Mansfield, 2 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Ben Paterson, Anthony Lampasona, and Dan Daley each had three points apiece in a big win against Mansfield. The Panthers built a 3-0 lead in the first period and then scored twice in the final minute to extend the lead to 5-0. Paterson had two goals and one assists while both Lamapsona and Daley scored once with two assists. Ryan Sicchio, Aidan Kuykendall, Logan Marchand, and Dylan McEvoy each scored once for Franklin.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Plymouth South, 2 – Final
Girls Hockey
Franklin, 1 vs. Medway, 3 – Final
King Philip, 2 @ Norwood, 6 – Final – Mallory Johnston made 49 saves, including the 1,000th of her career in the loss. Katarina Precobb had both KP goals, one assisted by Mara Boldy and the other by Lydia Maxwell.
Hockomock Stars, 5 @ Dedham, 9 – Final
Wrestling
Cohasset Quad (Canton), 9:00AM
Foxboro Quad, 9:00AM
Algonquin Quad (Franklin), 9:00AM
Midland Duals (King Philip), 10:00AM (@ Quabbin)
Woburn Tournament (Mansfield) – Mansfield senior Colton Johnson dominated in the 220-bracket, going 4-0 to win the individual title as the Hornets took 14th place in the Woburn Invitational. Johnson, the top seed in the 220 bracket, opened the day with a first round, and won his second round match with a pin in 62 seconds. Johnson won in the semifinals with another first round pin and defeated the three seed in the finals with his fourth pinfall of the day. Dylan Detch (132) and Odin Miller (170) each finished sixth in their bracket.
Springfield Central Duals (Milford), 9:00AM
Cumberland Tournament (North Attleboro), 10:00AM
Oliver Ames Super Quad/Kieron Smith Tournament – Oliver Ames competed in two locations on Saturday, including a super quad meet at home and the Kieron Smith Memorial Tournament at Monty Tech. In the quad meet, Oliver Ames went 3-1 with wins over Durfee (66-22), Boston Latin Academy (72-12), and Norwood (45-33) along with a close loss to Milton (42-39). Senior captain heavyweight Jaden Hinton made his return to the line and went 4-0, including a pair of pins, and sophomore 145 Danny Dwyer went 4-0 in his varsity debut. Junior Ryan Smith (120, 3-1 overall) and freshman Taharka Parry (132, 2-1 overall) each recorded their first varsity wins. The other half of the squad placed fifth at the Kieron Smith Tournament, highlighted by a first place finish from senior Victor Romeiro (126). Seniors Jake Manthous (182) and Nathan Lipski (145) each took second, and freshman Jonah Bornstein (106) earned third.
St. John’s Shrewsbury Quad (Sharon) – It was another impressive day on the mats for the Eagles, who won all three of that matches. Sharon secured wins over Masconomet (66-12), Marlboro (60-24), and host St. John’s Shrewsbury (46-30). Robby Hutton, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Cyrus Jones, Aaron Stafford, Mason Lelling, and Cormac Horlbogen all went undefeated on the day.
Marshfield Quad (Taunton) – Taunton suffered its first loss of the season in a competitive match with Methuen but the Tigers did register three other wins on the day. The Rangers earned a 54-26 win to hand Taunton it’s first loss but the Tigers did pin down victories over South Shore Voke (78-6), Silver Lake (58-240, and host Marshfield (69-12). Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, Ethan Harris, and Logan Frank all went 4-0 for the Tigers.
Below are the official 2022 Hockomock League Football All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Kelley-Rex Division MVP
Luke Davis, Franklin
Kelley-Rex Division All Stars
Anthony Salivati, Attleboro
Luke Davis, Franklin
Emmett Lackey, Franklin
Jase Lyons, Franklin
Devine Johnson, Franklin
Chris Sesay, King Philip
Will Astorino, King Philip
Matt Kelley, King Philip
Kyle Abbott, King Philip
Mason Baldic, Milford
Romeo Holland, Milford
Evan Cornelius, Milford
Zachary Gallagher, North Attleboro
Greg Berthiueme, North Attleboro
Nate Shultz, North Attleboro
Ryan MacDougall, Taunton
Malachi Johnson, Taunton
Jose Touron, Taunton
Davenport Division MVP
Conner Zukowski, Mansfield
Davenport Division All Stars
Lincoln Moore, Foxboro
Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, Foxboro
Sam Carpenter, Foxboro
Andrew Finn, Foxboro
Hayden Rose, Canton
Owen Lane, Canton
Conner Zukowski, Mansfield
Jephte Jean, Mansfield
Colton Johnson, Mansfield
Trevor Foley, Mansfield
Kyle Murphy, Mansfield
Ryan DeGirolamo, Mansfield
Charles Bell, Mansfield
Jaden Hinton, Oliver Ames
Chad Silva, Oliver Ames
Thomas Laz, Stoughton
Tagh Swierzewski, Stoughton
Jarred Daughtry, Stoughton
Honorable Mentions
Ayden Ramirez, Attleboro
Josh Richards, Canton
Austin Philbin, Foxboro
Nick Quintina, Franklin
Nate Kearney, King Philip
Rocco Scarpellini, Mansfield
Ryan O’Connor, Milford
Jack Munley, North Attleboro
John Carey, Oliver Ames
Elijah Thomas, Stoughton
Jacob Leonard, Taunton
Below are the official 2022 Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Football All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league.
Oliver Ames senior Chad Silva (6) carries the ball in the first half against Brookline. Silva finished with 161 yards on 17 carries. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. — For starters, there was a lot to like for Oliver Ames head coach Ed DeWitt.
The Tigers rushed for just under 300 yards, scored on four of five drives during the middle quarters, recorded six sacks, and forced three turnovers in a season-opening win, 41-12, over visiting Brookline at Muscato Stadium.
OA opened the game with an eight-play, 62-yard drive capped by a rushing touchdown from senior Chad Silva, and the Tigers never trailed in the contest. Silva finished with 161 yards on just 17 carries with a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, senior Jake Manthous finished with four sacks, including one strip sack, and both senior Jack Perron and sophomore Thomas Whiteside had an interception.
“For the most part, I’m pretty happy,” DeWitt said. “There’s definitely stuff we can improve on but it’s Week 1, it’s going to happen. I thought there was some resiliency early, a couple of things didn’t go our way, a couple of drives don’t go our way. But we fought back which is something we’ve talked to this group a lot about, not letting one thing get us down.”
Penalties deterred the Tigers on their second and third drives, a total of nine plays that netted positive three yards because of holding penalties. But OA’s defense was up to the task all night, limiting the visitors to 175 total yards and just 2-for-10 on third down.
Brookline started its second drive of the game in OA territory but on third down, Perron jumped the route just inside his own 20-yard line for the interception to end the Warriors’ biggest threat of the first half.
