O’Keefe, Central Catholic Seize Control of MVC

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Central Catholic defeated Andover 42-24 in a key Merrimack Valley Conference game, handing the Golden Warriors their first league loss and improving their own standing to 2-0 in conference play. The Raiders’ strong defensive plays, including critical interceptions by Drew O’Keefe and Athaniel Urena, along with a powerful running game, have put them in a strong position to contend for the division title.

In a pivotal Merrimack Valley Conference matchup on Friday night in Andover, Central Catholic secured a 42-24 victory over the host Golden Warriors, seizing control of the division and positioning themselves strongly for the MVc Division 1 title. The fifth-ranked Raiders handed sixth-ranked Andover their first league loss of the season, improving their record to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Andover fell to 5-2 and 3-1 in the MVc.

Central Catholic’s senior Drew O’Keefe played a decisive role in the game’s momentum shift. Originally a safety and key contributor on offense as a receiver and kicker, O’Keefe was pressed into action at outside linebacker following an injury to senior captain Armari Mills. The adaptability paid off when O’Keefe intercepted a pitch on an option play from Andover quarterback John Stadler to running back Marcus DeJesus, returning the fumble 40 yards and swinging momentum firmly in Central Catholic’s favor late in the first half.

The Raiders also benefited from a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Athaniel Urena, who later added a second key interception in the fourth quarter to quash Andover’s efforts to rally. Central Catholic’s defense, bolstered by contributions from Brian Waller-Reitano and Cam Bonet, stifled Andover after a back-and-forth first half that ended tied at 21.

On offense, Central Catholic was paced by senior quarterback Caden Smith, who completed 68 passing yards and rushed for 103 yards, including connecting with O’Keefe for an 11-yard touchdown reception. Meanwhile, the Raiders overcame the loss of Mills with a strong second-half running game led by Cody Arsenault, who rushed seven times for 184 yards and two touchdowns, effectively putting the game out of reach for Andover.

Andover's offense showed early sparks with rushing touchdowns from Marcus DeJesus and Kyle Olson, but was ultimately unable to contain the Raiders’ defensive adjustments. Central Catholic head coach John Dubzinski praised his team’s resilience and versatility, highlighting the significance of the victory against a top-tier opponent.

“This is a huge win and it puts us in a pretty good spot,” Dubzinski said. “We didn’t really miss a beat.” He expressed particular pride in the performances of O’Keefe and Urena, noting O’Keefe’s rare combination of physicality, athleticism, and football intelligence.

The result leaves Central Catholic well-positioned to challenge for top honors in the Merrimack Valley Conference as the season progresses.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.