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.
Football Division 1
#8 Methuen, 28 @ #1 Franklin, 24 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this match. 1st Quarter: (M) Shane Eason 2-yard rush, 2-point conversion good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Jase Lyons 35-yard pass to Luke Davis, Garrett Portesi XP good; (F) L. Davis 24-yard interception return, G. Portesi XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) G. Portesi 30-yard field goal; (M) S. Eason 71-yard rush, XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Drew Eason 5-yard pass to S. Eason, Conversion failed; (F) J. Lyons 22-yard pass to Derek Dubriske, G. Portesi XP good; (M) D. Eason 2-yard rush, XP good.
Division 2
#8 Mansfield, 21 @ #1 Milford, 27 – Final 1st Quarter: (Ma) Drew Sacco 4-yard rush, Travis Hennessy XP good; (Mi) Evan Cornelius 5-yard rush, Nick Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (Mi) Romeo Holland 42-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter (Ma) Connor Curtis 40-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good; (Mi) N. Araujo 31-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (Ma) Conner Zukowski 30-yard pass to Trevor Foley, T. Hennessy XP good; (Mi) R. Holland 6-yard rush, XP no good.
#7 Marshfield, 13 @ #2 King Philip, 17 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Anthony Molander 7-yard rush, XP good.
2nd Quarter: (KP) Tommy McLeish 5-yard pass to Daniel Silveira, Matthew Kelley XP good; (M) A. Molander 87-yard pass to Charlie Carrell, Conversion failed; (KP) M. Kelley 40-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (KP) Rudy Gately 1-yard rush, M. Kelley XP good.
Division 3
#7 Billerica, 6 @ #2 North Attleboro, 34 – Final 1st Quarter: (NA) Nathan Shultz rush, Austin Clemente XP good; (NA) N. Shultz rush, A. Clemente XP good; (NA) Greg Berthiaume rush, A. Clemente XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) G. Berthiaume rush, XP no good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (NA) N. Shultz rush, A. Clemente XP good.
Division 4
#6 Foxboro, 21 @ #3 Bedford, 14 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (F) Mike Marcucella 13-yard pass to Tony Sulham, Sam Carpenter XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) Lincoln Moore rush, S. Carpenter XP good; Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
4th Quarter: (B) Blocked punt return, 2-point conversion.
Field Hockey Division 1
#5 Franklin, 1 @ #4 Wachusett, 2 – Final
#23 King Philip, 1 @ #2 Andover, 4 – Final – King Philip kept it close with highly-touted Andover for the majority of the game but the Golden Warriors pulled away with two goals in the final quarter for the win. Mara Boldy got KP on the board off of a Kelly Holmes shot and a Lauren Barriero insert, and the game teams finished the opening quarter tied 1-1. Andover took a 2-1 lead in the second, and it stayed that throughout the second and third quarters thanks to a tremendous effort from KP goalie Haley Bright (22 saves). Head coach Kaitlyn Wilder credited Bright for her efforts in net and all of her seniors of their efforts in the game and throughout the season.
Volleyball Division 2
#7 Westwood, 0 @ #2 King Philip, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this match. The Warriors controlled the match from start to finish to reach the D2 Final Four for the second straight year, winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-17). The front line of Sami Shore, Emily Sawyer, and Ahunna James were too much on both sides of the net. Shore and James went back-to-back on kills in the first and an ace from setter Madison Asprelli put KP up 9-4 in the first set and the Warriors never relented. James had a big hit and then on the following point had a block and the kill to make 18-12. Olivia O’Neil and Missy Canning both got points down the stretch of the first. Westwood got its first lead in the match at 4-3 in the second set, but a Shore kill off the block put KP up 7-6 and the Warriors never relinquished the lead. Sawyer was in charge both in the middle and the outside and setter Kiera Hagen dropped a push into a hole in the Wolverines defense. After a James kill, KP led 21-10. O’Neil would secure the second set with a swing off the block. Things were pretty comfortable in the third, as KP scored five straight, including a block from Canning, to make it 12-7. Again KP never let off the gas, extending the lead to as many as 12 points, with James rising up and blasting a few big kills. KP will face No. 6 Melrose in the state semifinal.
Football Non-Playoff
Canton, 41 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 13 – Final 1Q: (DY) Dennis-Yarmouth pass, conversion failed.
2Q: (C) Owen Lane 6-yard pass to Hayden Rose, H. Rose XP good; (C) Godson Ofonagoro 11-yard rush, H. Rose XP good; G. Ofonagoro 60-yard rush, H. Rose XP good; (C) Josh Richards 34-yard interception return, H. Rose XP good.
3Q: (C) Charlie Cox 7-yard rush, H. Rose XP good.
4Q: (C) O. Lane 7-yard rush, Nathan Levis XP good; (DY) Dennis-Yarmouth pass, XP good.
