Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 4:00
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro @ Norton, 7:00
Foxboro, 12 @ Holliston, 13 – Final – Foxboro rallied to get within a goal but fell just short on the road against Holliston. Kate Collins (three goals, one assist) and Mya Waryas (one goal, three assists) each had a team-high four points for the Warriors while Paige Curran, Mary Collins, Cate Noone (assist), and Val Beigel each scored a pair for Foxboro. Audrey Campbell made nine saves in net.
Franklin, 11 @ Westwood, 14 – Final
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield won all five matches in straight sets to fend off a challenge from visiting Attleboro. Kailash Elumelai (6-0, 6-1), Neema Khosravani (6-1, 6-2), and Iniyan Karruppusami (6-0, 6-1) swept singles action while the team of senior Jonah Fine and Nikhil Nain took a 6-2, 6-2 win at first doubles and sophomore Jacob Weiner and freshman Josh Weiner secured a 6-2, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ King Philip, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 4 vs. Norton, 1 – Final
Girls Tennis
Mansfield, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – A sweep of both doubles matches plus two more wins in singles action handed Attleboro a 4-1 decision over Mansfield. Seniors Tina Lam and Saharla Yusuf took a well-played first doubles match 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 while sophomores Kyra Johnson and Presley Biller continued their strong season with a 6-1, 6-3 decision at second doubles. Senior Ella Lynch-Bartek added a 6-0, 6-2 win at first singles and sophomore Maddie Fuscaldo added a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles for the Bombardiers, who improved to 7-5 with the win. Caroline Guravage won 6-3, 6-2 at third singles for the Hornets.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Playing against each other for the second time in as many days, Oliver Ames picked up a 5-0 decision on the road over Canton. The Tigers won all five matches in straight sets, including a hard-fought victory from Elizabeth O’Brien at third singles, 7-5, 6-3. Hannah Farber added a 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles and Mia Corradini took a 6-4, 6-1 decision at second singles. OA’s first doubles tandem of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper notched a 6-0, 6-2 win while Olivia Querzoli and Marina Mierzwinski added a 6-1, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Foxboro, 5 @ Norton, 0 – Final
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 90 @ King Philip, 46 – Final – Attleboro swept the 100M dash, the shot put, and the discus and then took the top two spots in four more events to finish the season at 4-0-1, clinching a share of the program’s first Kelley-Rex title. Kaiden Murray (11.2), Adrian Rivera (11.5), and Owens Raymond (11.9) swept the 100M dash, Isiah Traore, Alvin Harrison, and Isaac Pereira took the top three spots in the shot put, and Traore, Cameron Gray, and Pereira had the top three finishes in the discus. Ethan Sylvia (4:50.8) and Jack Blouin (4:54.7) went 1-2 in the 1 Mile, and then Sylvia came back to take the 2 Mile followed by teammate Lee Casstevens. Ethan Gattoni and Ryan Gleason went 1-2 in the javelin and Murray and Rivera did the same in the long jump. Adrian Rivera came back into the 400m to win the event with a 55.5 while Austin Bowie took third with a 56.1, Jordan Rivera-Silva was the winner of the 200M dash (24.5) and Jacob Blazek took second in the 400m hurdles at 63.7.
Canton, 35 @ Foxboro, 92 – Final – For Canton, No Arugollu took first in the 400M hurdles, Sam Vail won the 2 Mile race, Graham Stemm had the top throw in the discus and the 4×100 relay team of Youssef Kosta, Christian Hanlon, Michael Sayers, Charlie McKinney clocked in first for the Bulldogs.
Milford @ Franklin, 3:30
Taunton, 34 @ Mansfield, 97 – Final – Mansfield took first in all but two events, sweeping four total and taking both relays, to take down Taunton and clinch a share of the Kelley-Rex division title along with Attleboro. The Hornets swept the 1 Mile (Riley Tremblay, Marco Geminiani, Sam Taylor), the 800M (Chris Leonard, Talon Johnson, Troy Penney), the long jump (Jake Wall, Chamberlain Guthrie Jr., Jack Reed), and the shot put (Charles Newcomb, Billy Gardner, Ayden Agbasi). Mansfield also won the 400M hurdles (Brian Higgins, 73.0), the 100M (Wall, 11.7), the 110M hurdles (Dylan Buchanan, 16.1), the triple jump (Dana Johnson, 39’11”), the high jump (Johnson, 5’10), and the discus (Newcomb, 99’8). Mansfield took both relays with the 4×100 (Myles Brown, Isaiah Kinds, Guthrie Jr., Nate Kablik) clocking in at 44.4, and the 4×400 (Evan Rawlings, Buchanan, Tremblay, Geminiani) finishing at 3:47.1.
North Attleboro, 73 @ Oliver Ames, 63 – Final
Sharon @ Stoughton, 3:45
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 61 @ King Philip, 75 – Final – Attleboro took first in six events but fell on the road at King Philip. Isla Thompson and Madison Ellise were double-winners for the Bombardiers, with Thompson taking first in the 400M (64.5) and Ellis claiming first in the 800M (2:44.6). The two joined Alexis Cincotta and Allie McNamara to take the 4×400 relay (4:34.9). Rebecca Rainey won the 400M hurdles (73.6), Elayna Marinelli took first in the javelin (100’10”), and Emma Silva-Harrington won the discus (70’2″).
Canton, 95 @ Foxboro, 41 – Final – Led by sweeps in five events, Canton captured a win on the road over Foxboro in the final dual meet of the season. Canton took the top three spots in the 100M (Talya DeGraw, Kiley Hanlon, Maggie Thibotout), the 1 Mile (Kiara Cerruti, Emily Kelley, Sarah Dempster), the 100M hurdles (atie Oliver, Ella Lewis, Jayda Proffit), the shot put (Emma Massih, Fatima Sidibay, Joemaelle Celestine), and the long jump (Talya DeGraw, Katie Oliver, Ella Lewis).
Milford @ Franklin, 3:30
Taunton @ Mansfield, 3:45
North Attleboro, 52 @ Oliver Ames, 84 – Final
Sharon @ Stoughton, 3:45
Baseball
Oliver Ames, 13 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Holding onto a one-run lead, Oliver Ames pushed across six runs in the fifth inning to pull away for a win over Canton. Jack Muir had a pair of hits, including a double, and paced the offense with five RBI for the Tigers. Nathanial Lewis (two RBI) and Jack Richardson (two runs) each added two hits in the win. Lucas Riley (2IP, 2K) and Patrick Finnerty (1IP, 1K) combined to close out the game for OA. Matt Chafin (triple, RBI, stolen base), Hayden Rose (three RBI), and Andy Butler (two stolen bases) each had a pair of hits for Canton.
