The Hawks fell short in the championship game in 2022, which was its first in-state loss since 2017. In 2023, Hendricken would bounce back to reclaim its spot as the state’s unquestioned leader as it went undefeated once again and blew out North Kingstown in the title clash. Although things appeared just dandy on paper, Hendricken faced adversity early and often, most notably when senior quarterback Jayden Falcone went down with an injury and backup Dylan Lynch was thrust into action. Hendricken did not skip a beat as the Hawks took care of business time and time again. Lynch was under center throughout the entire playoff run and enjoyed success much thanks to Keith Croft’s leadership and reliable system. Hendricken was also dominant on defense and shut down the high-flying Skippers twice in the fall, as well as dominating La Salle in the rematch during the regular season.