’s ever won this many in a row and I think that’s a testament to these kids and coaches,” Hendricken head coach Keith Croft said. “The way the Super Bowl played out, this one was one of our stranger ones.”

To start the fourth quarter, the Hawks faced a fourth-and-goal at the La Salle 2-yard line. Croft said that he wanted to kick the field goal, but his offense convinced him otherwise.

“Yeah, I’m gonna be honest with you, I wasn’t happy with that call,” Croft said with a smile. “I had the field goal team running out on the field and they were all telling me ‘Coach, we can go for it. We can go for it.’ So I called them in a huddle and I kinda yelled at ‘em. I said ‘Listen, I’m trusting you guys. You said you’re gonna get it. I tell you right now, if you don’t get this, we might not get another shot at this.’”

Jake Derderian crashed the pile on fourth down, but the Rams stuffed him and forced a turnover-on-downs. La Salle took over up 20-17 and looking to add to its lead, but the Hawks’ defense stood strong. The Rams gained just one yard and were forced to punt, with Hendricken taking over at the La Salle 33 and getting another chance.

“They didn’t get [the fourth-down touchdown], but in retrospect it was probably the right call because we really pinned them deep,” Croft said.

Quarterback Chris Hindle hit wide receiver Dante Baldelli for a 16-yard gain across the middle on third-and-13 to preserve the drive, and it was a crucial completion. The next play, running back Matt DiTondo found a hole up the middle and dashed into the end zone for a touchdown. Ryan Blais’ extra point put Hendricken up 24-20 with exactly eight minutes remaining.

The Rams embarked on their next drive, starting at their own 34. A personal foul penalty on third-and-12 saved La Salle, as a potential fourth-and-long turned into first down at its own 47. The Rams were soon faced with a third-and-5 at the Hendricken 23 before star running back C.J. Waite was dropped for a 1-yard loss.

Waite had only nine total yards in the second half after amassing 91 in the first. He carried even more of a workload with running back Kyron Lopes out for the game because of an injury.

On fourth-and-5, with Waite out of the wildcat, he rolled right and threw a floater that was snatched up by Andrew Hopgood, his third interception of the afternoon.

It looked like the game was over after DiTondo’s 14-yard rush set the Hawks up with a first down, but then things got tense for Hendricken. Hindle rolled right looking to run, but the ball got punched out and La Salle recovered at the Hendricken 26 with just more than a minute to go.

The defense had to step up, and it did. A big Rams’ rush play was called back on an illegal block, pushing them back for a first-and-20. Then, defensive end Kwity Paye took down quarterback Jace Pena, who had backpedaled about 15 yards before getting sacked. After a short rush from Pena on third-and-30, he uncorked a deep, desperation pass down the right sideline, but Hopgood knocked it down.

“It was huge,” Croft said. “Your spirits are down, you’re a little crushed at that point, but they made a few plays, obviously Kwity had a big sack and the penalty helped. Just like I said to the kids, it’s a lesson for life. It’s not always easy in life. You gotta keep plugging away.”

Hendricken got into victory formation, and kept the D-I trophy in Warwick for another season.

The game was a back-and-forth affair until the end. After exchanging field goals early in the first quarter, the Hawks scored the game’s first touchdown when Derderian rushed up the gut for a 1-yard touchdown.

Hendricken did not allow a touchdown in the first half, and held La Salle to a field goal at the end of the second quarter despite the Rams having second-and-4 at the Hendricken 5-yard line.

The Hawks came out of the half looking to add to their lead, but would have no such luck after a three-and-out. La Salle took over at the Hendricken 42-yard line and wasted no time taking its first lead of the game. Pena connected with a wide open Ellijah McLean across the middle for a 42-yard touchdown.

Hendricken would answer right back. On the second play of the next drive, Hindle fired a pass deep down the left sideline to wide receiver Billy Mueller, who rose above his defender for the catch and dashed into the end zone. The extra point put the Hawks ahead 17-13.

“Just saw [the ball] in the air, tried to grab it, came down with it and the defender was on the ground so it just worked out,” Mueller said of his touchdown.

The Rams were faced with a third-and-11 on their next drive at their own 33, looking to strike back again. The series seemed to be over when Paye brought down Pena several yards behind the line of scrimmage, but a facemask gave La Salle another chance on third down.

Pena cost the Rams, though, when Hopgood read his pass perfectly to the right to pick the ball off and set the Hawks up with a first down at the La Salle 25. That drive, though, would end in a fourth-and-52 punt to the La Salle 46.

The Rams would make the Hawks pay on their ensuing drive. On the second play from scrimmage, Samuel Coleman took an end-around handoff 54 yards to pay dirt to put the Rams ahead 20-17 and set the stage for the game’s dramatic final 16 minutes.

“I always say history will judge us, but we really approach each season one at a time, because in retrospect the only thing these seniors worry about is did they go out with a win,” Croft said. “We focus on just one.”

The Hawks will have an excellent chance at making it seven straight Super Bowl victories next year as several key components from this season will return. Dominating defensive end and fullback Paye, starting quarterback Hindle, defensive back Anthony Witherstone, Hopgood and current sophomore Preston Santos are among just a few coming back for a shot at the seven-peat in 2016.

“We got a great group of young guys that are looking to step up,” Mueller said of the players who will look to retain the crown next season. “Our junior class is really strong, so I’ll be looking forward to coming back and watching them play.”