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin took two wins in singles play plus one more in doubles to take down the Rocketeers. Chloe Essam earned a win at second singles (4-6, 1-2/inj.), Sarah Schiavo added a 6-3, 6-0 victory at third singles, and the first doubles tandem of Amulya Jayam and Shriya Rasish emerged with a 7-5, 6-3 win. North Attleboro’s Lauren Hunt won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles while Ashlyn Cziria and Teresa Fan prevailed with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 103 @ Franklin, 33 – Final – Cashel Stuger, Ethan Syliva, Adrian Rivera each had a pair of individual wins as Attleboro ran away with a big win over Franklin. Stuger was first in both the long jump (19’4″) and the 110M hurdles (16.4), Sylvia won both the 1 Mile (4:51) and the 2 Mile (10:45.5) races, and Rivera took the top spot in the 100M dash (11.4) and the triple jump (38’2.5″). Other winners for the Bombardiers included Damon Dugan (high jump, 5’6″), Chris Leonardo (shot put, 42’1″), Ethan Gattoni (javelin, 156’8″), Isaiah Traore (discus, 109′), Jacob Blazek (400M hurdles, 1:03.3), Zyeem Charles (200M, 23.3), and Jack Blouin (800M, 2:12.4). Attleboro’s 4×100 relay (Adrian Rivera, Zyeem Charles, Jordan Rivera-Silva, Cashel Stuger) also took first in 46.5 seconds.
Sharon, 91 @ Canton, 37 – Final – For Canton, Kyle Downing was a double-winner with wins in both the 1 Mile (4:56.8) and the 2 Mile (11:10.21), Ruari Ritson added a first place finish in the shot put (36’2″), and Sean Sullivan won the javelin (104’8″).
North Attleboro, 97 @ Foxboro, 39 – Final
Taunton, 44 @ King Philip, 93 – Final
Milford, 45 @ Mansfield, 87 – Final – Mansfield’s Chamberlain Guthrie Jr. won a pair of individual races and anchored the Hornets’ 4x100M relay team to a first place finish in a win over visiting Milford. Guthrie Jr. won both the long jump (20’0″) and the 200M (23.4), and teamed up with Myles Brown, Isaiah Kind, and Dylan Buchanan to win the 4×100 relay in 45.5 seconds. Brown, a freshman, continued the strong start to his career with another win the 100M (11.5) while sophomore Ty Duffin had a big improvement in his first-place javelin throw, winning at 118’4″. Buchanan added a win in the 110M hurdles (15.3), Evan Rawlings won the high jump (5’3″), Dana Johnson took first in the triple jump (38’5″), and Charles Newcomb won the discus (104’1″). Mansfield’s 4×400 relay (Tommy Giudicianni, Talon Johnson, Marco Geminiani, Evan Rawlings) took first in 3:44.
Stoughton @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 16 @ Franklin, 120 – Final – For Attleboro, Emilia Smith won the 2 Mile (12:41), Elayna Marinelli (90’10”) and Meghan Barrows (68’5″) took first and second, respectively, in the javelin, Rebecca Rainey was third in the 400M hurdles (74.3), Bailey Ellis was third in the 1 Mile (6:15.4), and Dianna McArthur was third in the shotput (29’6.5″).
Sharon, 45 @ Canton, 91 – Final – Canton swept the top three spots in four different events on its way to a win over visiting Sharon. The Bulldogs swept the 400M hurdles (Jayda Proffit, Julia Donovan, Kenzie Bennett), the 400M (Liana Camill, Brianna Rosebrugh, Caira McKinney), the high jump (Talya DeGraw, Ella Lewis, Kiley Hanlon) and the 200M dash (Kiley Hanlon, Syriah McCruse, Talya DeGraw).
North Attleboro, 99 @ Foxboro, 36 – Final
Taunton, 54 @ King Philip, 82 – Final – For Taunton, winners included senior Nia Mainer-Smith in the 200M (26.8), junior Phylicia Dias in the 400M (66.1), freshman Emersyn DePonte in the 800M (2:27.6), freshman Colby Dunham in the 1 Mile (6:09.0), senior Taylor Doherty in the high jump (4’6), and junior Sayla DePina in the discus (72’10”).
Baseball
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (5 Inn.) – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Alfred Mucciarone gave up one hit over four innings and Ethan Voellemicke struck out the side in the fifth, as Franklin shut out Attleboro for its second win in as many days. Chris Goode and Evan Raider each drove in a pair of runs for the Panthers. Attleboro’s best chance came in the first Nate George drew a leadoff walk and two batters later Danny Johnson hit a sinking liner to right, but Eisig Chin made a stellar diving catch. Franklin took control in the bottom half with four runs. Ryan Gerety led off with a single and Jack Marino was hit by a pitch. Attleboro failed to handle a pair of bunts and both runners came in to score. Chin drove in a run with a single and would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch. Franklin added three more in the second. One-out walks to Joe Tirrell and Gerety and an infield single for Marino loaded the bases. Goode plated one with a sac fly and Raider followed with a single to bring in two. In the third, Franklin took advantage of a couple errors to add three more runs. Ben Jarosz singled and would score on a wild pitch, Henry DiGiorgio reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error, and Tirrell walked and came in to score on a sac fly from Goode. Hayden Hagerty broke up Mucciarone’s no-hitter to start the fourth but Franklin’s starter retired the next three hitters to strand the runner in scoring position.
Canton, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Chloe Guerschuny drove in three runs, including the game-winner in the top of the seventh to help the Bulldogs complete a comeback win. OA scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, including an RBI single from Katie Melendy, and two more in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run from Katherine Farley and an RBI single from Caitlin Miller. Canton responded with three runs in the top of the fifth, including a two-run base hit from Guerschuny.
Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin scored once in each of the first three innings and tacked on two key insurance runs in the top of the sixth to get the win on the road over Attleboro. Julia White had a one-out single in the top of the first and came around to score after a fielder’s choice and an error to put the Panthers ahead 1-0 but Attleboro answered with a run of its own to make it 1-1. Junior Hailey Fales had a one-out single in the top of the season, and courtesy runner Kelly Moussa scored after White grounded out to second with the bases loaded for a 2-1 lead. Georgia Harvey turned a leadoff single in the top of the third into a run to make it 3-1 before Attleboro made it a one-run game with sac fly in the bottom half. Reece Allen and Moussa came around to score in the top of the fifth for insurance. Aislinn Lavery got the win for Franklin, allowing two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and no walks. Lindsey Perry was strong in the circle for Attleboro in a complete game effort, with just earned runs allowed with two strikeouts and two walks.
Foxboro, 13 @ Stoughton, 14 – Final – A back-and-forth offensive slugfest ended with Stoughton jumping ahead in the bottom of the six and then getting a scoreless top of the seventh to get the win. Sydney Menz led the Black Knights’ offense with a pair of home runs, including a two-run bomb in the sixth that plated the tying and go-ahead runs for Stoughton, plus a triple and four RBI total. Melody Casna added a double and two RBI while Leila Alaoui and Camryn Whitman each had a pair of hits, and Kerry Driscoll and Kate Bulger each had an RBI double. Driscoll got the win in the circle while Casna, Menz, and Maddie Hinds all turned in solid defensive performances for the Black Knights.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 7 vs. Walpole, 9 – Final
Mansfield, 2 @ Nauset, 16 – Final
Sharon, 6 @ Cardinal Spellman, 7 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Mansfield, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 13 – Final
Canton @ Whitman-Hanson – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second win in as many days, this time sweeping all five matches in straight sets to knock off Attleboro. Vayshnav Malhotra and Thomas Broyles both won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Tim O’Keefe and Ahan Shetty battled for a 7-5, 6-4 win at first doubles while Sameen Shaik and Jay Gorgas took a 6-0, 6-2 decision at second doubles.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – It was a clean sweep for Mansfield, taking all five matches in straight sets. Neema Khosravani, Kailash Elumelai, Iniyan Karruppusami were the Hornets’ three victorious singles players, freshman Josh Weiner and sophomore Jacob Weiner won at first doubles, and sophomores Sirius Li and Nikhil Nain won at second doubles.