Oliver Ames football
OA’s offense clicked into gear on the fourth drive again. A healthy dose of Silva — five carries for 48 yards — helped the Tigers move the sticks. Senior quarterback Wayne Casey converted a second and long with a 22-yard pass to Jordan Young (who had two sacks defensively), and on the next play, Silva raced to the end zone from 24 yards out and, after a success point attempt from Nick Ferrini, a 14-0 lead with 5:02 left in the first half.
“It’s nice having him, it’s a guy we can trust,” DeWitt said of Silva, a three-year starter. “He knows our stuff, I can bring up something from two years ago, a play that we had and he allows us to get it in pretty quick. We have some pretty intelligent guys, a lot of studious guys and he’s right up there. He runs hard and he’s tough to tackle.”
A tackle for a loss on second down from Jaden hinton followed by Manthous’ first sack on third down forced Brookline into a quick punt and OA wasted little time moving the ball. Jaden Graham drew a pass interference call on the first play and on the next play, Casey rolled out right, eluded a tackle, and came back left before firing across the field to Whiteside, who was left all alone, and he scampered for a 56-yard touchdown and a 20-0 lead for the hosts going into halftime.
A first down sack from Manthous pushed the Warriors back on the opening drive of the second half and a big heave down field was hauled in by Whiteside, and he returned it 25 yards into Brookline territory.
Although OA gave it right back on an interception of its own, Hinton broke up a screen attempt and Manthous recorded a second down sack, and Brookline was forced to punt once again.
“We made some good plays [on defense],” DeWitt said. “Those interceptions we got were timely because they were in our end, one in the red zone. Those are great plays, [defensive coordinator] coach [Mark] Lenehan does a great job getting them ready. For the most part, I thought we pursued really well, tackled pretty strongly, and our coverage was good all night so I was happy about that.”
Runs from Jack Morley, Whiteside, Henry Mirrione, and Silva produced a pair of first downs, Silva scampered for 29 yards into the red zone, and Casey used a bootleg misdirection keeper to go in from six yards out to make it 27-0.
Oliver Ames football
Brookline got on the board late in the third, converting a fourth down for a score. On 4th and 1, junior quarterback Joshua Karp hit classmate Andrew Bamberg on a quick slant and he broke free for a 56-yard score.
It didn’t take long for OA to respond as sophomore Harold Smith had a big kickoff return all the way to the Brookline 18-yard line. DeWitt rewarded him with his first carry of the night and he was able to bounce it outside to the right and sprint to the end zone for a touchdown on the first play of the drive, making it 34-6.
Manthous put an exclamation mark on his big night on the final play of the third quarter, breaking free from his block to record the strip sack and Giovanni Delarosa recovered to get OA the ball back going into the fourth.
“He was injured last year, he was a little bit lighter but he put in good work during the offseason,” DeWitt said of Manthous. He works hard, he hustles, and he’s a big second part of the play kind of guy. If he doesn’t get you at the beginning, he’s got a big motor and I think he played both ways almost all night.”
Junior CJ Crocker capped the scoring for the Tigers with a 19-yard touchdown with two minutes to play to make it 41-12.
Oliver Ames football (1-0) is home again next Friday when they entertain Quincy at 7:00.
North Attleboro has a new head coach on the sideline in Michael Strachan and there must be a sense of relief having senior Greg Berthiaume back from last year’s state finalist team to lead the defense. The best way to describe Berthiaume is that he’s a magnet to the ball: he led the Rocketeers last year in tackles (81), and added 12 tackles for loss. He does a great job reading the play from the middle linebacker spot and is always quick to react: whether it’s timing a perfect blitz up the middle or tracking down the ball carrier and making a play. North lost a lot of core players from last year and the Rocketeers have a difficult schedule as they move back to the Kelley-Rex division. As they battle through it, expect Berthiaume to be a big-time playmaker for them.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
It’s not very often that a team’s quarterback makes the defensive players to watch list but Milford senior Evan Cornelius isn’t your average signal caller. Cornelius is the type of athlete that could find success in any sport if he picked it up. When he isn’t playing quarterback on offense, Cornelius stood in at defensive end for the Scarlet Hawks. At 6’3, 235-pounds, he’s a handful for offensive lines to deal with. He fits right in along the line with his size and strength, but his athleticism really separates him from others. Milford is looking to challenge for the Kelley-Rex title this season and make another tournament run, and if they end up doing that, expect Cornelius to not only be a big reason on offense but on defense as well.
Canton has a strong core of seniors that will be looking to make some noise in the Davenport division this season. One of the key pieces to that unit is captain and returning linebacker Jack Flaherty. Flanked by classmate Hayden Rose and junior Owen Lane, Flaherty and the linebackers will be a strength of the Bulldog defense, which had a bit of an up-and-down year a season ago. As a junior, Flaherty mainly lined up on the outside and used his speed to track down the ball carrier, or his strength to get by his man and put pressure on the quarterback. He’s a two-way player for the Dogs, lining up at tight end on offense. That gives Canton a solid option for an extra blocker, and at 6’0, 220 he’s a really big, athletic target for Lane, who will be under center for the second straight season.
