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.
Senior running back Chad Silva scored all but one of OA’s points, catching two touchdowns and rushing for a third, to help the Tigers beat Canton. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Looking to set aside last week’s tough loss to Stoughton in the league opener, Oliver Ames wanted to make sure it set a positive tone from the opening whistle of Friday night’s visit of Canton to Muscato Stadium.
With two touchdowns in its opening two drives, OA was able to get out to an early lead and, behind three scores from senior running back Chad Silva (two receiving and one rushing) and a second-half shutout from the defense, walk away with a 19-7 victory.
“You want to get on top, you want to score early, you want to play from ahead. We got that done tonight,” said OA coach Ed DeWitt. “We had a couple things we liked coming in and executed them pretty well. It takes that kind of execution because they’re super tough, they’re super big, they come after you.”
OA wasted no time in trying to make its mark on the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Wayne Casey (3-of-6, 97 yards) caught the Canton defense with play action and threw a strike to a wide open Jordan Young for 66 yards down to the Canton 14. Three plays later, on fourth and two from the six, Canton jumped offsides to gift the Tigers a first down. Silva took the next snap, went around the left side, and raced to the pylon for a three-yard touchdown.
Penalties would be an issue for the Bulldogs all night, hampering the offense’s attempts to move the ball. After a first down on the first possession, Godson Ofonagoro’s big run was brought back by a holding call. Silva stuffed Canton QB Owen Lane (18 carries, 101 yards) for a loss to bring up third and long and Thomas Whiteside broke up a pass to get the ball back for the Tigers.
“We just made too many mistakes,” said Canton coach Anthony Fallon. “We’re hurting ourselves on offense. We just couldn’t find a way to get too much going tonight. We have some things we need to clean up.”
OA’s offense went right back to work, marching 76 yards in eight plays to add to its lead. Silva (19 carries, 90 yards) was the main man, getting the ball five times and breaking off runs of 17 and 18 yards to help get into the red zone. On third and 11, Casey again caught the Bulldogs, faking a jet sweep to the left and finding Silva, who had leaked out of the backfield on the right, for a 21-yard score.
The extra point was blocked, but the hosts led 13-0.
Canton was also coming off a tough loss in its league opener and looked in need of a spark. A penalty on a punt return backed them up to their own eight with time winding down in the half, but the Bulldogs wouldn’t fold.
Lane broke away for a 47-yard keeper to move the ball out to the OA side of the field. On third down, the Bulldogs got a break when Lane’s pass was broken up by Nick Ferrini, but Silva was called for roughing the passer. Ofonagoro (15 carries, 73 yards) would gain 10 on third and five and then on the next play he cut inside the left tackle, finding a seam for a 13-yard touchdown.
With just 38 seconds left in the second, the visiting sideline came to life and it looked like Canton was going to take momentum into halftime. Ferrini had a different idea. He returned the ensuing kick 76 yards, all the way to the Canton 10. On first down, Casey flipped a pass to Silva, who was able to snatch the low throw and find the end zone. The conversion attempt failed on a sack by Hayden Rose.
In just 19 seconds, Canton went from going into halftime down just six points to being back down by two scores.
“It was a dagger,” Fallon admitted. DeWitt said, “Nick does kind of what he’s been doing for us all year. He makes a huge play. Wayne makes a great throw to Chad, who picks it off his shoe tops, gets in the end zone, and we’re back at it. It’s a huge turning point.”
OA had chances to put the game away in the third quarter, but the Tigers couldn’t put together the plays on offense to take advantage. A 72-yard touchdown run by Jack Morley was wiped out by a holding call and, after back-to-back first down runs, a fumbled hand-off stalled the drive.
A bad snap led to a Canton fumble and Donovan Howard pounced on it at the Bulldogs 26, but Charlie Cox and Ruairi Ritson sacked Casey for an 11-yard loss on first down and OA ended up having to punt.
It was big plays by the OA defense that was keeping the Bulldogs at arm’s length. Silva and Jake Manthous combined to stuff a jet sweep for a loss of four and on fourth and one Harry Leventhal came up with a big sack of Lane to force a turnover on downs.
DeWitt said, “Our guys play both ways. So, if they’re playing poorly on offense, we talk about resiliency all the time, you’ve got to be able to snap into defensive mode and just stop them.”