Canton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Canton’s second doubles team of Kevin Moltenbrey and Max LaRose emerged victorious in a three-set thriller to clinch the win for the Bulldogs. Moltenbrey and LaRose split the first two sets before getting the win 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. The Bulldogs also got wins at first singles from Max Kupferman and at second singles from Suraj Ramanathan. OA senior Raphael Vache earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at third singles while the first doubles team of freshmen Alex Efremidas and Patrick Dolan grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip swept doubles action and got another pair of wins from singles play to defend home court against Taunton. The first doubles team of Diego Nieto and Noah Ihley rallied from a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 while the tandem of Leo Manning and Arjun Kollu secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles for KP. Jonathan Cohen added a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles and Jackson Hom didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 third singles victory. Taunton’s Michael Kimmer won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – A singles sweep propelled Foxboro to a second straight win to open the season, this time on the road at Stoughton. Garrett Spillane battled to a 7-6, 6-0 win at first singles, Bo Canfield fought for a 7-5, 6-2 win at second singles and Raj Jetty had a strong showing in a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. Jake Berry and Joe Mark won 6-2, 7-6 at first doubles for the Black Knights while Stoughton’s second doubles team of Paul Medeiros and Aadil Khond grabbed a 6-3, 6-1 win.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – For the second straight match, Franklin swept both doubles matches and had a third win from third singles to get the win. Amulya Jayam and Shriya Rasish battled to a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win at first doubles, and Franklin’s second doubles team of Chloe Essam and Sydney Tolonen secured a 6-4, 6-1 win. Sarah Schiavo earned his second win of the season, taking a 6-4, 6-4 decision at third singles for the Panthers. Attleboro’s Ella Lynch-Bartek won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while sophomore Maddie Fuscaldo prevailed with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles.
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – The Hornets got a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action to record a win on the road over Milford. Kate Martin won her first singles match 6-1, 6-3 while Aadi Semeer earned a 7-5, 6-3 win at second singles. Mansfield’s first doubles team of Alexis Joyce and Clair Copp battled to a 6-3, 6-0 win while Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey notched a 6-2, 6-2 second doubles win. Milford junior Serena Borges prevailed from third singles with a 6-0, 7-5 win.
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Both doubles matches went to a third set before King Philip swept its way to a win over Taunton. The team of Lauren Casper and Resha Ajoy prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at first doubles while Caroline Freese and Carly Burns rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win at second doubles for KP. Ahunna James and Shea Mellman each lost just one set in identical 6-0, 6-1 wins at first and second singles, respectively, and Sammie Taylor added a 7-5, 6-1 win at third singles for the Warriors.
Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro defended home court with a five match sweet of visiting Stoughton, taking all five in straight sets. Athena Li didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Hailey Kornbluth secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles and Makayla Peck earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Abigail Costa and Juliana Preston lost just one set on their way to a 6-0, 6-1 first doubles win, and Foxboro’s second doubles team of Emily Stow and Sydney Lebow emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
Boys Outdoor Track
Taunton @ Attleboro, 3:45
Stoughton, 97 @ Canton, 39 – Final – Kyle Downing won a pair of events and Canton won the 4×100 relay, but Stoughton secured the win on the road to open the season. Downing won both the 1 Mile (11:12.1) and the 2 Mile (5:13.1) for the Bulldogs, and the team of Youssef Kosta, Christian Hanlon, Andres Castro Alvarez, and Favor Ugah took first in the 4×100 in 48.5. Other winners for Canton were Sean Sullivan (discus) and Graham Stemm (javelin).
Oliver Ames @ Foxboro, 4:15
Franklin, 50 @ Mansfield, 77 – Final – Anchored by double-winners Dana Johnson, Dylan Buchanan, and Charles Newcomb, Mansfield opened the season with a win over Franklin. Johnson won both the long jump (19’7.5”) and the triple jump (41’3”), and added second place finish in the 110M hurdles (16.5). Buchanan won the 110M hurdles in 15.5 and won the javelin with a toss of 112’8, and Newcomb won both the shot put (40’6) and the discus (89’0). Other winners for Mansfield included Evan Rawlings (400M hurdles, 58.3), Myles Brown (100M, 11.4), Chris Leonard (1 Mile, 4:49.9), and Chamberlain Guthrie Jr. (200M, 24.4).
King Philip @ Milford, 3:45
Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Girls Outdoor Track
Taunton, 50 @ Attleboro, 84 – Final – Attleboro swept four events on its way to a season-opening win over visiting Taunton. Rebecca Rainey and Jahela Douglas each won a pair of events, with Rainey taking first in the 400M hurdles (1:18.8) and the high jump (4-6), as well as a third place finish in the 200M (29.1). Douglas was the winner in the 100M (13.2) and the triple jump (31-5.5) and added a second place leap of 14-10 in the long jump. Other winners for Attleboro included Emilia Smith (1 Mile, 5:48.0), Elayna Marinelli (javelin, 98-1), Diana McArthur (discus, 72-2) and the 4×100 team of Jadyn Hoyt, Mabel Sandoval, Erimar Torres, and Kylee Browning.
Stoughton, 80 @ Canton, 56 – Final – Canton’s Kylie Hanlon added her name to the school record book but the Bulldogs fell at home to Stoughton. Hanlon tied the school record in the 100M, taking first in 12.4. Kiara Cerruti won the 1 Mile and was second in the 800M, and the team of Gabby Herivaux, Talya DeGraw, Katie Oliver, Syriah McCruse was first in the 4×100 in 52.3.
Mark DeGirolamo (66) returns his second half interception that led to a Mansfield touchdown in its win against Taunton. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. – When the offense is struggling to produce points, it is critical to take advantage of field position, opponent’s mistakes, and big plays by the defense. On Friday night at Alumni Field, Mansfield’s offense managed to capitalize on all of those in the second half.
The Hornets had three possessions start in Taunton territory after halftime and they were able to find the end zone on all three, turning a 3-0 lead into a 24-8 victory. Sophomore Trevor Foley continued his impressive breakout season with a pair of touchdown receptions and had an interception on the other side of the ball as well.
“You’re in at 3-0 but they’re one play away from going up 7-3 and the game flips on its head,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “So, we said at halftime next score we’re up 10-0 with a two-score lead or they’re up and we’re scrambling from behind. I think everybody took a deep breath when we got it to 10 and we continued to play really good defense to get it to 17.”
For the third league game in a row, Taunton coach Brad Sidwell was rueing missed opportunities that cost the Tigers a chance at picking up a marquee win over one of the league’s perennial powers.
“We came out of halftime thinking at 3-0 we’re hanging in there and then it just blew up on us,” he said. “That was just a series of about 10 plays that were real tough. I did think our guys fought hard but that sequence of plays at the start of the second half got us.”
Mansfield’s offense looked strong out of the gates, as it marched into Taunton territory on its first possession behind the running of Rocco Scarpellini (18 carries, 82 yards), but the Hornets failed to get three yards on two plays and the drive stalled at the 35. Taunton immediately looked deep on its first two plays, but Jacob Leonard’s passes were just out of reach and Pedro Cruz ended the possession with a sack.