During his breakout junior season, Jean was one of the league’s most impactful two-way linemen in 2021. Dominating with his athleticism and his strength, Jean was one of Mansfield’s leading tacklers with 55 last year, leading the team with 35 solo tackles from his interior spot. He added five tackles for loss, three sacks, and nine quarterback pressures. Explosive off the snap, Jean’s first step would put offensive linemen on their heels and he would use that to gain leverage, whether closing a gap, forcing a double team, or finding his way into the backfield to cause havoc. Following up an impressive sophomore debut, Jean has the potential to be a game-changer for the Mansfield defense (and offense) this season, as the Hornets look to mark their first Davenport division season with a league title.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
King Philip made a run to its fourth Super Bowl appearance in the past six years and, not surprisingly, the defense was a major factor for that success. Sesay was a dominant force in the defensive line for KP last year and at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds can overmatch the opposition. Strong and with a quick first step off the ball, Sesay helped KP allow slightly more than 15 points per game last season. His size automatically draws attention, but his footwork and lateral movement mean that he can make plays at the point of attack or track down runners to either side. It also helps to have a player of his size to disrupt the passing game, whether he gets to the quarterback or just gets his hands up to take away the line of sight. KP comes into the season with expectations of making a run at the league title and another Gillette visit and the defense, as always, will be a key for the Warriors. Sesay’s presence in the middle will be a great foundation to build around.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
The league MVP during the baseball season, MacDougall had a big impact on the gridiron as well. Last fall, the Dayton baseball commit anchored Taunton’s offensive line and was a playmaking linebacker that seemed to be in the middle of every stop by the Tigers’ defense. He finished the season with 77 tackles, including eight for loss, and added a sack and a fumble recovery. With the size to stop the run at middle linebacker, MacDougall is also a good athlete who can get out to the edges and reads plays well to pick his spots to step in and close down a gap. Strong and tough, MacDougall doesn’t shy away from contact at the point of attack and can also drop back when needed to cover tight ends or backs. Taunton wants to make more of an impact on the league standings this season and MacDougall’s experience and ability to make big plays at big moments will be important to the Tigers competing in league play.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
Foxboro’s defense was an underrated factor in the team bringing home a league title last year and Moore was one of the players who emerged as a standout on that side of the ball. Even as a sophomore, Moore never looked out of his depth physically going up against the top teams in the league. His size and strength were matched by his quickness to the ball and he was capable of stepping up to stop the run or chasing down players in the secondary. Moore never shies away from contact and seemed to relish the opportunities to get after opposing running backs. As he continues to develop his reading of the game, Moore has the physical traits to be one of the most dynamic linebackers in the league. The Warriors will have rival Mansfield to compete with for the league title this year and Moore’s growth in the middle of the defense will have Foxboro ready to challenge for another Davenport crown.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
Jaden Hinton wasn’t one of the best players on the field the first time he played a varsity snap, but with tremendous dedication and a lot of hard work, he’s transformed himself into one of the best two-way players in the Hockomock League. On the offensive side, he can line up at guard or tackle and is a force at creating space for the OA run game. Defensively, the best way to describe him is a disrupter (6’3, 285). He’s a handful for just one person to block, and then add in his athleticism, he can really make it tough for opponents, especially in the run game. He committed to play for Columbia University over the summer and will be looking to cap off his high school career with his best season yet. There is a bit of a buzz around the Tigers this year, and Hinton’s strong two-way game is a big part of that.
2022 Hockomock Football Players to Watch on Defense
Franklin had its best season in over a decade last year, and it had one of the most dynamic offenses in the state. But the Panthers also had a terrific defense, allowing just over 15 points per game (and an even more impressive just 10.4 against in league play). The Panthers have some key pieces from that defense back this year, including middle linebacker Nick Quintina. At 5’10, 205 pounds, Quintina isn’t the biggest linebacker out there but he does it all for the Panthers. He’s good when he drops back and helps in pass coverage, does a nice job reading the play against the run, and can get downhill to attack the ball carrier. If Franklin looks to make it back-to-back Kelley-Rex division title, they’ll need more of the same from their defense, and having Quintina in the heart of it will certainly help.
Anytime there’s a change at head coach, there’s a renewed energy inside the program and that’s the case this year with Attleboro with Jim Winters taking over. After a fifth-place finish in the division last year, Attleboro is looking to take a step forward against a loaded Kelley-Rex field. Winters inherited a strong secondary with senior Ayden Ramirez along with Anthony Salviati and Spencer Sherck. Ramirez burst onto the scene last year and made a lot of good places against some of the top quarterbacks in the area. Not only is he athletic enough to keep up with just about anyone, but he also reads the game really well. He will also see time on offense for the Bombardiers as a receiver but he will be among the best defensive backs in the league this year.
Outlook: After experiencing some growing pains against a tough schedule last season, the Bulldogs boast a good number of returning players looking to have a bounce-back year in 2022.
Canton has key pieces in key spots on the field and has a total of 22 seniors on the roster. The defense will be filled with veterans including a talented group of linebackers that include seniors Jack Flaherty (captain) and Hayden Rose along with junior captain Owen Lane. While the linebackers are likely to be the heart of the defense, the Bulldogs also have some key experience – and some noticeable size – on the defensive line with seniors Julian Prentice (captain) and Jack Digirolamo. In the secondary, Charlie Cox and Josh Richards will man the safety positions to anchor the secondary unit.
The Bulldogs have a familiar face back at quarterback in Lane, an athletic lefty that can make plays with both his feet and his arm. As just a sophomore a year ago, Lane gained valuable experience and will be looking to build on a solid campaign. He will work behind a somewhat inexperienced line that is anchored by senior captain Matt Lesser at center with Nathan Levis and sophomore Luke Richard at guard, and junior Giovanni Disasio and sophomore Luke Laguerre at tackle. Senior Godson Ofonagoro has transferred in and will be in the mix at running back along with James Robbins, Cole Ouellette, and Michael Sayers.
Canton opens the season on the road at Dighton-Rehoboth but then hosts back-to-back non-league games as the Bulldogs look to build some momentum before their first meeting with Mansfield since 2012.
Outlook:
Foxboro narrowly missed out on a trip to Gillette last year, falling in the Div. 5 state semifinal. The reigning Davenport division champions will have to replace the production of league MVP Dylan Gordon, but the Warriors have a host of younger players ready to step into bigger roles this season and will be excited about adding league title drama to their Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Mansfield.
Even graduating its starting tailback and quarterback, Foxboro will have a lot of depth in the skill positions this season with several underclassmen showing that they are ready to contribute right away. Sophomore Mike Marcucella will take over under center and will have plenty of options in the backfield and at receiver. Junior Lincoln Moore has the strength and quickness to be a dynamic runner along with junior Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, senior Jaiquann Williams, and sophomore Ben Angelini. Senior Payton France will be an option at wideout, junior Tony Sulham adds speed wherever he lines up, and sophomore Nolan Gordon will be a big target on the outside. The offensive line is loaded with size this season. Senior Andrew Finn will be the leader of a group that includes junior Nate Urman and sophomore Jonathan Balde. Sam Carpenter is one of the league’s top kickers and gives Foxboro the chance for points every possession.
Defense has always been a focal point for the Warriors and they have plenty of experience returning to be a strong group. As one offense, Foxboro will have plenty of size up front. Finn and Mazenkas-O’Grady are constant threats from the ends with Urman and Balde helping out in the interior. Moore was a standout linebacker as a sophomore and he leads a group that includes Williams and Angelini. Sulham is a lockdown corner and Gordon, Francis, and Marcucella will all add depth in the secondary.
“If the players and coaches are patient and are mindful that you never pick up where you left off, assuming nothing, this can be a good football team, characterized by senior strength and tremendous underclass talent,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli.
Outlook:
It usually doesn’t take Mansfield long to rebuild and the Hornets come into the new season with an experienced core of returning players, particularly in the skill positions, that is poised to challenge not only for the program’s first Davenport division title but also to make a deep run in the state tournament. With nearly all of its production back from last year, Mansfield will be counting on that year of experience to be ready for a tough schedule meant to prepare the Hornets for the playoffs.
