For the Bishop Guertin seniors, it was the first time they failed to celebrate following the season’s final whistle.

For their opponents, the Blue Hawks of Exeter High School, it was sweet revenge against a foe that had beaten them in the same contest the two previous years.

On Saturday, Nov. 17, the Cardinals fell, 14-13 at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter, failing to match history by winning four consecutive Division II championships.

“We’re all just so used to winning. We came in confident. We thought we were going to win, but we didn’t,” said senior Pat Daley of Bedford. “We came to play and everything, but stuff fell through. We didn’t get the best calls in the world. We tried our hardest, and when you put all your heart into it and lose, it hurts.”

Though BG scored with 8:05 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull ahead 13-7, the extra-point attempt failed and a roughing-the-kicker penalty flag was picked up when the referee said the ball was tipped by an Exeter defender.

Several minutes later, the Blue Hawks faced a 4th-and-8 from the Guertin 38-yard line.

And what originally looked to be a well-defended incomplete pass turned into a pass interference call, giving Exeter a first down at the BG 23.

“We did a good job stopping them. It was 4th-and-8. We had the defense we wanted … We had three guys on him. What I saw was a very simple four guys going for the ball,” said Guertin coach Tony Johnson.

Three plays later the Blue Hawks shot the Cardinals off their D-II perch, scoring the tying touchdown and converting the go-ahead extra point.

And while Johnson and several of his players expressed skepticism about the nine Guertin penalties for 75 yards compared to their opponents’ one penalty for five yards, the Blue Hawks quickly dismissed the notion their victory hinged on referees’ discretion.

“Penalties are part of the game, and you’ve got to avoid them. I tend to think we held that team to 13 points, and when we had to run the ball in the second half, we ran the ball. Even after key calls they weren’t able to stop us,” said Exeter coach Bill Ball.

“I congratulate Bishop Guertin. They had a great run and were great champions. But today I’ve got to take my hat off to our guys.”

Johnson, on the other hand, gave his own players plenty of credit for a season that concluded one point short of a fourth straight title.

“Win or lose, this was a great game. (But) we didn’t lose this game. I felt our kids played well enough to win this game,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of my program, of what (these players) have done the last four years. I couldn’t have asked for anymore from these guys than what I got today.”

Though BG loses 22 seniors and 14 starters, including quarterback Ryan Burgess, Johnson said he expects to reload and be right back in the same position next season.

He added he will move his star receiver, Bedford’s Andy Vailas, under center, where he expects him to continue flourishing in the Cardinals’ speedbased option attack.

“We’ve got to find a wideout, but I think next year Andy Vailas is probably going to be the best athlete in our league. I think he’s the best athlete in our league right now.”

Bedford athletes playing their last game in a BG helmet include Daley, James Vailas, Tim Tuttle, Sam Edes and Andy Nicholson.

Expected to return next season are Chris Kujawski, Adam Hall, Nick Carluccio, Mike Flynn, Nick Astarita and Nick Belviso.