After a three-and-out, Canton got the ball back with four minutes to play. Lane (4-of-13, 32 yards) hit James McCool for a sliding grab to convert third and five, but three plays later Morley sniffed out a screen pass to force fourth and 10.
Mathous pressured Lane into an incomplete pass and Silva sealed the win with a seven-yard burst on third and short, so the Tigers could take a knee.
“Six (Silva) is a handful,” said Fallon. “He’s a hard guy to bring down. We tried to go low and take out his legs but he just lowered his shoulders and ran through some guys.”
Oliver Ames (3-2) will have a short week before hosting the Tiger Bowl against Taunton on Thursday. Canton (3-2) has a bye week before a trip to Martinelli Field to face Foxboro.
Football
Attleboro, 27 vs. Bishop Feehan, 7 – Final 1st Quarter: (BF) Dante Bruschi 10-yard rush, XP good.
2nd Quarter: (A) Anthony Salviati 30-yard fumble recovery, A. Salviati XP good.
3rd Quarter: (A) Adrian Rivera 4-yard rush, XP blocked.
4th Quarter: (A) A. Salviati 16-yard interception return, A. Salviati XP good; (A) Matt Harvie 24-yard pass to A. Rivera, A. Salviati XP good.
Canton, 29 vs. Norton, 0 – Final 1Q: (C) Charlie Cox 50-yard interception return, XP failed.
2Q: (C) Owen Lane 22-yard rush, Hayden Rose XP good; (C) O. Lane 62-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed.
3Q: (C) O. Lane 3-yard rush, H. Rose XP good.
4Q: (C) H. Rose 17-yard field goal.
Foxboro, 0 vs. Whitman-Hanson, 7 – Final
Franklin, 37 vs. Brockton, 6 – Final 1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (F) Jase Lyons 3-yard rush, Garrett Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 55-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, XP failed; (F) J. Lyons 35-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 3-yard rush, G. Portesti XP good.
3Q: (F) J. Lyons 5-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good; (F) G. Portesi 22-yard field goal.
4Q: (B) Monteiro 60-yard rush, XP failed.
King Philip, 42 vs. Needham, 0 – Final
North Attleboro, 27 @ Mansfield, 21 – Final (OT) – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Rocco Scarpellini 1-yard rush, Travis Hennessey XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) Greg Berthiaume 9-yard rush, Austin Clemente XP good; (NA) Chase Frisoli 8-yard pass to G. Berthiaume, A. Clemente XP good.
3rd Quarter: (NA) C. Frisoli 26-yard pass to Ryan Bannon, A. Clemente XP good; (M) Conner Zukowski 20-yard pass to Trevor Foley, T. Hennessey XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Connor Curtis 40-yard rush, T. Hennessey XP good.
1st OT: (NA) C. Frisoli 10-yard pass to Aidan Conrad, 2-point conversion failed.
Milford, 34 vs. Wellesley, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 22 vs. Quincy, 27 – Final
Stoughton, 26 @ Braintree, 27 – Final
Sharon, 40 @ Westborough, 28 – Final
Boys Soccer
Foxboro, 0 vs. Milton, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 5 @ Norwood, 0 – Final – Matheus Groberio scored a pair of goals to help Stoughton bounce back in a big way with a rout of Norwood. Sam Santos, Tyler Teixeira, and Joao Moratti each scored once on top of Groberio’s brace while Ben Shirey posted the shutout in net.
Girls Soccer
Stoughton, 4 vs. Norwood, 1 – Final – Stoughton scored four times in the second half, winning for the second time in as many days. Norwood got the lone goal of the first half and went into the break with the lead, but the Black Knights responded six minutes into the second half and never looked back. Morgan Cook equalized with a shot off the post, assisted by Shayla Ford. Five minutes later, Emma Tran scored what turned out to be the game-winner from the spot. Ford doubled the lead in the 57th minute, breaking past the Norwood defense and finishing. Tran added her second of the day just two minutes later with a 30-yard free kick. Molly Fox made seven saves to pick up the win in goal.