The Mansfield offense should have plenty of balance to it this season. Senior Conner Zukowski will be back under center for the Hornets and he has a host of weapons to take advantage of in both the passing and ground games. Seniors Drew Sacco and Rocco Scarpellini will be in the backfield this season and both are dynamic runners who can grind yards or break big plays. Juniors Brian Butler and Nolan Bordieri could also be added to the mix. Junior Connor Curtis will give another option as a running QB. Junior Trevor Foley emerged as one of the top receivers in the league last season and junior CJ Bell, Bordieri, and junior Brandon Jackman give the Hornets a lot of depth on the outside, while senior Ryan DeGirolamo gives Zukowski a big target at tight end. The line should also be deep this season, led by seniors Jephte Jean and Colton Johnson and newcomers senior Dexter Harris, and juniors Aidan Gleavy, Matt Tryon, and Jason Riley.
Experience is a strength on the other side of the ball as well. Foley and Bell give Mansfield playmakers in the secondary that will cause havoc with opposition passing attacks. Bordieri and Jackman will add to that defensive back group. Jean was an imposing force on the defensive line and he will be helped by Gleavy and Harris. DeGirolamo gives the Hornets a threat from his defensive end position and Riley could step into that role on the other side. Scarpellini and senior Caden Colby will return at linebacker.
“Depth and experience at offensive skill positions with the return of about 95 percent of the team’s production from last year,” Mansfield head coach Mike Redding said of his team’s strength. “Defensive group is also experienced with the secondary returning three of the four starters and two of the three linebackers, so good experience there as well.”
Outlook: Buoyed by a productive offseason, Oliver Ames is looking to get back into the heart of the division title race this season. The Tigers have a strong nucleus of players back and are hoping a strong line – both offensively and defensively – will pave the way for success this season.
Three of the Tigers’ five captains call the offensive line home so OA will lean heavily on that unit to pave the way for the offense. Columbia University-commit Jaden Hinton has transformed into one of the best two-way linemen in not only the Hock but in the state. He will be joined by fellow captains Chris Young and John Carey, as well as classmate Luis Fernandes. The unit will be in charge of creating holes for four-year starter and captain Chad Silva. After handling lead blocking duties last year, Silva will likely be the feature back for the Tigers and has a great combination of power and speed.
Senior captain Wayne Casey will start under center and will be tasked with controlling the offense. He will work with Robert Jenkins, Jaden Graham, and Bronson Burnham as weapons on offense.
Silva is back for another year at linebacker and is a big-time playmaker on that side of the ball. Seniors Jack Morley and Jordan Young round out an experienced group while Hinton will work with Young, Fernandes, and classmate Donovan Howard along the defensive line. Seniors Jack Perron and Nick Ferrini will play in the secondary alongside Jenkins and Graham.
“I am thrilled about the work our older guys have put in this offseason and really think it should help them pay off,” said OA head coach Ed DeWitt. “We really want to continue to improve week to week and play with more consistency than we did last year.”
Outlook:
Sharon is continuing its independent schedule this fall and, with 13 returning starters, the Eagles will have plenty of experience. Depth continues to be a challenge for the program, but there is room for development, and head coach Dave Morse is hoping that a very young roster will continue to develop this season.
Junior quarterback Liam Conway will lead an offense that is going to try and add more balance this season. Senior Kyle Samuels and junior Jacob McLoughlin will be the primary targets in the passing game. Juniors Gabe Korn and Duncan Seaman will be in the backfield and will give the Eagles a couple of threats in the running game. Senior fullback Joden Chanel will try and lead the way in the running game and senior lineman Dan Davis will be there to open holes.
Defensively, Sharon wants to be more aggressive. Korn and Seaman will lead the linebacking corps and add playmaking on the defensive side of the ball. Davis will be an impact player on the line and Chanel will give Sharon speed on the edge. In the secondary, Samuels will be one of the top cover guys, while junior Elijah Wisdom will be a ball hawk at free safety.
“Hoping to continue to develop and turn that into winning football games,” Morse said. “We are still very young because of the lack of seniors but it is my job to get all of our players up to speed at the varsity level.”
Editor’s note: Sharon is competing a non-league schedule this season.
Outlook: Stoughton finished in the middle of the pack in the Davenport division after an injury-plagued season last year. The Black Knights reached the state tournament and kept it close before falling in the first round, and ended the season with a win over rival Canton on Thanksgiving to finish at 5-6.
Between the graduating seniors and the players returning from injury, there will be plenty of new playmakers for the Black Knights this season. One familiar face will be the one under center as junior Jarred Daughtry is back at quarterback after getting a lot of reps a season ago. Daughtry showed that he can make plays with his arm but he’s very athletic and will be someone opposing defenses have to keep an eye out for.
Running the Wing-T, Daughtry will have senior Tagh Swiezewski and juniors Liam Pearl and Alex Huynh – both of who got off to promising sophomore campaigns before injuries. All three will be involved in blocking and running, and also key pieces in the Stoughton passing game. Junior James Currier has emerged as a top option as a receiver as well.
Stoughton has been known for its tough defenses over the years under longtime head coach Greg Burke, and the Black Knights will be looking to continue that tradition this year. Stoughton gave up over 23 points per game last, which was unusually high for a program that has kept teams under 20 for at least the six seasons prior to that. An athletic secondary will feature Swierziewski, Daughtry, Huynh, and Currier. Timmy Chung returns as one of the starting linebackers alongside Pearl and Beder, while Laz, Noel, and Thomas will all be two-way linemen.
“We need to stay healthy and improve on the line,” said Burke. “We need younger players to play and to improve every week.”
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 52 @ Taunton, 44 – Final – Emily Sawyer scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to help the Warrior hold off Taunton and pick up a road win. KP led 13-9 after the first quarter and extended its lead to five points at halftime. The teams were even in the third quarter, so the Warriors kept their five-point edge going into the the fourth. KP outscored Taunton 16-13 over the final eight minutes to secure the victory. Julia Marsden added 12 points for KP and Jackie Bonner had six. Kameron St. Pierre was Taunton’s top scorer with 16 points, including 11 in the second half. Jillian Doherty chipped in with 13 for the Tigers and Cali Melo had nine points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Boys Hockey
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro senior Ben Ricketts found the back of the net twice to help the Warriors skate to a non-league win over Stoughton/Brockton. Ricketts scored the first goal for Foxboro and then the third goal, assists from Steve Bridges and Alex Coveillo on the first and Coviello again on his second. Derek Axon’s unassisted shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner while Matt Grace (from Tom Marcucella and Brett Axon) tacked on a key insurance goal. Sophomore Trevor Marder played well in net for the Warriors with 24 saves. Anthony DeSousa scored the lone goal for the Black Knights.
King Philip, 2 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 3 – Final (OT)
Girls Hockey
Canton, 5 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 2 – Final
King Philip, 4 @ Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Kelly Holmes scored twice and Sydney O’Shea and Morgan Cunningham lit the lamp once each as King Philip skated to a league win over Mansifeld/Oliver Ames. Both Holmes and O’Shea also had a pair of assists and Cunningham had one, and Mallory Johnston had 19 saves in net for KP.