After Mansfield went three-and-out, Taunton got the game’s first big play when Leonard ( 8-of-17, 115 yards) found Jose Touron down the sideline for 32 yards to the Mansfield 45. The Tigers got only a yard further and were forced to punt.
Both defenses were playing well. John Castillo and Ryan MacDougall combined to stuff Scarpellini for a loss to start another Mansfield three-and-out and sacks by James Fichera and Jephte Jean made sure Taunton went nowhere.
The Hornets would put together one scoring drive in the opening half. Taking over at the 28, Mansfield marched down to the red zone. Fichera had an 11-yard rush and then a 25-yard reception on a wheel route to get the Hornets to the Taunton 30. On fourth and three, Conner Zukowski (7-of-11, 75 yards) hit Foley for six yards and a first down to the 17.
Taunton came through with a massive defensive stand. Nathan Keenan stepped up quickly to stop Fichera for no gain on first down, Faisal Mass stuffed Scarpellini for a loss of a yard. MacDougall chased down Zukowski after a short gain on third down and the Hornets had to settle for a 32-yard James Gilleran field goal and a 3-0 lead at the break.
“First half we just never got into a flow,” Redding admitted. “They were playing good defense. Right now, we’ve just got to find a way to convert third or fourth and short. That right now is our Achille’s heel. We’re giving up possessions when it’s third and three and we can’t do that in big games.”
The turning point of the game would happen on Taunton’s possession to start the third quarter. Keenan slipped on the return and the Tigers started at their own seven. Jean came through the line and stuffed a run for a loss of three. Two completions later, the Tigers would try to punt from the 16, but the snap was over the head of Tyler Wynn, who scooped the ball in his own end zone and tried to make a break for it. He was tackled two yards short of the line of scrimmage.
On third and seven, Zukowski fooled the defense with a play action pass to a wide open Foley in the back corner of the end zone. The 11-yard score put the Hornets up by two possessions.
“It’s something we’ve been fighting against since I got here, just the blowing up of plays and keep surmounting again and again and again and it just gets behind you too much,” Sidwell said.
Foley made a great play to end Taunton’s next possession, breaking late on a deep throw over the middle and out-jumping the receiver to pull in the pick. Taunton’s defense held, but again a turnover ended any chance of the Tigers putting together a drive. On the first play, Mark DeGirolamo sniffed out a screen pass and pulled in an interception.
A penalty forced Mansfield back to the Taunton 42, but nine players later the Hornets were back in the end zone. CJ Bell picked up a key fourth down with a toss to the right and Scarpellini would push the ball over the goal line from 11 yards out with a lot of help from his offensive line.
Taunton’s offense continued to find things difficult. Jared Fraone made a nice tackle on Trent Santos on the outside and Cruz came flying through for his second sack of the night to quickly end another possession.
Mansfield took back over at the Tigers 40 and put the game away. Scarpellini had an 18-yard rush and Dana Johnson was able to recover a botched hand-off to keep the drive alive at the Taunton 19. On the next play, Zukowski found Foley for the score and a 24-0 lead.
The Tigers did get one drive to go their way and showed why Redding had been nervous about his team only leading by three at the break. Leonard went deep down the sideline to Santos, who pulled in a one-handed grab for 41 yards into Mansfield territory. A pass interference call on the next play got the Tigers to the 13. On fourth down. Leonard was able to hit Touron for the touchdown and Santos got to the corner to punch in the conversion.
Sidwell said, “Our defense played great. We were bad on offense. We had a few chances in the first half but they covered us well and we’ve got to find a way to get those balls completed.”
Redding quickly looked ahead to next week’s showdown with King Philip. He said, “If we win it gets us a home game, if we lose we’re going on the road as a lower seed, so I told these guys playoffs start next Friday at KP. We’re playing for positioning and to make a run.”
Mansfield (5-2) will travel to Macktaz Field next week to face King Philip, which is currently tied for the division lead. Taunton (4-3) try for its first league win of the season when it hosts Attleboro.
Mansfield sophomore Trevor Foley (26) hauls in a touchdown pass in the first overtime against North Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – It had been nearly seven years since Mansfield and North Attleboro last met on the gridiron, the longest drought in a rivalry that dates back a century.
It turned out to be worth the wait.
Mansfield football
The Hornets tied the game with under a minute to go and then scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in both overtime periods to upend the Rocketeers, 31-29, in double overtime at Community Field.
It marked the first time the rivals played one another in overtime.
“It was a special environment here at Community, one of the last old school places. I have such respect for their coaches, we knew they were going to be ready to play,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Redding. “I thought we just hung on in the second half. It wasn’t going our way, we couldn’t get much going. We did just enough.”
North Attleboro was close to putting the game out of reach with just over four minutes to play. Nathan Shultz sliced through the Mansfield defense to the tune of 65 yards to put the Rocketeers in prime position near the red zone. North got a first down but nothing more as Mansfield’s defense held, forcing the Big Red into a field goal attempt.
The Hornets got a second life when the 28-yard attempt went wide, but they had just 4:11 to play with no timeouts and 80 yards to gain.
Junior Conner Zukowski (18-for 29, 302 yards, four touchdowns) led the game-tying drive for the Hornets. After converting a third down early in the drive, the Hornets went on to march 80 yards on 10 plays, finished off when Zukowski floated one to sophomore Trevor Foley (7 catches, 113 yards, three touchdowns) in the corner of the end zone. Zukowski also hit Dana Johnson three times on the drive for 63 yards.
Foley hauled in the two-point conversion pass right at the goal line, was hit back, stayed on his feet, and then stretched out over the line to tie the game, 15-15, with 0:49 seconds to play.
“I felt like we really played young in the first half but in the second half we showed a lot of character, they really stepped up and played like veterans,” Redding said. “Every week I think we’ll make progress but we just have to learn to play for four quarters.”
Mansfield football
Mansfield started on offense for the first overtime and on the first play, Zukowski went right back to Foley, floating one to the back right corner and the 6’4 sophomore did the rest, out-leaping the defender to grab the score. Zukowski found Drew Sacco cutting across the middle for the two-point conversion and the Hornets jumped ahead 23-15.
North got the ball down to the 1-yard line on its first three plays and senior Tyler DeMattio — who made the switch from quarterback to running back this week — bulldozed his way in on fourth down to keep North alive. Freshman quarterback Chase Frisoli (6-for-9, 86 yards) fired a low bullet and Gavin Wells made a nice catch for the two-point conversion to knot it 23-23 and send it to double overtime.
The Rocketeers took their turn on offense first and despite a big push from the Hornet defensive line, DeMattio (19 carries, 65 yards) was able to bounce it outside and scamper into the end zone. A false start pushed North back five yards and the conversion pass was swatted away by Foley at the goal line.
Mansfield football
On Mansfield’s first play, Zukowski backpedaled before dumping off a screen pass to Rocco Scarpellini, who broke free of a pair of tackles to get into the end zone. On the two-point try, Zukowski lofted a pass to the back left of the end zone to Foley for the win.
“It was a great game, both teams played tough and it’s tough for any team to walk away from a game like this with a loss,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “We’d rather but on the other side of it but I’m proud of our kids, especially after the disappointing loss last week. I thought our kids worked really hard to bounce back.