King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – KP bounced back from a loss to OA by handing Franklin its first loss of the season. Heidi Lawrence scored a brace for the Warriors, who moved back into a first-place tie with the Panthers in the division. Lawrence scored 13 minutes before halftime after a nice run that was picked out by Ella Pisani’s diagonal ball. Norah Anderson got Franklin’s goal off a Katie Ewald corner, but then Lawrence popped up with the winner five minutes from full time. Pisani again provided the killer pass.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. KP scored a pair of second half goals, both assisted by Kelly Holmes, to pull out a second straight win. The game was scoreless at halftime, but with seven minutes left in the third Holmes found a little bit of space on the left and fired a ball into the middle that was deftly tipped by Nicole MacDonald for the opening goal. The lead stayed at one until the final two minutes when Holmes hit a low cross from the right wing that was deflected in front by Ella McDonnell for a goal that sealed the points. Marley Young had Attleboro’s best chance when her second quarter shot was cleared off the line by Maggie Murphy. Siany Gomez had a huge game in goal for the Bombardiers to keep them in the game until the final minutes.
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 10 – Final
Franklin, 9 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin scored five goals in the opening quarter and never went back in a big win on the road over Taunton. Sophia Cuneo opened the scoring less than a minute in, Sydney Rogan and Payten Crandall each scored once, and Haley Wernig scored two goals inside the final minute to give the Panthers a big lead early. Kaitlyn Carney, who scored two goals in the second half, assisted on Franklin’s first four goals. Lindsay Dennett and Brooke Taylor (first career goal) added a goal each for Franklin.
Mansfield @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
North Attleboro, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – North Attleboro scored three goals in each the first and third quarters on its way to a big win over Milford. Caitlin Vacher (from Caroline Folan), Madison Folan (from Ava Spencer), and Julia Puccio (from Sadie Barend) scored one apiece in the first to give North a 3-0 lead. In the third, Rory McGinley, Caroline Folan, and Puccio each had an unassisted goal. Kelsey Thompson and Ava Mckeon both played solid in the midfield to help stop Milford offense and transition the ball up the field for the North Attleboro offense.
Foxboro, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Volleyball
Foxboro, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – After a great back-and-forth battle, Sharon prevailed in five sets to take down visiting Foxboro (25-20, 17-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-11). For the Warriors, Sami Sloan recorded eight kills, seven digs, and six aces, Alyssa Cloherty added 30 assists, seven digs, three blocks, and a pair of kills and aces, and Shannon McElhinney chipped in with 16 digs and two aces.
Mansfield, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – In a hard-fought, competitive match, Oliver Ames prevailed with a 3-0 25-15, 25-19, 25-20) sweep of visiting Mansfield. Senior Courtney Raymond had a strong game with 10 service points and four kills, senior Maddie Homer added 22 digs, sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 20 assists, junior Sarah Hilliard had 14 kills, and senior Mary Derba chipped in with five kills.
Attleboro, 0 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – After prevailing in a tightly contested first set, King Philip went on to complete the sweep to knock Attleboro from the ranks of the unbeatens (26-24, 25-17, 25-18). Emily Sawyer continued to dominate in the middle with 13 kills along with four blocks and three aces while the Warriors also got big offensive contributions from Ahunna James (six kills, 11 digs) and Sami Shore (eight kills, two ces). Shea Mellman anchored the KP defense with eight digs. For Attleboro, Julia Leonardo recorded 14 digs and six kills while Natalie Brojek added 12 assists, seven digs, and four aces in a strong all-around effort.
Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin continued its undefeated start to the season with a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-17, 25-16) on the road at Taunton. Makayla Kuykendall had a big game for the Panthers with 11 kills, eight digs, and four aces while Taylor Lacerda continued her streak of strong performances with 17 kills and 11 digs.
Milford @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Golf
Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:00
Mansfield, 162 @ North Attleboro, 155 – Final – Jake Gaskin and Tyson Laviano shared match medalist honors to give North Attleboro a key non-league win over rival Mansfield. Gaskin and Laviano both fired a two-over par round of 37 on Heather Hill’s South Course to lead the Rocketeers. Zach Corsetti shot a 40 and Ishan Kohli rounded out North’s scoring with a 41. Brendan Vokey led the Hornets with a 38, Nate McClean and Hayden O’Connor each shot a 41, and Drew Urban carded a 42.