Stoughton/Sharon, 2 vs. St. Joseph’s Prep, 6 – Final – Ava Buckley accounted for both of Stoughton/Sharon’s goals but the Knights fell to St. Joseph’s Prep. Zoe Bangs assisted on both goals while Peri Rodman recorded one helper.
Wrestling
D2 State Dual Meet (Oliver Ames, Sharon, Mansfield, Milford, North Attleboro), 10:00 (@ North Andover) – Milford won three meets to claim the D2 State Dual championship while Oliver Ames took third and Sharon rounded out the top four. The Scarlet Hawks picked up a win over Plymouth South (60-18) to advance to the semifinal, where they secured a win over the Tigers (42-24). In the championship round, Milford pinned down a win over Minnechaug (52-22). Oliver Ames opened with a win over Mansfield (56-21), moved to the semifinals with a win over Dracut/Tyngsboro (43-33), and then after falling to Milford, rallied to avenge its league loss to Sharon with a come-from-behind 35-32 win, capped by a pin from heavyweight Jaden Hinton. Hinton, Kyle Hardie (145), Giovany Juste (170), and Nathan Lipski (132) went 4-0 on the day. Chris Mills (220) rallied for a win that cut the Sharon lead to three going into the last match, won by Hinton.
Brockton Quad (Taunton) – Taunton had another impressive day on the mat, picking up four wins at the Brockton Super Quad. The Tigers secured wins over Woburn (78-6), Quincy/North Quincy (63-12), Brockton (45-24), and Xaverian (52-27). Six Taunton grapplers went 4-0 on the day: Michael Leskoski, Anthony Vieira, Xavier Sandoval, Christian Balmain, Ethan Harris, and Peter Ye.
Boys Hockey
King Philip, 2 @ Archbishop Williams, 6 – Final
North Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Westwood, 1 – Final
Franklin, 3 @ Medway/Ashland, 3 – Final (OT) – Franklin freshman Julia Flynn scored a hat trick to help the Panthers erase a two-goal deficit and earn a tie. Flynn tipped in a shot from Shaw Downing to put the Panthers ahead but Medway/Ashland scored three straight to stake a 3-1 in the third period. Flynn scored twice in short succession (assists from Katie LeBlanc and Ava Vilella) to tie it 3-3, where it stayed through an extra overtime period. Izzy Brown had a strong game in net for Franklin.
Mansfield/Oliver Ames @ Nauset, 6:00 (@ Charles Moore Arena)
King Philip, 1 @ Braintree, 2 – Final
Wrestling
Hingham Quad (Foxboro), 9:00
Westford Academy Tri-meet (Franklin) – Franklin had a successful showing on Saturday, pinning down wins over both Westford Academy (66-18) and Algonquin (40-36). Matthew Leaman, Riley Carlucci, Brendan Collins, Ahmed Jawando, Jonathan Owen, Alex Fracassa, Alex Foley, Augustus Granata, Ryan Parlon and Nolan Sheridan each had a pinfall victory on the day.
Milton Quad (Oliver Ames) – Oliver Ames swept all four matches at the Milton quad and had five grapplers pick up a win in each match on Saturday. The Tigers had a dominant win over Excel Academy (73-6) while also pinning down victories over Walpole (66-18), Norwood (56-21), and host Milton (47-33). Elyor Ruzmatov (113), Victor Romeiro (120), Nathan Lipski (132), DJ Lipski (160), and Jaden Hinton (285) all went 4-0 for the Tigers.
Marlboro Quad (Sharon) – Sharon continued its momentum from its big dual meet over OA earlier this week into the weekend, picking up three more impressive wins. The Eagles earned wins over Marlboro (54-21), Essex Tech/Masconomet (49-24), and St. John’s Shrewsbury (57-15). Ashmith Yeruva, Adam Landstein, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Kyle Samuels, Aaron Cashton, Philip Varvak, and Cormac Horlbogen all went undefeated for the Eagles.
Methuen Quad (Mansfield, Taunton) – Taunton split its two meets at Metheun, picking up a win over Silver Lake (72-6) but fell to the host Rangers (45-33). Brandon Mendes, Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, Christian Balmain, Ethan Harris, and Logan Frankl each picked up a pair of wins for the Tigers while Michael Leskoski, Ryan Jones, Anthony Vieira, Brian Haen, John Mandeville, Elijah Prophete, and Robert Tran each won once.
Gymnastics
Franklin, 142.5 @ Canton, 127.7 – Final
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Sunday, 1/30 at 7:00.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 55 @ Milford, 43 – Final – Attleboro made it two wins in two days by jumping out to a big halftime lead and holding off a Milford comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Meghan Gordon scored a game-high 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while Maddalena Mannucci Pacini led the Hawks with 19 points. After scoring 17 in the first half on Tuesday night, Gordon was held to three points in the opening quarter on Wednesday, but Kayla Goldrick scored five of her 14 to help the Bombardiers take a 16-10 lead. Attleboro’s defense stepped up in the second, holding the Hawks to just four points (all of them by Pacini). Gordon caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 12 of Attleboro’s 16 in the frame, including a pair of threes. Leading 32-14 at the break, Attleboro kept up the offensive barrage in the third, adding another 16 points, but the Hawks found the range to match them. Goldrick had six in the quarter for Attleboro, while Pacini had five in the third and Jess Douglas knocked down one of her two second half threes. In the fourth, Brooke Ferreira scored five of her seven points and helped Milford close out the game with a 13-7 quarter and cut the lead down to a dozen. Lily Routhier chipped in with six points in the game for Attleboro.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
Foxboro, 3 @ Taunton, 4 – Final (OT) – Taunton earned its first league win of the season, scoring an overtime goal to hand Foxboro its first loss of the season. Junior forward Connor McGrath scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the way for the Tigers. McGrath also registered an assist while junior Colton Scheralis scored once and recorded two assists. Junior Dylan McCaughey scored and had an assist, and Nathan Fernandes, Travis Cashman, and goalie Cam Tomaszycki (25 saves) each had an assist. The Warriors got goals from Dylan Pothier, Tom Marcucella, and Connor Hayes.