“We played better. We didn’t play good enough to win but we played better this week than we did last week so we’re happy about that. And with the new rating system, a two-point loss isn’t so bad anymore.”
Mansfield opened the game with a touchdown on the first drive. The Hornets went 3-for-3 on third down on the drive, moving the ball all the way down to the 2-yard line after Zukowski linked up with Foley for 26 yards. A high snap forced Mansfield into a 3rd and goal from the 24 but Zukowski found Foley in one-on-one coverage on the left side. James Gilleran’s point after put the visitors up 7-0 with 7:16 left in the first quarter.
North was forced to punt but DeMattio pinned the Hornets at their own 2-yard line. The ball came free on a handoff attempt and it was ruled DeMattio recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. A scramble on the point after attempt ended up intercepted and Mansfield held its advantage at 7-6 with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
“We had used him last year at back in the Century Game so it’s always been in the package but it gives us the ability to do some different things on offense, and it also lets us play him on defense,” Johnson said of moving DeMattio from quarterback to running back and linebacker. “We haven’t had the luxury to have him play both ways but he’s a senior now, sometimes you have to roll the dice and just get your best players on the field.”
Wells put an end to another Mansfield drive with an interception and the Rocketeers forced a punt on the next series. Tyler Bannon converted a third down with a 12-yard run, and Shultz followed suit with a 12-yard run on his own, followed by a late hit call to get the hosts inside the 10-yard line.
Two plays later, DeMattio ran it in from four yards out to put North Attleboro ahead. Caden Colby and Mark DeGirolamo combined to stuff the two-point rush attempt.
Mansfield football
Mansfield drove into North territory late in the first half, going 65 yards on eight plays but Danny Curran read the pass perfectly and stepped in front for an interception in the end zone to prevent any further damage, keeping a 15-7 lead at halftime.
The defenses were the stars for the majority of the second half. North was forced to punt after a three-and-out to start the second half, fumbled on its second possession, and had to punt again at the end of the third quarter after a big sack from Mansfield’s Aidan Devlin.
Meanwhile, Mansfield had a turnover on downs due to a fourth down sack from Tyler Bannon and had back-to-back punts. On its first three drives of the second half, Mansfield had a total of 62 yards before the final drive of 80 yards to tie the game.
“They didn’t play great against Feehan but we knew they were better than that,” Redding said of the Rocketeers. “They came out with a whole different look with DeMattio at running back and he runs really hard. The quarterback played well for a freshman, they were much better tonight than they were on film. They had us on our heels with their blitzing, with DeMattio coming, with Bannon coming off the edge — he’s a big, fast kid. We’re fortunate Zuk stepped up and had a heck of a night throwing the football, that was the difference.”
It marked Mansfield’s first win over North since 2013, although the team’s hadn’t played since 2014. It was the first overtime game in the rivalry; games previous ended in a tie at the conclusion of four quarters but that rule was changed about a decade ago.
“That was a classic, just about as good as high school football gets,” Redding said. “I’m glad the rivalry is back and we’ll see them at Alumni next year but maybe we’ll go up to Memorial [Park] and keep playing on the old-school fields.”
Mansfield football (2-0) will have its first home game of the season next week when it welcomes another member of the Hockomock League’s Davenport division in Stoughton. North Attleboro (0-2) hits the road for the first time to take on another Kelley-Rex division foe in King Philip.
King Philip could be the favorite to challenge Mansfield for the Kelley-Rex division title this season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
Outlook:
Attleboro struggled on the offensive side of the ball last year, scoring only 44 points in six games and not scoring a touchdown until the fifth game of the season. The Bombardiers will need to improve on that side of the ball to try and move up the standings and challenge the top teams in the Kelley-Rex. With eight returning starters on both sides of the ball, Attleboro can rely on an experienced roster to try and turn things around this fall.
It will be obvious where Attleboro’s strength lies. The Bombardiers run 6’3 285, 6’3 255, 6’2 285, and 6’3 305 at the guard and tackle positions. They are going to try and overpower teams. The leader of that group is senior Chris Leonardo, who is a force on both sides of the ball. Seniors Alvin Harrison, Jacob Struminski, and Isaac Pereira are a formidable front and junior Isaiah Miranda will be back at center. Experience and size are important, but the Bombardiers will need its array of running backs to take advantage. Seniors Ryan Betts, Freddy Wheaton, Keigan Conley, and Kaiden Murray will all get the chance to carry the ball. Junior Aiden Hochwarter returns under center after taking over midway through last year and he will have classmate Anthony Salviati to throw to out wide and senior tight end Christian Dame.
The Attleboro defense will also rely on its strength up front with Leonardo and Harrison controlling the middle. The linebackers have plenty of experience, with Dame, Wheaton, Betts, Conley, and senior Hayden Hegarty all coming back after seeing significant time last year. The secondary has a lot of athleticism. Junior Ethan Lako, Salviati, and Murray are all capable of making big plays and forcing turnovers.
“It is great to have some normalcy back this fall,” said Attleboro coach Mike Strachan. “We have eight returning starters on each side of the ball this season and we have great senior leadership. We are looking to a great fall season.”
Outlook:
All eyes are on Mansfield and King Philip as the favorites in the Kelley-Rex and that’s how coach Eian Bain likes it. The Panthers are certainly flying under the radar a bit but that might not last very long, especially after their success during the preseason has turned some heads.
Having a lot of familiar faces in key positions will be an early advantage for the Panthers, who have a strong non-league schedule that starts with Wachusett and features perennial state powerhouse Duxbury. Senior Jared Arone gained a lot of experience at quarterback during the Fall 2 season and could be poised for a big year with a full schedule on tap. Part of the reason why is because of all the weapons around him. Both Shane Kindred and Will Tracey developed a lot of chemistry with the QB in the abbreviated season and will be his main two targets this year.
And while the Panthers have developed a reputation for a pass-heavy offense, we saw a much more balanced approach during the spring and with senior running back Mack Gulla ready for a breakout season, it’s likely that balance continues. Gulla is a tough runner that will keep defenses honest; he isn’t just going to help set up the passing game, he’s a true threat to run all over defenses. It will all start up front and the Panthers have center Ethan Aeillo and tackle Jack Porkorny back in starting roles.
Senior Joe Tirrell and junior Luke Davis give the Panthers a veteran presence in the secondary. Franklin allowed over 20 points per game last season but will be looking to bring that number down some this year as they try and establish themselves as a contender in the division. Senior Jonathan Martins impressed last season and will be a key piece on the defensive line while the linebackers will be anchored by senior Cullen Pek.
“The Panthers return many familiar faces but face a tough task of replacing some key positions,” Bain said. “Many players have stepped up but there is still a lot to be answered before the home opener against Wachusett.”
Outlook:
King Philip has a strong core of returning players set to compete for the Kelley-Rex crown this Fall season but the Warriors are hoping to develop some depth along the way as they navigate through one of the state’s toughest schedules.
