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.
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.”