Foxboro, 162 @ Oliver Ames, 152 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its fifth straight win to start the season, taking down Davenport division foe Foxboro at Pine Oaks. Junior David Rodgers was a co-medalist in the match, sinking a birdie on the fourth hole to finish with a 36 for OA. Michael McGinnis added a 37, Sean Kearns finished with a 39, and Lucas Riley came into the clubhouse with a 40. Foxboro freshman Zac Georgantas also shared match medalist honors with a 36.
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.”
Football
Franklin, 21 @ Attleboro, 19 – Final 1st Quarter: (A) Anthony Salviati 25-yard field goal; (F) Jared Arone 31-yard pass to Will Tracey, Garrett Portesi XP good.
2nd Quarter: (A) A. Salviati 35-yard field goal; (F) Mack Gulla 3-yard rush, G Portesi XP good; (A) Matt Harvie 11-yard pass to A. Salviati, Josue Salguero XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) J. Arone 57-yard pass to W. Tracey, G Portesi XP good; (A) Adrian Rivera 3-yard rush, 2pt pass failed.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Foxboro, 42 @ Canton, 8 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (F) Tom Marcucella 8-yard pass to Rashaad Way, Sam Carpenter XP good; (F) T. Marcucella 76-yard pass to R. Way, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) Dylan Gordon 7-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) T. Marcucella 45-yard pass to Dylan Gordon, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) T. Marcucella 20-yard pass to Tom Sharkey, S. Carpenter XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) D. Gordon 9-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
4th Quarter: (C) Colin Albert 3-yard rush, Charlie Cox 2pt rush good.
Taunton, 8 @ Mansfield, 24 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (M) James Gilleran 32-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 11-yard pass to Trevor Foley, J. Gilleran XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Rocco Scarpellini 11-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good; (M) C. Zukowski 19-yard pass to T. Foley, J. Gilleran XP good; (T) Jacob Leonard 13-yard pass to Jose Touron, Trent Santos 2pt rush good.
Stoughton, 7 @ Milford, 27 – Final 1st Quarter: (S) Jarred Daughtry 25-yard pass to Emmett Pearl, Jonah Ly XP good; (M) Nicholas Araujo 36-yard field goal good.
2nd Quarter: (M) Grant Scudo 7-yard rush, N. Aruajo XP good; (M) Evan Cornelius 11-yard pass to Isaiah Pantalone, N. Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) E.Cornelius 10-yard pass to I Pantalone, N. Araujo XP good; (M) N. Araujo 30-yard field goal good.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
North Attleboro, 42 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final 1st Quarter: (NA) Tyler Bannon 3-yard rush, Tyler DeMattio XP good; (NA) T. Bannon fumble recovery in the end zone, T. DeMattio XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) Greg Berthiaume 32-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good; (OA) Collin Williamson 72-yard rush, XP failed; (NA) Chase Frisoli 27-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good; (NA) C. Frisoli 15-yard pass to Jack Munley, T. DeMattio XP good.
3rd Quarter: (NA) Garrett Inglese 1-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good; (OA) Chad Silva 2-yard rush, XP failed.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Sharon, 14 @ Hull, 35 – Final
Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin scored twice inside a five-minute span in the first half and tacked an important insurance goal just minutes into the second half to get a win over Mansfield, pushing their unbeaten streak to five games. Senior Jack Moran opened the scoring in the 15th minute on a pass from sophomore Sean O’Leary and then junior Ben Costa doubled the advantage in the 20th minute on an assist from classmate Max Tobin. O’Leary extended the lead to 3-0 in the 44th minute, finishing off a chance created by junior Will Krysak.
Milford, 3 vs. Medway, 0 – Final – Sophomore J’remy Chaves scored his first career goal and then added his second to lead Milford to a non-league win over Medway, one of the top rated teams in Division 3. Junior Eduardo Santana put the hosts ahead in the first half on a pass from junior Arthur Tome, a lead the Hawks carried into halftime. Chaves’ first goal came off a pass from junior John Borges while his second was set up by sophomore Nate Dinis.
Sharon, 2 vs. Walpole, 2 – Final
Field Hockey
Foxboro, 3 vs. Medfield, 0 – Final
Milford @ Bellingham, 4:45
Sharon, 1 @ Norwell, 4 – Final
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.