KP is still hurting from the Fall 2 season, when they lost six players to season-ending surgery, four of which were starters. With a quick turnaround to this season, the Warriors will still be without those players but there is still lots of excitement around those who will be on the field this year. Senior Charlie Grant returns as the starter at quarterback and has some weapons to utilize around them, starting with receivers Danny Clancy, Nick Viscusi, and Jonathan Joseph. All three have varsity experience and are seniors. Junior Rudy Gately and senior Crawford Cantave give the Warriors a thunder and lightning running back combination. Senior Drew Danson was set to be one of the top tight ends in the league but is out due to injury. Sophomore Thomas McLeish will also be in the mix to play at quarterback and Grant could see time at receiver.
Hunter Hastings and Chris Sesay are the returners on the offensive line and will start at the tackle positions while Dan Nineve will be the center and Amro Ismail and Sean King man the guard positions. It will be a lot of the same names on the other side of the ball with Hastings, King, and Sesay all playing both ways. Junior Nate Kearney will also be in the mix as a pass rusher.
The veteran group on defense will be the KP secondary, which features a lot of familiar faces. Both Cantave (safety) and Viscusi (corner) had really strong junior seasons and will lead the way alongside junior Thomas Brewster, senior Eli Reed, and Joseph, who has really impressed so far this preseason. There will be a little inexperience at linebacker but the Warriors have Gately back in the fold alongside senior Jake Sullivan and junior Will Astorino. Matt Kelley is back as the starting kicker.
“I love my team, great kids,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “We just have to make sure ready to go every single week. It’s been kind of a burn, playing in the Spring. It feels like we’ve been going, going, going, but now we have to focus on staying healthy and getting through Thanksgiving. It’s been fun to be around them, they are good kids that work hard. Hopefully, we can turn that into being successful.”
Outlook:
Mansfield won the 2019 state title, is riding a 16-game win streak, hasn’t lost a game in league play since September 2017, and hasn’t lost an in-state game since a triple-OT thriller against Foxboro at Fenway to close out 2018, so the Hornets have earned the target that is on their backs this fall. Everyone will be aiming to be the first Hock team to hand the Hornets a loss and try to end a three-year run as the top team in the Kelley-Rex. Although there are some guys in new spots, especially at the skill positions, Mansfield returns 10 starters and several players who saw significant action off the bench last year.
The offense will be powered by an experienced line. Four of five starters return from last year with only junior center Colton Johnson added. Seniors Mark DeGirolamo, Joe Forte, and James Gilleran, and junior Jephte Jean are all back and should give the Hornets an edge up front. Junior Conner Zukowski will be the new starting quarterback and he will have several new weapons to call on. Juniors Drew Sacco and Rocco Scarpellini are new starters in the backfield, but both were called on plenty last season. Senior Dana Johnson and sophomore Trevor Foley will get the start out wide.
Defense has been Mansfield’s calling card during its run, as the Hornets allowed only 23 points in six games last year. DeGirolamo and classmate Braeden Veno are back on the defensive line along with Jean and senior Pedro Cruz. All three starting linebackers returned, as seniors Zander Holmes and James Fichera are paired with Scarpellini. Junior safety Ryan DeGirolamo is the only starter back in the secondary and will need to provide leadership for sophomores Foley and CJ Bell. Senior Jared Fraone will start at the other corner spot.
Mansfield coach Mike Redding is counting on a tough preseason, against state powers Everett and Central Catholic, to help the Hornets prepare. He is also excited about the new statewide playoff system that could pair Mansfield with a new set of tournament opponents as they seek to make it a three-peat in Div. 2.
Outlook:
Milford made a successful move into the Kelley-Rex last season. Under first-year coach Dale Olson, the Hawks earned a first-ever win over perennial league power King Philip and finished second in the division. This year, the Hawks will try to make another title challenge despite having several new faces stepping into important roles.
On offense, the Hawks will be transitioning from the pass-first offense that Brady Olson ran last year. Junior Evan Cornelius is a very different quarterback, who will bring a lot of size and strength to the position (which makes sense, since he also plays defensive end). Graduation took away a lot of dynamic playmakers from last year’s offense but seniors Tyler Lane, Angelo Romero, and Grant Scudo will give Milford a deep backfield and last year senior Jaden Agnew emerged as a major threat in the passing game.
The Hawks will be tough up front again this year on both sides of the ball. Seniors Alex McColl and Marco Monteiro are big and tough and will open holes on offense while clogging running lanes on the other side. Cornelius will add a threat on the edge defensively and the linebacking corps continues to be a factor, led by Lane and Romero. Scudo seeks out the ball at safety and is always a threat to force a turnover.
Olson admits that his team lacks experience at the skill positions, but he added, “Having three scrimmages will help prepare the first-year varsity kids to play week one.”
Outlook:
Taunton didn’t have the best record during the Fall 2 season but the opportunity to just get on the field and play was incredibly valuable for the Tigers. There are less than a dozen seniors (eight) on the roster for the Tigers this season so head coach Brad Sidwell will be looking for a strong class of juniors, as well as some sophomores, to make up the majority of the lineup this Fall.
A good chunk of those juniors were inserted into the starting lineup or played a large number of snaps just five months ago when the Tigers played six games. That allowed the Tigers to build some depth for the upcoming season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Junior Jake Leonard got a jump start to his career when he took over for an injured Danny MacDougall. That experience will be key as he begins his first full season as the starter under center. Leonard will have three veteran options to work with in senior captains Trent Santos and Nate Keenan — two receivers — and tight end Nick Lima. Senior Faisal Mass will be a big target as a tight end, also providing key blocking on the line, while seniors Jon Castillo (receiver), Jack Moitiso (offensive line) and Evan Perrota (running back) will be in the mix as well.
Junior Ryan MacDougall started on the offensive line last season and will be joined by classmates Nate Laplante, William Guachiculca-Torres, and Logan Frank while sophomore Bryan Joanis will also be in the mix so some playing time. Keenan could also get some carries out of the backfield while junior Bryan Batista could emerge as a go-to option carrying the ball. Juniors Tyler Wynn, Isaiah Williams, and McKyen Gonsalves are three names to watch as receiving options for Leonard.
Taunton has a lot of experience in its secondary with both Santos and Keenan playing on both sides of the ball, and that experience will be a big strength for the Tigers. There is also a lot of depth in the linebackers, starting with Lima, who uses his speed to attack the ball. He can also step out and play in coverage or drop back into a safety role if needed. Lima will be joined by Frank, MacDougall, and Perrota as linebackers. On the line, Laplante had a strong sophomore season and could be poised for a breakout year.
Taunton will prepare for the ever-challenging division slate with non-league games against New Bedford, Durfee, and Middleboro in its first three weeks. It also marks the first year of its new Thanksgiving rivalry with Milford.
“We’re excited to begin the season with this group after productive preseason practices and scrimmages,” said head coach Brad Sidwell. “Although we only have eight seniors, many of our players gained experience in the spring season. We need to improve through the non-league start of the season as the Hockomock Kelley-Rex is always a challenge for any of the teams involved.”