Foxboro sophomore Ben Angelini had a big day on the ground with over 150 yards rushing. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. — With a lot of new faces in the lineup this season, longtime Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli knew patience was key for this year’s squad to find its rhythm.
Despite starting the season 1-3 in its first four games, Martinelli saw improvement each and every week, and that all came together on Friday night in the form of a 31-0 statement win on the road over Stoughton.
The Warriors had their way on both sides of the ball, especially in the first half as they scored a touchdown on four consecutive drives. Sophomore Ben Angelini had a breakout game for Foxboro, turning 21 carries into 173 yards as Foxboro pounded the ball on the ground to the tune of 282 rushing yards.
“I talked about it in the preseason, if the coaches and kids can remain patient, and remember you never pick up where you left off, I think this could be a pretty good football team,” Martinelli said. “And we’re very young. Every week we’ve gotten better at one phase or the other, and tonight we kind of put everything together. We had some great offensive movement, good defense, and with Sam [Carpenter], I could be on the kickoff team, he’s a weapon.”
After marching into Stoughton territory on its opening drive, Carpenter had a rare miss on a field goal attempt but from there, the Warriors’ offense couldn’t be stopped.
And the defense did its job too. They forced Stoughton into a punt on its first drive, Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady blocked a punt on the second drive, and the Warriors pounced on a fumble on Stoughton’s drive.
On their second series, Foxboro marched down the field on nine plays before finding the end zone for the first time. Angelini was the workhorse on the drive, with four carries for 35 yards and one catch for 32 to get the visitors inside the 5-yard line. From there, Lincoln Moore took back-to-back handoffs, the latter for a 1-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter.
Stoughton got its first first down when Jarred Daughtry connected with James Currier on a tipped pass and another first down when Daughtry hit Tagh Swierzewski for nine yards. But a holding call, an incompletion, and a good tackle from Moore put an end to that drive. After nearly blocking the first punt, Mazenkes-O’Grady blocked the punt the Warriors recovered at the Stoughton 31-yard line.
From there, Angelini had four straight carries for 29 yards and once again Moore capped the drive, taking the handoff from the fullback spot for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
The Warriors’ offense wasn’t on the sideline very long as Stoughton coughed up the ball on the very first play of the ensuing drive. Foxboro took over at the Stoughton 22-yard line. The Black Knights’ defense stood tall as Liam Pearl had a tackle for loss on third down that would have put Foxboro in fourth and 7 from the 20-yard line, but Stoughton accepted a holding call and Foxboro’s drive stayed alive.
On the next play, sophomore quarterback Mike Marcucella bought some time, scrambled out of the pocket, and threw a jump ball that sophomore Nolan Gordon came back to get right at the goalline for a 29-yard touchdown, and a 21-0 lead with 6:08 left in the second.
A 28-yard keeper from Daughtry and a reception from Alex Huynh helped Stoughton cross midfield but that’s where the drive ended.
Even though field position couldn’t slow the Warriors’ offense. Starting at their own 32-yard line, the Warriors orchestrated another nine-play drive that culminated in another touchdown. Back-to-back passes from Marcucella to Tony Sulham moved the sticks, Marcucella scrambled for 11 yards, and Angelini broke free for 21 yards.
“He’s a puppy but he played unbelievable tonight,” Martinelli said of Angelini. “Having so many young kids, having good senior leadership — we don’t have a lot of them but it’s good leadership — and with that, they hung tough the first couple of weeks when we struggled a bit. But I’ve seen them improve every week and I think it’s the right time to see that improvement.”
Facing a third and 8 from the Stoughton 9-yard line, Marcucella found senior Jaden Becker in the back of the end zone for a 28-0 lead with just seconds left in the half.
“They made some spaces up front and that’s the name of the game,” Martinelli said of his offensive line. “I’m happy all around, happy with how all of them played. Now it’s onto another challenge with North. I know they’ll enjoy tonight but they’ll be ready to go with film on Sunday and practice on Monday.”
Foxboro only had three possessions in the second half and Carpenter drilled a 30-yard field goal at the end of the second series.
Stoughton had its two best offensive series in the third quarter, one that reached the Foxboro 30-yard line, and another that got down to the Warriors’ 25-yard line, but both ended on a turnover on downs.
Foxboro football (1-0 Hockomock Davenport, 2-3 overall) has yet another non-league game next week but this time against a familiar foe in North Attleboro on Friday at 7:00. Stoughton (1-1, 2-3) also has a crossover clash as they hit the road to face Attleboro.
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.”
Rashaad Way (2) had 160 yards receiving, including a big third quarter touchdown reception, but Foxboro lost to Duxbury in the D4 state semifinal. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
QUINCY, Mass. – Foxboro got off to a great start to Saturday night’s Div. 4 state semifinal at Quincy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, but Duxbury rallied with 24 unanswered points and was on the verge of putting the game away. The Warriors got a huge spark when Rashaad Way snagged a pass over the middle and broke free for a long touchdown that cut the deficit to just three points.
After the defense held, Foxboro was right back in the game, the energy was back on the sidelines, and the Warriors were on the verge of getting the ball to start the fourth quarter. The punt wasn’t held and Duxbury took advantage of the short field for a dagger score.
The Dragons would tack on another touchdown in the fourth, pulling out a 38-21 victory over the Davenport division champions. Duxbury quarterback Matt Festa accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing and two passing) and more than 300 yards of offense, leading the Dragons to a Super Bowl berth.
“Everybody’s tried to do that (stop Dylan Gordon) and then we have to throw, which I thought we did pretty well, but I would have to say our inability to get to the quarterback and pressure him was the difference in the game,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli.
Foxboro got the opening kick and put its explosive offense to work, marching 62 yards on 11 plays to grab the early lead. Dylan Gordon got the call on all but two of the plays, as the Warriors tried to set the tone with a straight ahead running game. Gordon had 50 of his 70 rushing yards on that drive alone. He punched it in from two yards and Sam Carpenter added the extra point to make it 7-0.
Tommy Sharkey made a nice play on the first pass from Festa and Gordon made a nice tackle on third down to force a three-and-out.
On Foxboro’s second drive, the passing game got involved. Tom Marcucella (13-of-25, 160 yards) found Sharkey for six to convert on third and four and then Gordon broke a 12-yard run on third and short to get to the Duxbury 34. After a loss of four, Marcucella hit Rashaad Way (six catches (120 yards) to the 18. A fumble forced Foxboro into third and 15, but Marcucella and Way connected again to get the ball down to the two, where Gordon finished it with his second score.
Duxbury’s offense got going on its next drive. Festa threw a strike to Matt Ciesielski on the far sideline for 32 yards and then hit Brady Madigan for 27 down to the Foxboro 24. After an 11-yard run got the ball to the 13, the Foxboro defense made a stand. Way broke up one pass and Dylan Kerrigan dropped into coverage to tip a pass on third down. Dennen Sullivan got the Dragons on the board with a 30-yard kick.
After forcing a three-and-out, Duxbury got moving again. Foxboro was struggling to get consistent pressure on Festa, although Kerrigan and Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady both got into the backfield to force incomplete passes on the possession. On third and nine from the 11, Foxboro got some bad luck, as Ciesielski appeared to bobble the ball going out of bounds but the officials ruled it a catch and a first down. Festa would eventually go over right tackle for a six-yard touchdown that made it 14-10.
The Dragons would get one last shot before halftime but Lincoln Moore and Tony Sulham combined to knock down a pass and a final shot to the end zone fell incomplete as time expired. It was only a temporary reprieve, as two plays into the second half Festa (15-of-29, 259 yards) fired a strike to James Anderson on a deep slant for a 62-yard touchdown to take the lead for good.
“Their offensive line held us from getting up inside and putting pressure and the kid was accurate and has a great arm,” Martinelli said of Festa. “He’s the best [quarterback] we’ve seen this year, that we’ve played.”
Foxboro was struggling on offense. Another three-and-out gave Duxbury back the ball and Festa threw a perfect back shoulder pass to Madigan for 30 yards. On second and goal from the nine, Festa fired a pass to Ciesielski. It appeared that the receiver was unable to make the catch inbounds but once again the official on the sideline ruled it a catch and a touchdown.
“You make your own breaks,” Martinelli replied, when asked about the calls on the sideline. “We came out flying and then kind of ran out of gas.”
The Warriors needed a play to get some life back into the team. They tried a reverse to a flea flicker but Gordon was unable to bring in the pass on the sideline thanks to good coverage. Two plays later, on third and 10, Marcucella looked across the middle for Way, who managed to pull in the pass with a defender draped on his shoulder, keep his footing when he landed, and then shoot past the Duxbury secondary for a 58-yard touchdown.
It was 24-21 and suddenly it felt like there was momentum on the Foxboro bench. Duxbury got a first down on a nice catch by Chris Walsh but then the Foxboro defense held and forced a punt. The ball bounced inside the 30 and Way tried to be aggressive and field it to save a few yards of field position, but he couldn’t collect it cleanly and, despite vehement Foxboro protests, the officials ruled that Duxbury recovered at the 25.
Sharkey made a big play on first down to force a loss of seven, but then Walsh came up with a ridiculous one-handed, over-the-shoulder grab at the goal line to set up a Festa touchdown.
It was a back-breaker for the Warriors, who went for it on fourth and long at their own 33 but Marcucella’s scramble was a few yards short of the marker. Festa capped his night with a 15-yard score to seal the win.
“We couldn’t sway momentum,” Martinelli explained. “We couldn’t get it back. We needed a couple of stops and we didn’t get it.”
Foxboro (9-2) will travel to Mansfield on Thanksgiving Day in the season finale.