Franklin, 4 vs. Hingham, 2 – Final – Franklin saw its two-goal lead disappear in less than three minutes but the Panthers had an immediate response and secured one of their best wins of the season over one of the state’s top teams in Hingham. The Panthers had a dream start when Adam Quinn (from Ben Jarosz and Liam O’Reilly) scored just 14 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. Dom Lampasona netted an unassisted goal with just over three minutes left in the first for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. Midway through the second, Hingham scored a pair of goals in 2:31 but Franklin’s Anthony Lampasona (from Quinn) put Franklin back ahead just 27 seconds later. Lampasona (from Logan Marchand) netted his second of the game with 3:20 left to secure the win. Sophomore Cole Pouliot-Porter had a strong game between the pipes with 34 saves against the Harbormen.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 3 @ Dedham, 0 – Final
Franklin, 0 @ Westwood, 5 – Final
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 3 @ Norwood, 4 – Final
King Philip, 3 @ Medfield, 0 – Final
Stoughton/Sharon, 1 vs. Medway, 9 – Final
Wrestling
Foxboro, 57 @ Canton, 21 – Final
Taunton, 37 @ Franklin, 27 – Final – Taunton won eight matches, including four by pinfall, to secure its first win over Franklin since joining the Hockomock League nearly a decade ago. Mike Lesksoki (106, 3:03), Christian Balmain (152, 3:29), Avery Justa (220, 0:44), and Logan Frank (285, 3:13) all won by pin to score six points each, Brandon Mendes (120, 17-4) won by major decision, and Anthony Vieira (126, 6-2), Xavier Sandoval (132, 8-5), and Ethan Harris (182, 3-1) each one by decision. Franklin picked up wins from Riley Carlucci (113, 16-0), Tim O’Leary (138, 0:51), Alex Fracassa (145, 11-0), Connor Dillon (160, 9-4), Alex Foley (170, 3;45), and Nolan Sheridan (195, 14-7).
Milford, 39 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Milford won five of the seven matches by pinfall to secure a victory over a shorthanded Hornets squad. The Hawks picked up wins from Michael Boulanger (113, 5:02), Robert Lyons (120, 3:39), Paul Hough (152, 5:08), Dan Alves (160, 3:42), Ryan Donovan (170, 12-4), Cameron Phillips (195, 0:13), and Hampton Kaye-Kuter (220, 4:50).
North Attleboro, 46 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final
Sharon, 37 @ Oliver Ames, 33 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this match – Vehnil Rangaraman’s pin at 113 gave the Eagles a big momentum boost, Adam Landstein and Cam Brinbaum followed with back-to-back pins at 120 and 126, respectively, and Aaron Cashton’s pin at 152 clinched the match as the Eagles secured a key division win over Oliver Ames, moving to 3-0 in Davenport action. Mason Lelling earned a key three points at 182, Ethan Siao won a close 2-1 match for three points at 220, and Nick Varvak prevailed in overtime at 132 for three more points. Ashmith Yeruva had a major decision at 106 to secure four points. Oliver Ames got wins from Gio Juste (170), Anthony Hoffman (195), Jaden Hinton (285), John Dobbin (138), Kyle Hardie (145), and DJ Lipski (160).
Boys Swimming
Canton, 74 @ Milford, 93 – Final – Click here for full results – Canton had more individual winners and won two of the three relays, but Milford’s depth was on full display as the Hawks took two of the top three spots in all but one individual race. Jack Weiner was a two-time winner for Milford, taking first in both the 50 free and the 100 free, and Corey Rattray added a first place finish in he 100 backstroke. Weiner was joined by Aaron McIsaac, Ben Pezza, and Josh Anderson to take first in the 200 free relay, and all three of those swimmers added key points with individual top three finishes. Canton’s Talis Veidis won a pair of individual races (500 free, 200 free) and was apart of both of the Bulldogs’ two winning relay teams.
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 7:30
Boys Basketball
Attleboro vs. Bishop Feehan – Postponed to TBD.
Canton, 46 @ Randolph, 56 – Final
King Philip, 66 vs. New Bedford, 63 – Final – King Philip junior Tommy Martorano hit six fourth quarter free throws to cap off a career-best 36-point performance to lead the Warriors to a win over New Bedford in Randolph’s Blue Devil Holiday Tournament. Without leading scorers Will Laplante and Danny Clancy in the lineup, Martorano took advantage of his opportunity. He came out of the gates flying with 10 point sin the opening quarter and had 23 by halftime as KP established a 46-28 lead by the break. New Bedford cut into the lead in the third and then came out flying in the fourth, getting it down to one-possession a handful of times in the final minutes but Martorano kept the Warriors ahead with shots from the line. Senior Braeden Sottile added 10 points for KP, who will take on host Randolph in the tournament final on Thursday at 6:30.
Milford vs. Bethany Christian – Postponed to TBD.
Oliver Ames, 61 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 39 – Final – Oliver Ames exploded for 26 points in the third quarter, turning a close game at halftime (25-19) into a comfortable victory over Dighton-Rehoboth in the opening round of the Muscato Holiday Tournament. MJ Jean-Baptiste scored eight of his career-high 14 points in the big third quarter for the Tigers, who had six players contribute to the 26-point frame. Zach Tagliamonte added four of his 11 points in the frame and Drew Baxter scored five of his nine.
Sharon, 68 vs. Fitchburg, 64 – Final (OT) – Sharon saw its eight-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter disappear over the final eight minutes but senior John Baez went 6-for-6 at the line in the overtime period to help the Eagles outlast Fitchburg. Baez finished with a career-high 16 points, going 8-for-8 from the line and hitting four shots from the field. Sharon’s bench had a big showing, helping the Eagles rally from a first half deficit. Junior Tyler Goodman led the charge off the bench with 10 points, Jacob McLaughlin added eight points, Nate Katznelson chipped in with six points and five boards, and Nate Yaffe had a key three in the first half. Sharon will take on Waltham on Wednesday night at 7:00 in the finals of the Ashland Clocker Classic.
Taunton, 72 @ Durfee, 77 – Final
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 41 vs. Bishop Feehan, 78 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Attleboro faced it third state title contender in its opening five games and the Bombardiers struggled to contain Feehan’s balanced offensive attack. Eight different players scored for the Shamrocks, including three in double digits, and Feehan 20 or more points in each of the first three quarters to pick up the win. Meghan Gordon led the Bombardiers with 15, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Lily Routhier added nine. Lindsey Perry scored all seven of her points in the second half, as Attleboro scored in double digits as a team in three of the four quarters, despite Feehan’s tough pressure defense.
Foxboro, 53 @ Needham, 47 – Final – Hannah Blake led all scorers with 21 points to help the Warriors win a third straight game and pick up an impressive non-league road victory. Freshman Kailey Sullivan hit double digits for the third straight game, adding 14 in the win.
Mansfield, 42 vs. Westwood, 43 – Final – Despite having junior Abby Wager leave with an injury midway through the third quarter, Mansfield battled Westwood to the final minutes in a game that was back-and-forth throughout. The Hornets had a one-point lead after one, but the Wolverines tied the game at halftime. Westwood won the third quarter 10-9, and held onto that advantage to the end. Kara Santos was the top scorer for the Hornets with seven points, including seven in the first half. Wager scored nine before her injury and Rose Maher and Bridget Hanley each had five. Mansfield will face Fontbonne in the consolation round of the Hearts for Hope Tournament on Thursday at 5:30.
