For the first time in league play this season, the Bishop Hendricken football team found itself trailing, on a rainy, slightly frigid Friday night.

St. Ray’s capped a nine-play, first-quarter drive with a Xavier Torres keeper touchdown to take an early 7-0 advantage. The Hawks got all of the looks they needed at the Saints during those few minutes, and the adjustments were made.

They would never replicate that success as the Hawks took control from there.

Hendricken ripped off 41 consecutive points to shut down the Saints, effectively stamping out any hope of a comeback on Boston College commit Kwity Paye’s 83-yard touchdown run out of halftime.

“Our team was able to come out and play hard, even in the bad conditions we had,” Paye, who went on a visit to the University of Michigan this weekend, said.

The Hawks adapted well to the Saints’ game plan, which featured a heavy dose of the run game as the rain cascaded down on the turf field. St. Ray’s marched down the field at will on its first drive, but never matched that momentum again.

Meanwhile, Hendricken managed big play after big play. On its ensuing drive following the Saints’ lone touchdown, running back Matt DiTondo gave his side a boost. The senior tailback slashed his way down the right sideline for a 56-yard gain into the Saints’ red zone. Angel Santana would take an end-around to pay dirt two plays later, cutting into the deficit, 7-6.

The Hawks’ defense and special teams played the field position game for most of the first half. After one drive stalled near midfield, Andrew Flint boomed a punt to the St. Ray’s 5-yard line.

The defense held its ground, resulting in a short punt from the Saints. DiTondo scooped it up, got some stiff blocking and took it 40 yards for the score that put the Hawks ahead for good, 14-7.

Hendricken would later force another 3-and-out with the Saints pinned inside their own red zone, this time with just more than three minutes to go in the half. The Hawks’ rush got a hand on the football, though, giving Hendricken possession at the St. Ray’s 10. Quarterback Chris Hindle found wideout Andrew Hopgood wide open in the end zone one play later to make it a two-score game, 20-7.

As the offense found its groove, the defense stonewalled the Saints.

“We just came quicker and more aggressive to the ball,” senior defensive back Anthony Witherstone said.

The Hawks would tack on one more for good measure before the intermission, despite starting at their own 13. Hindle began the two-minute drill with two rushes to get his team some breathing room, and a wheel route pass to DiTondo helped set up shop at the Hawks’ 43.

The Hindle-Hopgood connection worked its magic from there. The lofty senior signal-caller found his receiver near the right sideline at about the 40-yard line, where he broke a few tackles to coast to his second touchdown of the night.

It was all Hendricken at that point. If there was any doubt about the result, it was erased after the break. On the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage, defensive end/fullback Paye shed every endeavor at tackling on his way to an 83-yard touchdown rumble. They unleashed their secret weapon, and it put the game on ice.

“Coach [Keith] Croft is great in practice with sprinting and all that stuff, so I just try to stay in the best shape so when the team needs me to play offense or both sides, I’m ready to go,” Paye said of his running game.

Hawks junior Devin Rivet would add another 3-yard touchdown rush in the later stages, but the offensive explosion beginning back in the first half proved insurmountable for the Saints.

Hendricken (3-0) will look to continue its undefeated start on the road at Cranston Stadium this Friday when it opposes Cranston West (0-2). Looming on Oct. 21, after the Hawks’ bye week, is a road contest with undefeated Portsmouth.

“All of our seniors know we have to carry this team and bring our team to a championship again,” Paye said.

“It’s great,” Witherstone said of the team chemistry. “Before we’re always together, afterwards we’re always together. We’re having fun, and when it comes to game time we’re always doing our thing.”