Baseball
Franklin, 7 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Franklin’s offense scored in four of the seven innings, including three in the seventh to put the game away. Senior Jake Fitzgibbons drove in a pair of runs for the visiting Panthers while both Brian Gerety and Chris Goode had a hit and scored a pair of runs. Junior lefty Jacob Jette was stellar on the mound, scattering three hits and one walk across five shutout innings, striking out nine for the win. Foxboro’s Sean Yoest had a strong overall day, allowing just one earned run (three runs total) on two hits and three walks in four innings, striking out four. At the plate, Yoest had a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Jack Watts knocked in Yoest for Foxboro’s lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro scored all of its runs within the first three innings and senior right-handed pitcher Dennis Colleran took care of the rest as the Rocketeers opened the season with a win over visiting King Philip. The Big Red scored twice in the bottom of the first and tacked on two more in the bottom of the third. King Philip halved the deficit in the top of the third with an unearned run and added another run in the sixth. Colleran scattered three hits over six innings, striking out 10 to earn the win. Danny Curran earned the save, striking out two. North senior Justin Vecchiarelli went 2-3 with four RBI in the win.
Mansfield, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Mansfield scored a single run in three straight innings and went on the road to pick up a win at Frothingham Park. A walk, a wild pitch, and a grounder gave the Hornets the lead in the third inning and Mansfield doubled its lead on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. OA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but Hornet starter Anthony Sacchetti (6IP, 3H, 1BB, 7K) escaped the jam without any harm done. Mansfield tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Sacchetti, Luke Urban, and Jack Colby (run, two walks) each drove in a run for Mansfield. OA’s Christian Papasodero (2.1 IP, 0R 3K) pitched well in relief for the Tigers, getting out of a bases loaded jam.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. OA held Attleboro scoreless in the second half and used four goals from Remi Creighton to pull out their first win of the season. The Bombardiers opened the scoring off a turnover that Keigan Conley finished from close range. OA tied it three minutes later on a shot by Wes Tower. Michael Strachan assisted on a Carter Shelton goal to put Attleboro back in front but Wyatt Frichtman fired OA level from distance. OA grabbed the lead with four straight goals to start the second. Creighton scored back-to-back goals and then assisted on one by Doug Oliveira. Tower got his second of the day to put the Tigers up 6-2. Attleboro scored three times in a span of 40 seconds to get back within one at halftime. Shelton scored on a Conley assist and then Conley added his second of the day. Ryan Betts set up Matt Perry to make it 6-5. It took nearly seven minutes of the third quarter before OA doubled its lead when Ben Reardon found Oliveira in front. Creighton and Frichtman also scored in the third, the last one with 35.8 on the clock, and OA went into the fourth up 9-5. The Tigers put the game away with three more goals. Reardon got the first of his career with a redirect of a pass by Ross Carroll then Creighton added his fourth before Carroll wrapped up the scoring off a pass by Oliveira. Noah Isleib had a big game in goal for the Tigers to help preserve the lead.
Milford, 4 @ Foxboro, 17 – Final
King Philip @ Stoughton, 3:45
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 3 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – Six different players found the back of the net as King Philip rolled on its home turf to a win over visiting Canton. Julia Marsden (two assists), Lily Brown (one assist), and Haley Izydorczak led the offensive charge for the hosts with four goals apiece. Morgan Cunningham (assist) added a hat trick while Peyton Mellman and Alyssa Legere each scored once. Emily Campbell made nine saves in net in the win.
Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 14 – Final
Milford, 2 @ Foxboro, 18 – Final
Boys Outdoor Track
Mansfield, 85 @ Attleboro, 47, Final – It was a day to remember for Jake Wall, who etched his name in the record books at Mansfield High in the Hornets’ win over Attleboro. Wall won four events and set the school record in the long jump at 22’11”. Wall also won the 100M (11.0), 200M (22.9), and the triple jump (44’5″). Mansfield swept both relay events and Trevor Flint had a great finishing kick to win the 2 Mile race in 10:28 for the Hornets. Other first-place finishes included Evan Rawlings (400IH, 64.3), Caden Riley (400M, 53.4), Dylan Buchanan (110HH, 15.9), Dana Johnson (high jump, 5’6″), and Jack Taylor (javelin, 157’5″). Mansfield’s winning 4×100 team (46.9) consisted of DaSean Peters-Wolfe, Isaiah Kinds, Ryan Munroe, and Dylan Buchanan while the first-place 4×400 team (3:44.7) was Stephen Saba, Caden Riley, Tim Corkery, and Jack Taylor.
King Philip @ Franklin, 3:45
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Taunton @ Milford, 4:00
Girls Outdoor Track
Mansfield, 93 @ Attleboro, 43 – Final – Mansfield took first place in 12 events to open the season with a convincing win over Attleboro. Anna Buckley was a double winner for the visitors, taking first in both the high jump (4’8″) and the long jump (16’0″), adding a second place finish in the 100M hurdles (17.8). Other winners for Mansfield included Elyssa Buchanan (400M hurdles, 75.6), Colleen Waters & Meghan Driscoll (100M tie, 13.1), Katie Miller (1 Mile, 5:52), Anna Darlington (400M, 61.8), Norah Puleo (800M 2:29.7), Tessa Lancaster (2 Mile, 12:17), Caitlin Haley (triple jump, 33’2.5″), and Alissa Cooke (discus, 68’6.5″). Mansfield also won both relays with the 4×100 (Scott, Driscoll, Penney, Waters) winning in 51.25 and the 4×400 (Darlington, N.Puleo, McIntryre, K. Miller) finished in 4:26.7. Attleboro’s Kamsi Igbobi won both the 100M hurdles (17.6) and the shot put (33’8.25″), Elayna Marinelli took first in the javelin (91-6), and Cassondra Stuger crossed first in the 200 (27.3).
King Philip @ Franklin, 3:45
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Taunton @ Milford, 4:00
Wrestling
King Philip @ Canton, 5:30
Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Milford, 5:00
Taunton, 3 @ New Bedford, 1 – Final – Taunton rallied from a one-set deficit to win three in and row and grab a win in its first match of the season, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20). Senior Tyler Stewart paced the offense with 12 kills and four blocks while Jakob Thorpe added eight kills, six digs, three blocks, and two aces. Daniel Medina dished out 25 assists and Travis Nunes registered 12 digs and an ace.
Mansfield can’t defend its D2 state title, but the Hornets will be looking to bring home a third straight league title when the new Fall II season kicks off. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
Outlook:
Attleboro was able to incorporate a number of underclassmen last season and will be hoping that experience pays off with the junior class being asked to step up all across the field this season, as the Bombardiers look to challenge the top teams in the Kelley-Rex.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Size won’t be an issue for Attleboro and the offensive line should be a strength this season led by junior tackles Chris Leonardo (6’3, 275 pounds) and Alvin Harrison (6’3, 255) along with seniors Trainor Sherck and Ryan Grover and junior Adam Struminski. The Bombardiers are going to use that line a lot this season with new quarterback Blake Garzaro, who saw some action as a sophomore, handing the ball off frequently to junior Kaiden Murray, who looks poised for a breakout season, and bruising fullback Michael Strachan. Junior Freddy Wheaton is another physical back who will get touches this year. In the passing game, Garzaro can look for 6’4 tight end Christian Dame, who leads a largely new cast of receivers.
The strengths on offense should mirror the strengths for Attleboro’s defense as well. Leonardo, Dame, and Harrison will be the core of the defensive line with junior Isaac Pereira another big body that will be tough for opposing teams to run against. Strachan leads the linebacking corps. The URI-commit is the program’s all-time leading tackler and he’s a four-year varsity player. Wheaton will join Strachan at inside linebacker and Sherck and Ryan Betts will be on the outside. The secondary will have several new faces, but Murray is a tough tackler at free safety and William Runey will be one of the more experienced cornerbacks on the roster.