Oliver Ames, 61 vs. Walpole, 37 – Final – Oliver Ames built a double-digit lead by halftime and went on to turn it into a blowout win over Walpole. The Tigers, limited to just seven players in uniform, played with a lot of discipline to only have two fouls in the first. Senior Caroline Peper led the way with 19 points, four blocks, and four steals while Jasmyn Cooper added 16 points (8-for-8 free throw) and 12 rebounds in the win.
Sharon @ East Bridgewater – Postponed to TBD.
Taunton, 53 vs. Durfee, 59 – Final – Kameron St. Pierre scored a game-high 28 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Tigers in the first round of their holiday tournament. Taunton went into the break down by just four, 31-27, after St. Pierre beat the buzzer with a near half-court three. She finished the first half with 18 of her team’s 27 points. St. Pierre added 10 more in the second half, including six from the line. Braeley MacDonald chipped in with a pair of threes and eight points in the second half. Durfee’s MacKenzie Carreiro scored 16 of her team-high 23 in the second half to help the Hilltoppers hold on and advance to face North Attleboro in Wednesday’s final. Taunton will face Holliston in the consolation round.
North Attleboro, 41 vs. Holliston, 38 – Final – The Rocketeers locked down on defense, using an effective 1-2-2 press to keep Holliston’s bigs from getting touches, and earned a win in the first round of the Taunton holiday tournament. North led 16-5 after one quarter, went into halftime up by nine and was able to hold off the Panthers in the second half to reach the final. Summer Doherty gave North an offensive spark, scoring 10 of her 19 points in the opening half. Taylor McMath added eight points for the Rocketeers, who missed some chances to put the game away at the line but continued to grind on defense to keep the lead. North will face Durfee in the final on Wednesday at 7:00.
Milford, 40 vs. Norwell, 60 – Final
Canton, 42 vs. Hingham, 51 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. The Bulldogs got off to a tough start to the game, falling behind 21-8 after one quarter and never fully recovered to lose to a fellow D2 tournament contender. Hingham’s pressure defense caused Canton problems early, but Sydney Gallery knocked down a pair of threes, scoring half of her 12 points in the first. The Bulldogs played better defensively in the second, holding the Harborwomen to just seven points and cutting the lead to single digits at halftime. Erin Beatty provided a spark off the bench, grabbing double digit rebounds and hitting a three in the second. Kiara Cerruti (11 points) scored four and Fay Gallery (12 points) added a three in the second. Cerruti added four more in the third, but Hingham extended its lead by one heading to the fourth. Canton put together a fourth quarter rally that cut the lead to just three (40-37), but the visitors went on a quick 11-2 burst that put the game away. Fay Gallery added a pair of threes in the fourth.
Boys Hockey
Foxboro, 5 vs. Old Rochester, 4 – Final – Tied after each the first (1-1) and second periods (3-3), Foxboro won the third period to beat Old Rochester. Jack Watts factored into each goal for the Warriors, scoring twice and assisting on all three of the others. Matt Grace scored twice, Alex Coviello lit the lamp once, and both Tom Marcucella and Brady Callahan had an assist. Josh Marcoux recorded the win in net.
North Attleboro @ East Greenwich (R.I.), 3:40 (@ Levy Arena)
Franklin, 3 vs. St. Mary’s Lynn, 2 – Final (OT)
Wrestling
George Bossi Holiday Tournament (Foxboro, Franklin, Oliver Ames), 9:00 (@ Lowell)
Taunton, 28 @ North Attleboro, 44 – Final – North Attleboro won five matches by fall, one by tech fall, one by decision, and one by forfeit in a victory over Taunton. Tanner Ferguson (126), Braxton Ferro (132), and Christopher Galligan (138) all earned pins in less than a minute while Griffin Gouck (152) and Austin Dean (195) also win by pin. Jaad Ismail (170) picked up an 18-2 tech fall while heavyweight Keysun Wise took a 9-4 decision. Taunton got wins from Ryan Jones (120, 1:31), Ben Mandeville (145, 3:44), Christian Balmain (160, 6-2), Ethan Harris (182, 11-3), and Peter Ye (220, 12-5).
Taunton, 28 vs. Cumberland, 43 – Final – Ryan Jones (113, 9-1), Christian Balmain (160, 6-3), Ethan Harris (182, 7-2), Avery Justa (195, 0:45), Peter Ye (220, 0:48), and Logan Frank (285, 3:50) each won for Taunton.
North Attleboro, 39 vs. Cumberland, 29 – Final – North Attleboro went 2-0 on the day, adding a win over Cumberland as well. Tanner Ferguson (126, 3:25), Christopher Galligan (138, 4:38), Griffin Gouck (152, 3:03), and Austin Dean (195, 2:35) all earned two pins on the day while Keysun Wise (285, 2:25), and Jaad Ismail (170, 7-5) both went 2-0. Greg Berthiaume (182) added a pinfall win (5:45) for the Rocketeers.
OLiver Ames Tri-Meet @ New Bedford – Oliver Ames picked up two wins on Tuesday, pinning down wins over Plymouth North (58-7) and New Bedford (42-39). Senior captains Giovany Juste (170) and Deric Lipski, Jr. (160) both went 2-0 with two pins while senior John Dobbin (138), junior Kyle Hardie (145), junior Henry Mirrione (152), and junior Jaden Hinton (285) also went 2-0. Against New Bedford, Henry Mirrione’s thrilling come-from-behind pin to win at 152 sparked the rally for the Tigers, who clinched the win over the Whalers when Jaden Hinton pinned his opponent with a quick headlock at heavyweight.
Outlook:
Canton was bound to have a rebuilding year in 2020, as the Bulldogs moved on from a historically successful class of players that won back-to-back league titles for the first time since the early 80s. With a second year under head coach Anthony Fallon, Canton will be looking to build on that experience and try to climb back up the standings this fall.
The strength for the Bulldogs will be on defense. Canton has a tough linebacking corps and an experienced secondary to try and slow down opposing offenses. There will be some new faces up front after graduations on the line of scrimmage but there are playmakers in this defensive unit. Senior Colin Albert is a tough tackler and someone who covers a lot of ground at linebacker and he’s joined by classmate Bashor Mahn, who is a leader on that side of the ball. Senior Andy Butler and junior Charlie Cox return at the safety positions and senior Vincent O’Brien is the top cover guy at corner.
Offensively, Canton battled injuries and consistency last year, but there are players capable of making big plays. Albert is a bruising runner, who filled in nicely last season after an injury to starting running back Cam Sanchez. Mahn will add depth and a different dynamic in the backfield. Butler, O’Brien, and Cox are a trio of tough receivers that can be used in various ways. As on defense, there will be some new faces up front but decent size and there is also youth at the quarterback position.
“Our strength will be our defense,” Fallon said. “With a strong core of LBs back and three of our four secondary guys we should be tough to score on. On offense we will be young but big up front and have a couple of guys who can spring some big plays.”
Outlook:
Foxboro came as close as anyone to beating North Attleboro last season and nearly forced a three-way tie at the top of the Davenport division. As usual, the Warriors did it with defense, allowing only 48 points in five games with only Stoughton and North reaching double digits. This season, the Warriors should be right in the mix again with experienced skill position players and speed all over the field.
Senior Tom Marcucella is the returning quarterback from last year and he should have a lot of weapons to utilize in the Foxboro offense. Dylan Gordon is stepping in as the primary back this year with dynamic athletes Rashaad Way and Tom Sharkey lining up on the outside. Foxboro should have good balance on that side of the ball. There is also plenty of experience on the line, led by seniors Dylan Kerrigan, Steven Bridges, and Eric Kristenson. Special teams should also chip in with points this year, as junior kicker Sam Carpenter is back after a strong sophomore season and Way will be one of the top return threats in the league.
Defense is something the program prides itself on and the Warriors are looking at a deep, experienced group at linebacker and a playmaking secondary. Senior nose tackle Ryan Addeche, junior defensive end Andrew Finn, and senior Aidan Hughes will add to the strength at the line of scrimmage. Senior Omarion Otto-Broomstein and Kerrigan will be the players to watch at linebacker with their combo of speed and aggressiveness. The secondary is filled with ball-hawks, including Gordon, Sharkey, and Way.
“We are greatly looking forward to a somewhat normal football season even with a very short turnaround period from last year,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli. “The kids are excited, resilient, and appear to be making the focused transition while retaining a great deal of what was taught last year.”
Outlook:
North Attleboro has won the league title in five of the past six seasons, including four out of five in the Davenport. The Rocketeers bounced back last year by going unbeaten and regaining the title. Now Big Red returns an experienced crew on both sides of the ball and, as usual, will have the target on its back as the team to beat in the division. North faces Bishop Feehan, Mansfield, and King Philip to start the season so will know right away where it stands.
It starts on offense with senior Tyler DeMattio. North’s quarterback is a playmaker using either his arm or his legs and is just as capable grinding out a long drive as hitting a big play for a touchdown. Keeping DeMattio healthy will be a key and to help give other weapons in the backfield, senior Tyler Bannon will be used as a power back. There is a lot of talent in the slot and out wide with seniors Danny Curran, Gavin Wells, and Joey Perriello among the players who could step in and contribute. Up front, senior Jared Vacher will be the leader of the offensive line, and his versatility allows some flexibility as to where players slot in. Senior Keysun Wise will also be counted on to open holes for DeMattio and the offense.
On defense, North will have several positions to fill and players that will be building experience over the course of the season. Linebacker should be a strength. Bannon is a playmaker on the outside, whether he lines up on the end as a pass rusher or drops back into coverage. Junior Greg Berthiaume started as the “mike” last year as a sophomore and has great instincts when reading the play. Vacher and Wise will get help on the line from junior Zach Gallagher, who started on the offensive line as a sophomore. The secondary is athletic, with Nathan Shultz (a three-year varsity player) joined by Wells, Curran, and Perriello.
“On the proverbial ‘paper’ we’ve got some experience coming back that should enable us to be competitive, but every year is a new team that comes with new leadership and a cast of different players that have to find a way to get it done,” said North coach Don Johnson. “We have to develop some quality depth and stay healthy if we want to be in the hunt in the end.”
Outlook:
Oliver Ames is in its second year back in the Davenport division and head coach Ed DeWitt is looking for the Tigers to push up the standings and be more competitive with the teams above them. With experienced players coming back, especially at the skill positions, OA will be focused on more consistency on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Tigers only scored 46 points in six games last year, and only twice did they score more than 10 points in a game. OA will need more scoring punch to try and make a bigger impact in the league. Junior running back Chad Silva will be the focal point of the attack again this season. A bruising, every down back, Silva is a downhill runner that is hard to tackle. Senior Collin Williamson gives OA a change of pace with his ability to get to the outside and make people miss. Senior quarterback Jake Grimaldi is the leader on that side of the ball with classmate Sean Friel being a top target on the outside.
Up front, OA returns several players who will have key roles on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Senior Onyekachukwu-Obinani Nwadiugwu will play on the line on offense and drop back to linebacker on defense. Seniors Minh Nguyen and Jaden Hinton and juniors John Carey and Chris Young add to the size at the line. Silva and classmate Jack Morley are both strong linebackers who can cover a lot of ground. Williamson, Friel, and junior Robert Jenkins will give OA playmakers in the secondary. The concern for the Tigers will be depth over the course of a long season.
“We are trying to get to a more competitive level within the league,” DeWitt said. “We need to take that next step of being a team that makes other teams work hard. We want to be a difficult team to play against.”
Outlook:
The Black Knights came up just short in the quest for the Davenport division during the Fall 2 season, and there will be plenty of new faces stepping into new roles this season. Stoughton graduated a very talented senior class that featured nearly a dozen players that played at least two years at the varsity level, highlighted by division MVP Christopher Ais, Christian Ais, Christian Georges, and quarterback John Burke among others.
Now there’s a group mixed with some returners and some new faces eager to prove that Stoughton isn’t in a rebuilding year, but just reloaded and looking to battle for the division crown. Senior linebacker and fullback Anthony Girolamo was one of Stoughton’s most impactful players last season before an injury cut his season short. When he’s back in the mix, he’ll be one of the top players on both sides of the ball for the Black Knights. Senior Jonah Ly was a two-way starter last year and will likely see an increased role on the offensive end alongside classmates Emmett Pearl and Konrad Rogers.
Both Pearl and Rogers will be key targets for new senior quarterback Brady Clark, who is eager to take over after the Knights had three seniors at the position last season. After the Knights introduced a handful of new faces to the line for the Fall 2 season, now Stoughton has a good amount of experience helping protect Clark while also paving the way for Stoughton’s ground game, which is always dangerous. Returning starter and senior Liam Joyce will be an anchor the offensive line for Stoughton this season.
Defense is always a calling card for Stoughton and the Knights will be looking to continue that tradition this year. Against division opponents last year, only North Attleboro (14 points) scored more than one touchdown against Stoughton, who allowed just one touchdown to each OA, Foxboro, and Canton. Rogers, who will get snaps at running back on offense, had a breakout year on defense a year ago and will be one of the top linebackers in the league this year.
On top of the always challenging Davenport division, Stoughton has a tough non-league schedule that features a pair of teams from the Kelley-Rex in Mansfield (Week 3) and Milford (Week 7).
“Hopefully we can stay healthy and get through a super tough schedule,” said longtime head coach Greg Burke.