Franklin is coming off an impressive run to the Div. 1 South final but the Panthers also graduated a host of important pieces from last year’s team, particularly at the skill positions, and will need some younger players to step in to stay competitive in the Kelley-Rex this season.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Junior Jared Arone will step in at quarterback this season, hoping to have the same level of success running Franklin’s up-tempo style as Thomas Gasbarro did last year. Junior running back Mack Gulla got some time in the backfield last season but will be getting the bulk of the touches this year. A new receiving corps will also have to learn on the job, including senior Jake O’Brien and junior Shane Kindred, and junior tight end Jonathan Martins, but there is potential for this to be an explosive group. Seniors Brady Duncan and Vincent Lackey will be counted on to provide leadership on the offensive line. The consistency of senior kicker Parker Cheuvront will be a huge boost to a Franklin offense that may have some growing pains early in the season.
Defensively, the Panthers return several players and will rely on that experience to combat the top offenses in the league and to allow time for the younger players to get up to speed. Seniors Xander Honor and Dan Cormier will spearhead the defense from their linebacker positions, while seniors Anthony Quintina and Lackey are stout in the middle of the line. Martins will be a force at defensive end and Griffin is a playmaker at safety.
“We need to focus on getting better every day,” said Franklin coach Eain Bain. “Appreciate, and focus on, the here and now. Don’t look ahead or behind, but stay in tuned to the task at hand. And always, Row the Boat.”
Outlook:
This is an atypical season in so many ways, not least of all because King Philip, one of the perennial powers in the Kelley-Rex, is going through a transition. The Warriors will have a lot of new faces this year, using a number of underclassmen who will have to quickly learn the KP style of play through a tough slate of divisional games.
KP returns only two starters on offense from last year’s team that reached the D2 South semifinal. Senior guard Pat Zarba and junior tight end Drew Danson will be the lone holdovers, although several other players did see action at times. Junior Crawford Cantave filled in for an injured Ryan Halliday at running back last year and has the potential to be next in a long line of standout backs at KP. Mike Malatesta will also be in the backfield at fullback and sophomore Ryan Gately is a newcomer to keep an eye on. Junior Charlie Grant is set to be the new quarterback and will have Danson, senior Michael Zagrodney, and junior Nick Viscusi as targets in the passing game. Senior Kevin Pierro will be the center to add some experience to what is otherwise a largely new group on the line.
Defense has always been a priority for KP and this year’s group has a lot of players who will be learning on the job. Zarba and Danson will be on the defensive line, along with junior Hunter Hastings and senior Harry Brown. Malatesta and Gately will be joined by junior Jake Sullivan at linebacker. The secondary is young but has some experience, as Cantave and Viscusi both are coming off strong sophomore seasons at safety.
“I am hoping that our weakness (inexperience and lack of seniors) will be a strength in the fall as we are forced to play a lot of juniors and sophomores now,” said KP coach Brian Lee. “I’m also worried about injuries, as we have not been in our weight room in a year.”
Outlook:
It has been 15 months since Mansfield rolled to a D2 state title at Gillette Stadium and the Hornets are excited to get back on the field, searching for a third straight league title and looking forward to a 90th anniversary game against Foxboro at Alumni Field to close out the season.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
While Mansfield graduated a number of key players from last year’s state championship-winning team, the Hornets return plenty of offensive firepower, especially in the backfield. Senior Cincere Gill will be the focus after racking up nearly 1,000 rushing yards last season, but he will get plenty of help from classmates Anthony Comer and Nico Holmes and newcomer sophomore Rocco Scarpellini. In addition, the Hornets will have Matt Boen and Nick Bertolino back at receiver and Everett Knowlton returns at tight end. Juniors Jake Wall and Dana Johnson will add to the depth in the passing game. The offensive line should be a strength for Mansfield this season with three returning starters, seniors TJ Guy and Jake McCoy and junior Joe Forte. Juniors Jimmy Gilleran and Braedon Veno will fill out the rest of the line.
The Hornets were dominant on defense last season and they remain solid on that side of the ball, particularly in the front seven. With Guy on the end and junior Mark DeGirolamo and McCoy in the interior of the defensive line, Mansfield will be stout up front. Holmes is a standout at linebacker and senior Sean Weber will be a player to watch in his outside linebacker position. The secondary has depth with a handful of players fighting for three defensive back spots.
“Toughest part is mentally, everything’s backward with the weather – feels like November and the end of a typical season, but it’s pre-season,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “Just hoping Friday nights under the lights feel the same once games get going and it feels like we’re starting to finally get into a groove with execution. We’re all thankful to be playing and trying to enjoy every day we can go out and be a team.”
Outlook:
There are a lot of changes at Milford this season, with a new coaching staff taking over and the Hawks making the switch to the Kelley-Rex for the first time, but there is a lot of experience on the field to make that transition with nine starters returning on both sides of the ball.
One of the biggest changes for Milford will be under center, as Brady Olson takes over following his transfer from Bishop Feehan. The UMass-commit will have plenty of targets to aim for, as Milford returns arguably the deepest group of receivers in the league led by seniors Carter Scudo, Max Martin, and Matt Varteresian. They combine deep threat potential with the willingness to make the tough catches in traffic. Up front, Sean Murray and Nick Yohn will lead the protection for Olson and try to open up lanes for a new crop of running backs.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
Experience will be a strength on the defensive side of the ball as well. Dom Schofield highlights a tough defensive line. Another of the team’s UMass commits, Schofield will be a force at the defensive end position, while Mario Lee and Josh Kravets return in the heart of the line. Milford lost a couple of standout linebackers from last year’s squad, Luke Rosa and CJ Cerrella, but Kevin O’Connor and Angelo Romero are playmakers who should be ready for breakout seasons. Grant Scudo and Evan Hazard are back in what should be a strong secondary for the Hawks.
“I have a strong senior class that has played a ton of football and we’ll lean on them to help us compete in the Hock large this year,” said new Milford coach Dale Olson.
Outlook:
With 10 returning starters and 18 returning lettermen, Taunton will be relying on its senior leadership to stay competitive against what has the potential to be a daunting Kelley-Rex division schedule.
The Tigers have plenty of athleticism on both sides of the ball and also versatile players who can line up in multiple positions, making it difficult for opponents to match up. Senior Danny MacDougall moves under center this season, although he has also lined up at receiver in the past. Seniors Josh Lopes and Bretton Heggs give Taunton a pair of dangerous backs, while Trent Santos, Kedrick Santos, Nigel Choate, and Nolan Tomaszycki are weapons in the passing game. Senior Nathan Arieta, at 6-foot-5, is a big target at tight end. Seniors Tommy Ambrose and Jorden Manning are two returning starters on the offensive line. The depth on the line will be tested, as Taunton has several underclassmen with the size to step in but not a lot of experience.
Defensively, Taunton relies on its quickness and athleticism, but also has plenty of size up front. Ambrose, Manning, and Arieta will all play on the defensive line, along with classmate Deandre McPhail and junior Faisal Mass. Lopes, Kedrick Santos, Caleb Nicholson, and Evan Perrotta have experience in the linebacking corps. The secondary is filled with playmakers, including Trent Santos, MacDougall, Heggs, Tomaszycki, and Choate.
2020 (Fall II) Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview
