11/24/2022

Mansfield Dominates Foxboro To Claim Davenport Title

Mansfield football Tommy Smith — Mansfield junior Tommy Smith breaks free for an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter against Foxboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – A balanced attack on offense and a dominant effort defensively turned out to be the perfect recipe for Mansfield on Thanksgiving Day.

Buoyed by five different touchdown scorers, Mansfield clinched the Davenport division title with a convincing 33-0 win over rival Foxboro, also notching its first shutout on Thanksgiving since 2009.

“We had a heck of a year winning the division and winning nine games,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Redding. “I think both teams have a lot to be proud of. And both teams have a lot of good players back and it will be fun next year for sure.

“I thought we had good balance. Just everything went our way in the first half…this was a great way to wrap it up against a good Foxboro team, and to play dominate. Especially coming off a tough playoff loss, this flips this season. Finishing at 9-2 is a lot better than 8-3 and losing your last two. We had two weeks to get ready, we worked hard on the field and in the weight room, just a great effort by our seniors.”

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Senior linebacker Kyle Murphy was named the Don Currivan MVP for the Hornets while senior captain Jephte Jean earned the Matt McCue Lineman of the Game for Mansfield. Foxboro’s Lincoln Moore (Vin Igo MVP) and Andrew Finn (Jeff Parker Lineman of the Game) earned the honors for the Warriors.

“I’ve been playing with these kids since second grade, and we’ve worked year in and year out, and it’s a brotherhood really,” said Murphy, who missed last season recovering from an injury. “It means a lot for it to end in a satisfying way. We won’t get this chance to play together again but I’m grateful to share the field with these boys one last time.

“We were physical and we had a lot of energy. I think we wanted it more than them on every single play, it meant more to us.”

“He’s a great story,” Redding said of Murphy. “He didn’t play varsity last year coming off a knee injury. He had a phenomenal year on defense for us and I’m so happy for him to get the MVP today because he worked so hard to get back on the year.

“He came in this year like a man possessed. He was one of our best defensive players and played great football for us.”

Mansfield took control in the first quarter and never surrendered it the rest of the way. On the first series of the game, the Hornets only needed four plays before finding the end zone. Junior backup quarterback Connor Curtis came in after three plays, and although he’s been called on mostly to run with the ball, he slung a deep pass down the middle. Foxboro’s defensive backs were able to get their hands up, but the ball bounced back in the air and junior receiver Trevor Foley hauled it in with one hand and went the distance for a 47-yard touchdown. Travis Hennessy’s point after put Mansfield ahead 7-0 just over two minutes into the game.

Foxboro looked to mount a response with a lengthy drive and marched into Hornet territory. But on the 11th play of the drive, Mansfield junior Brandon Jackman read the play and jumped on a short pass, and took it to the house for a 77-yard interception return with 3:15 left in the opening quarter.

Mansfield’s defense delivered again, forcing a quick three and out. The offense was quick to reward the defense. Junior Tommy Smith, who started the year on JV but was called up due to injury after two weeks, broke free up the left sideline, following a great block from right tackle Jason Riley, who pulled to the left, and Smith raced away for an 80-yard touchdown, boosting Mansfield’s advantage to 20-0 with 40.5 seconds left in the first quarter.

“Things just snowballed early and we took control and made some great plays,” Redding said. “Tommy Smith stepped up big this year and ended up as our leading rusher and one of the best stories of the season.”

Foxboro had its best drive of the game in the second quarter, covering 59 yards on 15 plays to move inside the Mansfield 10-yard line after a 9-yard pass and catch from Mike Marcucella to Tony Sulham.

The Warriors tried to get the run game going with Moore (58 yards on nine carries) and sophomore Ben Angelini, but Mansfield’s front seven controlled the line. Jean and senior Colton Johnson combined for a tackle for a loss on first down, and then Hennessy, Murphy, and Ryan DeGirolamo combined for a third down stop. Foxboro’s 23-yard field goal attempt was just wide with 3:05 left.

“It felt really good to win this game,” Jean said. “We had a tough loss to Milford but we bounced back and it’s great to get a big dub on my final game in the Mansfield jersey.”

That was plenty of time for Mansfield to find the end zone again. Conner Zukowski (11/12, 167 yards) hit Drew Sacco for 15 yards on first down, then linked up with Foley for the first time for 35 yards. Zukowski hooked up with CJ Bell for 14 yards down to the 2-yard line. Despite some big tackles from Moore and junior Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady on first and second down, Zukowski scrambled just inside the pylon for a 6-yard touchdown with just 17.8 seconds left in the half to make it 26-0.

“They were the better football team, pure and simple,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli. “They were a lot hungrier than we were. I guess we never really recovered from losing in the playoffs [on Saturday]. Give them all the credit, they executed better. We had some chances to make some plays early on but we didn’t make any plays.”

Both Mansfield and Foxboro entered the game undefeated through three games in the Davenport division, but the Hornets really didn’t have a blemish as they outscored their first three division foes 115-0 — yes, three games and three shutouts.

That trend continued as Mansfield continued the shutout in the second half. Foxboro started the second half with the ball but just two plays in, Bell hauled in an overthrow for an interception to get Mansfield the ball back.

That led to an eight-play, 66-yard drive from the Hornets. It started with a mix of Smith and Sacco, and then a 38-yard pass to Bell moved the sticks. Moore once again had a tackle for loss inside the five for the Foxboro defense, but Sacco plunged in from 2 yards out two plays later for the final score of the game.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It was an emphasis at halftime that we didn’t want to give up any points,” Redding said. “We don’t really care if we score another point in the second half but let’s play defense. We haven’t gotten a shutout in this game in a long time. I don’t think we were aware of not being scored on in the division but it was more about getting a shutout on Thanksgiving against a really good team.

“Their film in September, they looked young but talented…their film in November, they looked really good,” Redding said of Foxboro. “They have a lot of good pieces, they’re going to be very, very good a year from now. And it’ll be another battle on Thanksgiving. They had a great year, Jack did an unbelievable job after they started 0-3 to turn it around and get to the final four.”

Mansfield football finishes 9-2 overall and 4-0 in the Davenport while Foxboro finishes at 6-6 overall and 3-1 in league action.

11/20/202203/04/2023

Foxboro’s Playoff Run Finishes In State Semifinals

Foxboro football Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady — Foxboro junior Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady tries to get past a pair of Grafton defenders after hauling in a pass in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

BELLINGHAM, Mass. – Foxboro senior kicker Sam Carpenter couldn’t have put his kickoff any closer to the goal line without it being a touchback.

Following a 67-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Mike Marcucella to classmate Nolan Gordon that brought the Warriors within 14-12 with 5:29 to play in the game, Carpenter booted one that Grafton’s Liam Donagher originally let bounce. Instead of crossing the goal line, the ball stopped bouncing just before the goal line with the Warriors kickoff team barreling down the field.

Donagher was forced to pick it up and return it, and with a handful of Foxboro players chomping at the bit to make a big stop deep in Grafton territory, he was able to get out to the left sideline, got around one final block and then raced all the way for a 99-yard touchdown to restore a two-score lead.

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Grafton’s defense forced a turnover on downs on the Warriors’ ensuing drive and had an interception to close out Foxboro’s last chance to secure a 21-12 win to advance to the Division 4 state championship game.

“That just took all of the wind out of our sails and any of the momentum we had built up to at that point,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli. “Sam kicked the ball perfectly, they were way up and we just didn’t make the play.

“You gotta make plays. Some days you make them, and some days you don’t.”

Foxboro fought back after going down a pair of touchdowns early. The Gators scored on their opening drive when quarterback Casey Jordan linked up with Donagher for an 11-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter. The touchdown came two plays after a 34-yard connection between the two.

The Warriors’ second drive of the game came to a halt on an interception from Ryanne Chibani, who returned it into Foxboro territory. Three plays later, Jordan dropped a 26-yard touchdown pass just over the defensive back into Donagher’s arms right inside the pylon to make it 14-0 with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.

Foxboro’s defense didn’t surrender another score the rest of the game, and the Warriors went to work clawing their way back into it.

A booming punt from Carpenter pinned Grafton at their 2-yard line, and the defense forced a three-and-out. An 11-yard pass from Marcucella to Lincoln Moore jump-started the drive. Grafton thought they had an interception but a roughing the passer call kept the drive alive, but not much longer as Carpenter booted a 39-yard field goal to get Foxboro on the board with 39 seconds left in the half.

Foxboro’s defense came up with a big play on the opening drive of the second half. Grafton marched to the Warriors’ 21-yard line but a throw to the end zone was read perfectly by Kaden Hassett and he came down with the interception for the touchback.

The Warriors capitalized on the momentum as Marcucella hit Gordon for an 18-yard completion to move the sticks on third down. Marcucella sandwiched a pair of passes to Tony Sulham around a 15-yard scamper from Ben Angelini, and the Warriors were quickly in the red zone.

Marcucella got inside the five on an 8-yard keeper but the drive stalled there and Carpenter came out to drill a 24-yard field goal to make it a one-score game, 14-6, with 2:10 left in the third quarter.

Foxboro’s defense bent on the ensuing Grafton drive but didn’t break. Jordan scrambled for 26 yards on a key third down play but later in the drive, the Warriors stuffed a 4th and short sneak attempt to get the ball back.

“I thought we took the run away from them but give them credit, they took what they could do better than what I’ve seen them do, and that’s throw the football,” Martinelli said. “They’ve relied on the run for most of the season and we were able to keep that in check but we weren’t able to stop the deep quick scores in the first half. [Grafton] is a good team but I’m proud of my kids too. Nobody ever expected us to be here but when you get here, you wish you could win it.

“We thought we could do a pretty good job against the run but [11] hit [8] a couple of times and those were the early scores. We never really rebounded all the way back, close, but not all of the way.”

After some short yardage carries and completions, Marcucella hit Gordon down the left sideline, just out of the reach of the defensive back, and Gordon raced his way to a 67-yard touchdown. Foxboro’s two-point attempt came up a yard short of the goal line.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Although Foxboro came up short in its quest to reach Gillette Stadium, it was a terrific run from a squad that reached the state semifinals last year but graduated a lot of talent, including one of the best running backs in program history. Martinelli credited his senior class for helping this team – which lost the first three games of the season – for making this run.

“They are the glue that kept everything together,” Martinelli said. “We don’t have a whole lot of them but the ones we had kept the young kids going, kept themselves going. At 0-3, they never hung their heads and they just kept working.”

Foxboro football (6-5) will host rival Mansfield on Thanksgiving Day with the Davenport division title on the line.

11/05/202211/05/2022

Late Score Lifts Foxboro Past Pesky Pembroke

Foxboro football — Foxboro senior Da’Myi Cameron brings down Pembroke quarterback Jake Falco on the final drive of the game. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – The Foxboro offense made the biggest play of the game, but its defense was the reason it had that opportunity.

Sophomore quarterback Mike Marcucella hit freshman Rashaan Lewis for the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:35 left in the fourth quarter and the Warriors’ defense denied visiting Pembroke on the final drive of the game to secure a thrilling 24-21 win.

The Warriors marched into Pembroke territory with under three minutes to go but a red zone interception put a sudden halt to the drive, and the Titans took over with 2:45 to go and a 21-17 lead.

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Foxboro’s defense, which forced a pair of turnovers on the previous two Titan drives, held Pembroke in check. Lincoln Moore had a tackle for a loss on first down, and on 3rd and 3 from the 23-yard line, junior Shane Henri made a diving play to trip up the runner and senior Da’Myi Cameron finished the tack for a 2-yard loss.

The Warriors used all three timeouts to stop the clock, and a short Pembroke punt gave Foxboro 1st and 10 at the Titans’ 44-yard line.

Marcucella (18/26, 215 yards, 3 TD) hit sophomore Ben Angelini out of the backfield for 13 yards and a first down. Then consecutive passes to the right sideline to Eddie Feldman (eight yards) and Tony Sulham (seven yards) moved the sticks. On the next play, with five wide receivers, Marcucella went over the middle to Lewis on a quick hitch and the freshman slipped a tackle and found enough space between three defenders to dive across the goal line for the go-ahead score.

“The defense played terrific,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli. “We gave them a couple, they broke one big one on us. I couldn’t ask for any more out of these kids. They are so young but I have a solid group of seniors that live and die for this. This senior group was 0-10 as freshmen and now they are leading a team to the second round of the playoffs and for a shot at the Davenport at Thanksgiving.”

The Warriors’ defense got off to a great start in the second half, a tackle for loss by Marc Francois forced Pembroke into a three-and-out. But a Foxboro fumble — one of five turnovers from the Warriors — gifted the ball back to the Titans.

Pembroke cashed in three plays later when Jack Tosone found a sliver of space up the middle and turned on the jets, racing away for a 79-yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

Things nearly went from bad to worse for Foxboro as the Warriors coughed up the ensuing kickoff and the Titans took over just outside the red zone at the 25-yard line.

Foxboro’s defense delivered again as junior Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady, who was a constant presence in the Pembroke pocket, pressured the quarterback into a throw that was intercepted by sophomore Nolan Gordon at the 9-yard line.

The Warriors’ offense went on a lengthy drive, extended twice by fourth down penalties from the Titans. First came too many men on the field and then came roughing the kicker. Foxboro couldn’t make the Titans pay though and had to punt from midfield.

The Titans looked content to milk the clock with the lead, running the play clock down with over seven minutes to play. On second and eight, Mazenkes-O’Grady once again applied some pressure and Henri made an acrobatic play to come down with the interception.

While it was a grand finish for the Foxboro offense, it was a bit of a rocky start. Just three plays in, Pembroke’s Steve Johnson picked off a pass. But the Titans couldn’t capitalize as Mazenkes-O’Grady had a third down sack to get the ball back.

Foxboro’s second drive didn’t go much better as a fumble on the second play gave possession back to the visitors at the 10-yard line. On third and goal, Jake Falco hit Will McNamara right at the goal line and it was ruled the ball crossed the goal line for an 8-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 5:31 left in the first quarter.

Behind a 13-play, 55-yard drive — much of which the Warriors had to cover twice due to penalties — Foxboro got on the board. Marcucella hit Gordon (five catches, 72 yards) for 26 yards and then got the Titans to jump offside for a first down. But the drive stalled inside the 10-yard line and Sam Carpenter drilled a 23-yard field goal to make it 7-3.

The Warriors’ defense eventually forced a punt and Foxboro made it back-to-back scoring drives. Behind a couple of first down runs from Angelini (23 carries, 96 yards), Foxboro moved the ball down field. On second and 15, Sulham (five catches, 65 yards) was wide open and Marcucella hit him in stride for a 45-yard touchdown and a 10-7 advantage.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Pembroke found success in the air on its next drive, as Falco linked up with Johnson over the middle for 32 yards, and on the next play, after a great double move from Johnson, the pair hooked up for a 59-yard touchdown and a 14-10 lead.

Foxboro went back ahead just before halftime. A five-play, 60-yard drive was capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Marcucella to Gordon as the Warriors staked a 17-14 lead at halftime.

Foxboro football (5-4) advances to the Division 4 State Quarterfinals and will travel to #3 Bedford (8-1) on a date and time to be announced.

10/08/202210/08/2022

Foxboro Rolls Past Stoughton In Davenport Opener

Foxboro football Ben Angelini — Foxboro sophomore Ben Angelini had a big day on the ground with over 150 yards rushing. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. — With a lot of new faces in the lineup this season, longtime Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli knew patience was key for this year’s squad to find its rhythm.

Despite starting the season 1-3 in its first four games, Martinelli saw improvement each and every week, and that all came together on Friday night in the form of a 31-0 statement win on the road over Stoughton.

The Warriors had their way on both sides of the ball, especially in the first half as they scored a touchdown on four consecutive drives. Sophomore Ben Angelini had a breakout game for Foxboro, turning 21 carries into 173 yards as Foxboro pounded the ball on the ground to the tune of 282 rushing yards.

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“I talked about it in the preseason, if the coaches and kids can remain patient, and remember you never pick up where you left off, I think this could be a pretty good football team,” Martinelli said. “And we’re very young. Every week we’ve gotten better at one phase or the other, and tonight we kind of put everything together. We had some great offensive movement, good defense, and with Sam [Carpenter], I could be on the kickoff team, he’s a weapon.”

After marching into Stoughton territory on its opening drive, Carpenter had a rare miss on a field goal attempt but from there, the Warriors’ offense couldn’t be stopped.

And the defense did its job too. They forced Stoughton into a punt on its first drive, Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady blocked a punt on the second drive, and the Warriors pounced on a fumble on Stoughton’s drive.

On their second series, Foxboro marched down the field on nine plays before finding the end zone for the first time. Angelini was the workhorse on the drive, with four carries for 35 yards and one catch for 32 to get the visitors inside the 5-yard line. From there, Lincoln Moore took back-to-back handoffs, the latter for a 1-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter.

Stoughton got its first first down when Jarred Daughtry connected with James Currier on a tipped pass and another first down when Daughtry hit Tagh Swierzewski for nine yards. But a holding call, an incompletion, and a good tackle from Moore put an end to that drive. After nearly blocking the first punt, Mazenkes-O’Grady blocked the punt the Warriors recovered at the Stoughton 31-yard line.

From there, Angelini had four straight carries for 29 yards and once again Moore capped the drive, taking the handoff from the fullback spot for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.

The Warriors’ offense wasn’t on the sideline very long as Stoughton coughed up the ball on the very first play of the ensuing drive. Foxboro took over at the Stoughton 22-yard line. The Black Knights’ defense stood tall as Liam Pearl had a tackle for loss on third down that would have put Foxboro in fourth and 7 from the 20-yard line, but Stoughton accepted a holding call and Foxboro’s drive stayed alive.

On the next play, sophomore quarterback Mike Marcucella bought some time, scrambled out of the pocket, and threw a jump ball that sophomore Nolan Gordon came back to get right at the goalline for a 29-yard touchdown, and a 21-0 lead with 6:08 left in the second.

A 28-yard keeper from Daughtry and a reception from Alex Huynh helped Stoughton cross midfield but that’s where the drive ended.

Even though field position couldn’t slow the Warriors’ offense. Starting at their own 32-yard line, the Warriors orchestrated another nine-play drive that culminated in another touchdown. Back-to-back passes from Marcucella to Tony Sulham moved the sticks, Marcucella scrambled for 11 yards, and Angelini broke free for 21 yards.

“He’s a puppy but he played unbelievable tonight,” Martinelli said of Angelini. “Having so many young kids, having good senior leadership — we don’t have a lot of them but it’s good leadership — and with that, they hung tough the first couple of weeks when we struggled a bit. But I’ve seen them improve every week and I think it’s the right time to see that improvement.”

Facing a third and 8 from the Stoughton 9-yard line, Marcucella found senior Jaden Becker in the back of the end zone for a 28-0 lead with just seconds left in the half.

“They made some spaces up front and that’s the name of the game,” Martinelli said of his offensive line. “I’m happy all around, happy with how all of them played. Now it’s onto another challenge with North. I know they’ll enjoy tonight but they’ll be ready to go with film on Sunday and practice on Monday.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Foxboro only had three possessions in the second half and Carpenter drilled a 30-yard field goal at the end of the second series.

Stoughton had its two best offensive series in the third quarter, one that reached the Foxboro 30-yard line, and another that got down to the Warriors’ 25-yard line, but both ended on a turnover on downs.

Foxboro football (1-0 Hockomock Davenport, 2-3 overall) has yet another non-league game next week but this time against a familiar foe in North Attleboro on Friday at 7:00. Stoughton (1-1, 2-3) also has a crossover clash as they hit the road to face Attleboro.

09/06/202209/08/2022

Football: 2022 Davenport Division Preview

2022 Davenport Football Preview

20212 Davenport Division Preview

Canton

2021 Record: 2-8
Coach: Anthony Fallon

Key/Returning Players: Jack Flaherty, Sr., LB; Hayden Rose, Sr., LB; Josh Richards, Sr., DB; Charlie Cox, Sr., WR/DB; Julian Prentice, Sr., OL/DL; Jack Digirolamo, Sr., OL/DL; Owen Lane, Jr., QB/LB; Matt Lesser, Sr., OL/DL; Godson Ofonagoro, Sr., RB; James Robbins, Sr., RB; Cole Ouellette, Sr., RB;

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.

2022 Davenport Division Preview

Foxboro

2021 Record: 9-3
Coach: Jack Martinelli

Key/Returning Players: Sam Carpenter, Sr., K; Andrew Finn, Sr., OT/DE; Payton Francis, Sr., SE/S; Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, Jr., RB/DE; Lincoln Moore, Jr., RB/LB; Tony Sulham, Jr., WR/CB; Jaiquann Williams, Sr., RB/LB

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.

2022 Davenport Division Preview

Mansfield

2021 Record: 7-4
Coach: Mike Redding

Key/Returning Players: CJ Bell, Jr., WR/CB; Caden Colby, Sr., LB; Connor Curtis, Jr., QB; Ryan DeGirolamo, Sr., TE/DB; Trevor Foley, Jr., SE/DB; Jephte Jean, Sr., OL/DL; Colton Johnson, Sr., OL/DL; Drew Sacco, Sr., RB; Rocco Scarpellini, Sr., FB/LB; Conner Zukowski, Sr., QB

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.”

2022 Davenport Division Preview

Oliver Ames

2021 Record: 4-7
Coach: Ed DeWitt

Key/Returning Players: Jaden Hinton, Sr., OL/DL; Chad Silva, Sr., RB/LB; Chris Young, Sr., OL/DL; Luis Fernandes, Sr., OL/DL; Robert Jenkins, Sr., RB/DB; Jaden Graham, Sr., WR/DB; Bronson Burnham, Sr., WR; John Carey, Sr., OL; Jack Morley, Sr., LB; Jordan Young, Sr., LB; Donovan Howard, Sr., DL; Jack Perron, Sr., DB; Nick Ferrini, Sr., DB; Wayne Casey, Sr., QB;

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.”

2022 Davenport Division Preview

Sharon

2021 Record: 2-9
Coach: Dave Morse

Key/Returning Players: Joden Chanel, Sr., FB/DE; Liam Conway, Jr., QB; Dan Davis, Sr., OL/DT; Gabe Korn, Jr., RB/LB; Jacob McLoughlin, Jr., WR; Kyle Samuels, Sr., WR/DB; Duncan Seaman, Jr., RB/LB; Elijah Wisdom, Jr., FS

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.

2022 Davenport Division Preview

Stoughton

2021 Record: 5-6
Coach: Greg Burke

Key/Returning Players: Tagh Swierzewski, Sr., RB/S; Timmy Chung, Sr., LB; Thomas Laz, Sr., OL/DL; Jarred Daughtry, Jr., QB/S; Liam Pearl, Jr., FB/LB; Alex Huynh, Jr., RB/SS; Tyler Noel, Sr., OL/DL; James Currier, Jr., WR/DB; Caden Beder, Sr., OL/LB; Elijah Thomas, Sr., OL/DL;

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.”

11/06/2021

Foxboro Picks Off Newburyport In Playoff Opener

FOXBORO, Mass. – Foxboro’s defense needed just one play to put its stamp on the playoff opener against Newburyport.

By halftime, the Warriors’ defense had a season’s worth of highlights.

Foxboro football

Foxboro had its first of three first half pick-sixes on the very first play of the game, added a blocked punt before the break, and the third-seeded Warriors rolled to a 45-13 win over #14 Newburyport in the first round of the Division 4 tournament.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Senior Dylan Gordon continued his spectacular season by returning the first pass of the game 22-yards to the house, added a rushing touchdown on Foxboro’s first offensive series of the game, and tacked on a 47-yard pick-six with just under three minutes left in the opening quarter.

Senior Tre Stith also had an interception returned for a touchdown from 45 yards out, senior Tom Marcucella tossed a pair of touchdowns — one to classmate Tom Sharkey and one to classmate Nick Medeiros — and sophomore Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady blocked a punt that led to a field goal from junior Sam Carpenter.

“From what we saw on film, they had some weapons,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli. “We knew that had a kid coming back that had been out and their quarterback can make things up but we kind of kept him in check. We jumped out with those interceptions for touchdowns and that kind of made the rest of the way easier.”

On the first play, the pass popped off the chest of the intended receiver and Gordon snatched it from the air, sprinting down the right sideline and into the end zone for a 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the game. It marked Gordon’s second straight game with an interception return for a touchdown.

Foxboro football

Foxboro got the ball back after the Clippers’ drive stalled near midfield but it didn’t take long for the Warriors to march down field. In fact, it took just four plays and each one was a handoff to Gordon. After over 30 yards on the first three carries, Gordon broke free up the left side following some nice blocks from Steve Bridges and Ryan Addeche, breaking away for a 45-yard touchdown as he outran the Newburyport secondary across the field and into the end zone.

As the Clippers tried to orchestrate an answer, their drive came to another sudden halt. On the fifth play, facing a 3rd and 7, the pass over the middle was sniffed out by Gordon and he found space along the left sideline for a 47-yard pick-six, his 29th total touchdown of the season (20 rushing, six receiving, three interception returns).

“I’m amazed every week, the numbers he’s put up this year are inconceivable from my perspective,” Martinelli said of Gordon. “He does it on both sides of the ball too. Defensively, he’s got that something you can’t teach, that knack. You can put kids in position but he takes it the next step and executes. It’s kind of uncanny. I haven’t seen a kid like him in a long time to be honest.”

While Gordon only had 95 yards on the ground, he averaged over 11 yards per carry. He’s gone over 200 yards of offense in five games this season. Foxboro’s offense only ran 12 plays in the first half and scored on a quarter of them.

Rashaad Way had a big punt return to give Foxboro great field possession but the Warriors’ offense stalled some with a pair of incomplete passes and Foxboro settled for a 38-yard boot through the uprights from Carpenter.

The Warriors started their next drive at their own 45-yard line but quickly moved down the field. After a couple of runs from Gordon, Marcucella went with the play fake and had time in the pocket with good protection from Dylan Kerrigan, Aidan Hughes, and Andrew Finn. Medeiros released up the middle and was wide open for a 21-yard touchdown and a 31-0 lead with 6:50 left in the second quarter.

Newburyport was forced into a three-and-out on its next series but the punt was blocked by Mazenkes-O’Grady, who came flying in from the left side and leaped with his hands raised. The ball bounced all the way back to the Clippers’ own 20-yard line.

On the first play, Marcucella fired a quick pass to the left sideline to Sharkey and he used his speed to race past the defense and into the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown.

Foxboro football

The Foxboro defense added a cherry on top of what was already an impressive first half when Stith hauled in an interception and was able to break free from the receiver and go in for a 45-yard touchdown and a 45-0 lead at halftime.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“I kind of like it because there’s no preconceived notion on prior games, they just go out and do what they can do,” Martinelli said of the new statewide format and playing new teams. “You can see film but you don’t always know the quality of the opponent or get to see them physically. [Newburyport] has some good young kids so they’ll be good again next year.”

With a comfortable lead, the Warriors were able to take out all of its starters on both sides of the ball. Newburyport scored on a 62-yard interception return from Jack Hadden in the third quarter and then quarterback Finn Sullivan kept it for a 19-yard rushing score in the fourth.

Foxboro football

Foxboro (8-1) will return to the Ahern Middle School next week for a D4 Quarterfinal matchup with #11 Wilmington, who knocked off #6 Middleboro on Friday night. The game is set for a 7:00 PM kickoff.

04/10/2021

DeMattio Drives North Attleboro Past Foxboro

North Attleboro football — North Attleboro senior Jacob Silva tries to break free from the grasp of a Foxboro defender in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – Years from now, members of the North Attleboro football team will still be talking about “the drive.”

After the Rocketeer defense stood its ground in the red zone and forced a turnover on downs, the North Attleboro offense put together a methodical drive that will define this year’s Davenport division champions.

Junior Tyler DeMattio (18 carries, 136 yards, two touchdowns) led the Big Red on a 20-play, 92-yard drive that took up 9:52 of game time, culminating in a gutsy 16-yard touchdown run from the quarterback with under three minutes to play, turning a three-point deficit into a 14-10 win for North Attleboro.

North Attleboro football Foxboro football Tyler DeMattio Luis Sulham Rashaad Way

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“That last drive was epic,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “That’s one you don’t see too often, [a championship drive], I was very proud of them.”

Foxboro denied the Rocketeers a chance at the go-ahead score one drive earlier when junior Rashaad Way took advantage of a rare miscue from DeMattio, intercepting a floated pass right before the goal line with 4:44 to go in the third quarter.

The Warriors used that momentum to march down field, putting themselves in position to increase their lead. Highlighted by back-to-back first down runs from Dylan Gordon (seven carries, 47 yards) and a 27-yard pass and catch from Cam Prescott to Way, the hosts moved across midfield.

Way hauled in a 23-yard pass to convert a third down and get down to the North 5-yard line. From there, North’s defense buckled down, sending the Warriors backward on first and then forced three straight incompletions, the final one knocked away in the end zone by Matt Penta to keep the Rocketeers down just three, 10-7, with 0:31 left in the third.

North Attleboro football Foxboro football Tyler DeMattio Luis Sulham Rashaad Way

DeMattio had nine carries on the drive for 71 yards, converting a 3rd down very early in the drive, keeping it himself to move the sticks on 4th and 1 from the North 33-yard line, scrambled for 7 yards and a first on 3rd and 5 just over midfield and then converted another 4th and short just before the touchdown. North also got key carries from Jacob Silva (10 carries, 52 yards), Tommy Whalen (nine carries, 36 yards), and Alex McCoy (eight carries, 37 yards) on the drive.

After Luis Sulham and Jon Moses combined for a tackle for loss, North was faced with 2nd and 13 from the 16-yard line. DeMattio brought Whalen in motion to the left and then kept it himself after the play action, sprinting to the left side of the line, following the block of both Silva and senior lineman Harry Bullock. DeMattio then split through two Foxboro defenders and bounced off two more in the secondary, diving across the goal line for the touchdown.

“I’m running out of words for him but that run typifies him,” Johnson said. “He looks exhausted and you wonder if he can do it on the next play, and you try not to give it to him every down but he just finds a way. He had to kick the extra point so I took a timeout just to rest him for a minute. He’s just a phenomenal kid, there aren’t many like him. He’s just so tough and he has the respect of all of his teammates.”

Foxboro’s ensuing drive got off to a strong start with a 9-yard run from Gordon and a 12-yard pass from Prescott to Sulham but two plays later, Bullock and Robbie Donovan came crashing in for a 10-yard sack. Two incompletions later, the final one on 4th and 22 following a false start, turned the ball over on downs to clinch the win and division title for the Rocketeers.

“They left everything they had, every ounce of their ability and then some,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinello about his team’s effort. “[North Attleboro] is a good football team, give credit where credit is due. We had our chances to put it away but if you don’t take those opportunities against a good team, you give them a shot.”

After a postgame handshake with Johnson, Martinelli made his way across to the North Attleboro sideline to shake hands with DeMattio.

“I do when I think they are special,” Martinelli said of the postgame meeting with the North QB. “As much we knew when he was going to take it, you still have to stop him and we just weren’t able to. The kid is tough, he’s their best running back, and his ability to throw the ball this year has made it more difficult to defend him.

North Attleboro football Foxboro football Tyler DeMattio Luis Sulham Rashaad Way

“He’s tough and they have other weapons, he has more around him this year than he did last year. So you have to respect all of them. It opens some space up but you have to watch out for their different formations with trips, two receivers, the motion, the whole nine yards. But they are a good team, [DeMattio] is special. We would have liked it to have ended a little differently but the kids left it all on the field.”

North Attleboro got off to a strong start, forcing Foxboro to go three-and-out on its opening drive. Starting at their own 37-line, the Rocketeers used 12 plays to cover 63 yards and took a 7-0 lead when DeMattio kept it himself for a 1-yard touchdown.

Foxboro’s defense forced a three-and-out on North’s second drive and the offense was able to take advantage. On first down, Prescott connected with Way down the left sideline for a 48-yard gain. Two plays later, Prescott fired a laser to Sulham right at the goal line for a 7-yard touchdown, making it 7-7 with 10 minutes left in the second.

North turned it over on downs in Foxboro territory and punted on its other two drives of the first half while Foxboro had its third punt of the game before halftime.

The Rocketeers started on offense in the second half but just two plays in, Foxboro’s Mike Norvish came in with a big hit to knock the ball free and junior Dylan Kerrigan, who had the original tackle, came up with the loose ball.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Helped along by a pass interference and misconduct call, Foxboro moved inside the red zone down to the North 10-yard line. After a pair of runs totaled just two yards and an incomplete pass in the end zone, Foxboro settled for a 25-yard field goal from Sam Carpenter to make it 10-7.

North had two turnovers and Foxboro was able to get inside the 10-yard line off both chances but ended up with just three points total.

North Attleboro (5-0) is taking next week off while Foxboro (3-2) will host Franklin on Friday at 5:30 in a crossover matchup.

North Attleboro football Foxboro football Tyler DeMattio Luis Sulham Rashaad Way

03/20/2021

Stoughton Finishes Strong To Fend Off Foxboro

Stoughton football Christian Ais — Stoughton senior Christian Ais breaks free for a long run in the fourth quarter against Foxboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

STOUGHTON, Mass. – The Stoughton football team has long prided itself on its performance in the fourth quarter and how they finish games.

Whether it’s with a lead, in a tie game, or trying to come from behind, the Black Knights always look to empty the tank in the final 12 minutes of action.

Locked in a defensive battle with division rival Foxboro, knotted at 7-7 since the opening quarter of the game, Stoughton delivered in the fourth quarter. The Black Knights scored a pair of touchdowns inside the final five minutes of the game, sandwiched around a game-clinching takeaway to earn a 21-7 win over the visiting Warriors.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

After the opening drive of the game in which the Black Knights broke free for a 44-yard touchdown, Foxboro’s defense stymied Stoughton’s offense. The Warriors recovered fumbles on back-to-back possessions in the first half, forced Stoughton to punt to start the second half, and had a huge stop in the red zone forcing a turnover on downs in the third quarter.

But when Stoughton’s offense took the field for the first time in the fourth quarter, starting at their own 20-yard line with 11 minutes to play, the Black Knights finally found a rhythm.

Helped along by a pass interference call three plays in on a third down, Stoughton’s ground game got going. Christopher Ais (20 carries, 138 yards) took four straight carries, moving the chains twice, and took the Knights into Foxboro territory. Then it was Christian Ais’ (10 carries, 50 yards) turn, cutting back up the middle for a 21-yard dash to get down to the 10-yard line.

Three plays later, Christian Ais bowled his way over a trio of Foxboro defenders at the goal line, getting an extra push from junior lineman Edward Conrad, for a 2-yard touchdown. Jonah Ly (3-for-3 on extra points) split the upright to put Stoughton up 14-7 with 4:33 to go.

Ais’ score capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive that took off 6:27 of the clock.

“We fumbled all over the place, you don’t do that, you can’t give up the ball,” said Stoughton head coach Greg Burke. “They are tough, we knew they’d be good but at least we finished up the way we want to play and we played good defense throughout. But hey, if we give up only one touchdown every week I’ll take it. We have a couple of issues that we still need to iron out but we’ll get there.”

Foxboro started the ensuing drive at its own 15-yard line but Cam Prescott’s deep pass got caught up in the wind and Stoughton senior Andrew Medina was able to adjust and come down with the interception to get the hosts the ball back right away.

Stoughton went right back to its ground game, and aided by a Foxboro unsportsmanlike penalty, moved into the red zone. Christopher Ais broke free for a 15-yard run to get inside the 10-yard line and two plays later, senior quarterback John Burke took the QB option around the corner on the left sideline for a 9-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 1:31 to play.

“The fourth quarter comes down to weight training,” Burke said. “We’ve got a brand new weight room here that the kids haven’t been able to use. They put in the time, they found ways in the offseason to lift. We aren’t the biggest team but pound-for-pound I’ll match us against anyone. I felt like if we could hang close for three quarters, we could win in the fourth. We didn’t help ourselves with the fumbles, they had one or two good hits but those fumbles are our fault. We’ll get back to the drawing board but we’re 2-0 and we’ll take any league win we can.”

While Foxboro’s defense slowed Stoughton’s offense throughout the majority of the game, the Black Knights’ defense kept the Warriors’ offense bottled up.

The Warriors’ defense forced a turnover on downs to set up Foxboro’s best drive of the game, a 5-play, 45-yard drive. Starting in Stoughton territory, junior Dylan Gordon had pair of good runs and junior Omarion Otto-Broomstein barreled his way in from 1-yard out. Sam Carpenter’s successful point after attempt tied the game, 7-7, with 1:14 left in the opening quarter.

But beyond that, Stoughton’s defense didn’t allow the Warriors to move the ball much. In fact, Foxboro only ran more than five plays on one drive, punting on five possessions, including four straight between the second and third quarters. The Warriors ran nine plays on their second possession but that came to an end on downs.

Anthony Girolamo had a strong game at linebacker while Stoughton got good pressure up front from Ly, Christian Georges, Nivon Domoulin, Konrod Rogers, and Liam Joyce, among others.

“Our defense played great for us,” Burke said. “[Gordon] had a couple of runs, we kept [Chris McNamara] in check, and [Luis Sulham] only caught a couple of passes. They did a good job passing blocking, that’s something we usually get in on but they did a nice job there. But I was very, very happy with the way the defense played and getting the win, it was a tough win. We still have a long way to go.”

Stoughton nearly jumped back in front twice near the end of the second. The Black Knights marched 9 plays to get into the red zone but fumbled on a run to the left and Sulham jumped on the loose ball for the visitors. But Foxboro’s drive was put to a stop on a sack from Davin Swierzewski. Stoughton got the ball back at the Foxboro 31-yard line with 32 seconds left but had four straight incompletions to end the half.

The Black Knights threatened again at the end of the third quarter, set up on a 41-yard pass and catch from Burke to Christian Ais. But Foxboro’s defense tightened up, getting key tackles from Mike Norvish, Dylan Kerrigan, Jon Moses, James Kraus and Trent Rennie. Stoughton tried to run the “Philly Special” on fourth down but Jake Queeney’s pass to Burke was just out of reach in the end zone.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“I thought the kids did a good job but those three backs [the Ais brothers and Christian Georges], you can’t key on one that’s for sure,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli. “It’s not like stopping one back, and they run what they run offensively very well. Even if you have those kids stopped, they are still going to get positive yardage so give them credit. It was a good game, 21-7 doesn’t look like the game I saw…14-7 yeah. If you don’t tie up those kids before they get going…they are as good as I’ve seen in a while in a league and there are three of them.

“I’m disappointed in how it ended but not disappointed in how the kids played from start to finish. Now we’re onto next week.”

Stoughton (2-0) will host Sharon on Friday night at 5:00 while Foxboro (1-1) has its home opener, hosting Canton at 5:30.

03/11/202103/11/2021

Football: 2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2019 Davenport Football Preview

Canton

2019 Record: 10-1 (Davenport division champions)
2019 Finish: Reached D5 South Final (Davenport Division Champions)
Coach: Anthony Fallon

Key/Returning Players: Matt Connolly, Sr., OL/DL; Cam Sanchez, Sr., RB/DB; Jack Albert, Sr., WR/DB; Carson Campbell, Sr., OL/DE;

Outlook:
It’s a new era in Canton as Anthony Fallon takes over for longtime head coach Dave Bohane, who stepped down from his second stint in charge of the Bulldogs at the end of last season.

While it’s a new era, all of the players and coaches are hoping that the success from the past two seasons continues going forward. If that success is going to continue, it’s going to be by a host of new faces. The Bulldogs graduated a historic class that won back-to-back Davenport division titles and reached the D5 South Sectional final in 2019. While competing for the Davenport division title this year, Canton will lean heavily on its few returners while new players take advantage of the new opportunities.

Senior Matt Connolly is a force on both sides of the ball, protecting the quarterback on the offensive line and leading the way for the ground game with his blocking. And defensively, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound senior who is committed to play at Assumption College, is an absolute handful and requires a lot of attention. Cam Sanchez is another experienced player back for the Bulldogs and will be involved in the running game offensively and apart of the secondary defensively. Carson Campbell started all 11 games for Canton last year at right tackle and will add defensive line duties this season. Jack Albert should see an expanded role on both sides of the ball and will be one of the main targets in the receiving game.

“Our team has great speed in our secondary, we are big and strong upfront and our linebackers are tough and fast,” Fallon said. “We have a solid mix on our varsity of juniors and seniors. I am also excited with our numbers on the sub-varsity level with 30-plus players. With a tough-minded defense and a fast offense, I know we will compete in every game.”

2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

Foxboro

2019 Record: 5-6
2019 Finish: Reached D5 South Semifinal
Coach: Jack Martinelli

Key/Returning Players: Jon Moses, Sr., DE; Sean Ferguson, Sr., OC; Mike Norvish, Sr., LB; Chris McNamara, Sr., RB; Luis Sulham, Sr., WR; Dylan Kerrigan, Sr., OG; James Stamatos, Sr., OLB; James Kraus, Sr., SS; Rashaad Way, Jr., WR/CB;

Outlook:
There is a lot of optimism in Foxboro for the Fall II season, and with a strong group of returning starters in different spots all over the field, there is good reason for it.

The Warriors seem to be in the mix for the Davenport division title each season, coming in third in 2019 and 2017. With talent back in key spots, Foxboro could be a serious contender for their first crown since 2015. The offense starts with the line and Foxboro has some experience and size to work with. Senior Sean Ferguson is a towering presence at 6’5, 315-pounds and anchors the line from the center position and he will be joined by junior Dylan Kerrigan (6’0, 205) at tackle. Senior Cam Prescott will start under center and will have a bevy of options to work with including playmaker Luis Sulham and junior Rashaad Way. Look for Chris McNamara to pick up where he left off carrying the ball.

Foxboro has an equal amount of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball with the strength of the team coming from the linebackers and the secondary. Seniors Mike Norvish and James Stamatos return with plenty of varsity experience under their belts and will anchor the linebacker position while senior James Kraus will start at safety and will be accompanied in the secondary by Way and Tom Sharkey, both juniors. One player to keep an eye out for is senior Jon Moses, a 6’4 defensive end that really improved over the course of last season and could be a handful for opposing offenses to deal with.

“The heart and soul of team this year is the senior leadership and experience along with a strong and talented junior class,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli.

2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 4-7 (Davenport Division Champions)
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Don Johnson

Key/Returning Players: Jared Penta, Sr., SLOT/DB/PR; Jacob Silva, Sr., TE/LB; Harry Bullock, Sr., OG/DE; Matt Penta, Sr., SE/DB; Tyler DeMattio, Jr., QB/K; Robbie Donovan, Sr., TE/DE; Alex McCoy, Sr., SLOT/DB; Jared Vacher, Jr., OG/DE; Danny Hayes, Sr., OT/DT; Colby Feid, Sr., SE/DB; Tommy Whalen, Sr., SLOT/LB;

Outlook:
North Attleboro was ravished by injuries during the 2019 season and the result was the program’s first sub-.500 season in 27 years. It speaks volumes to how consistent the Rocketeers are year in and year out that it had been that long but the Big Red are ready to turn the page and begin a new streak.

The Rocketeers are getting a lot of players back that missed time last year and also have a bunch of players back that were thrown into the fire last year and now have varsity experience. With that combination, North Attleboro is hoping the end result is the Davenport division title. Junior Tyler DeMattio is back under center for his second year as the starter after making a big splash on Thanksgiving his freshman season. DeMattio can get it done with both his arm and his legs (and his foot in the kicking game). He has a lot of weapons at his disposal this year with Jared Penta and Alex McCoy in the slots, Coby Feid and Matt Penta at split end, and 6-foot-5 Endicott-commit Robbie Donovan at tight end. Jacob Silva returns at tailback and will be complemented by senior Tommy Whalen while sophomores Nathan Shultz and Greg Berthiaume could be in the mix as well. Harry Bullock will anchor the offensive line alongside classmates Danny Hayes and Justin Vecchiarelli and juniors Jared Vacher and Keysun Wise.

On top of the eight returning starters on offense, the Rocketeers boast eight returners on the defensive side of the ball as well. North Attleboro has a lot of depth at the linebacker position with Silva, a team captain, being a key part of the group. He’ll be joined by Berthiaume, Vecchiarelli, Whalen, senior Dylan Eberle, and junior Tyler Bannon. Jared and Matt Penta are both very experienced safeties while McCoy and Feid return at corner, so the secondary will certainly be a strength for the Big Red. The Rocketeers don’t have the biggest defensive line but the likes of Donovan, Vacher, and Bullock provide speed from the edge.

“The extended off season has provided extra time for tremendous growth in the weight room,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “The depth at the skill positions on both sides of the ball will be the strength of this team. The key will be how quickly and effectively we can put together our offensive and defensive lines.”

Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 4-7
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Ed DeWitt

Key/Returning Players: Jadon Ricci, Sr., RB/DB; Gavin Morrison, Sr., OL/DL; Max Tower, Sr., OL/LB; Dante Cocivera, Sr.,OL/DL; Jaden Krowski, Sr., DB; Colin Williamson, Jr., RB/DB; Chad Silva, Soph., RB/LB;

Outlook:
Oliver Ames is back in the Davenport division and is looking to make a splash in its first season back.

The Tigers had a lot of success when the league first split into two divisions, winning the Davenport title in 2011 and 2013 before making the jump up to the Kelley-Rex. With a strong group of players back, OA is looking to take the next step forward during the Fall II 2020 season. Senior captain Gavin Morrison is a two-way lineman and will anchor the offensive group from the center spot. He’ll be joined by senior Dante Cocivera and Max Tower, both returning players from last season. Junior Collin Williamson burst onto the scene last year and should see an expanded role in the backfield during this abbreviated season while sophomore Chad Silva should be in the mix as well.

Speed will be a strength on the defensive side of the ball for the Tigers, who boast a lot of the same faces on the defensive line as their offensive line. Tower anchors the linebackers and will be one to keep an eye on, using his speed and strength to make plays, and he’ll be joined by the sophomore Silva. Senior captain Jaden Ricci is one of the best defensive players on the team, a fast, physical player with a nose for the ball that will start at corner. He’ll be joined by senior Jaden Krowski in the secondary.

2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

“We are excited about where our program is heading and are really ecstatic and thankful to get an opportunity to play this season,” said head coach Ed DeWitt.

2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

Sharon

2019 Record: 0-11
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dave Morse

Key/Returning Players: Nico Marrero, Sr., RB/LB; Ike Ogbonnanze, Sr., WR/LB; Kiran Chandrasekaran, Sr., QB; Owen Conway, Sr., WR/DB; Shea Letendre, Sr., C/MLB; PJ McManus, Sr., WR/DB/K; Conor McLaughlin, Sr., WR;

Outlook:
Sharon had a very young squad a season ago and went through plenty of growing pains. The Eagles are hoping to turn some of that experience into success on the field this season.

Not only do the Eagles have their quarterback and top receivers back, but they are also getting a big boost with a return from injury. Senior Kiran Chandrasekaran returns under center and has weapons in PJ McManus, Owen Conway, and Conor McLaughlin in the passing game. Nico Marrero, who showed flashes of great play as a sophomore, had to miss all of last year due to injury but is back this year and will be a key two-way player for the Eagles. Marrero is a powerful runner that will look to find space created by an improved offensive line. The Eagles’ offensive line is anchored by senior center Shea Letendre while junior Jack Murphy and sophomores Miles Clay and Daniel Davis help round out Sharon’s line.

Defensive the Eagles are always a competitive group, the challenge will be doing so for four quarters against some top offenses in the Davenport. Ike Ogbonnanze, who is also a big receiving target on offense, will start at linebacker alongside Marrero and Letendre, giving the Eagles a very experienced group in the heart of the defense. McManus and Conway will play on both sides of the ball, starting in the secondary defensively.

“Our kids know our numbers are not strong but they have a great attitude and are playing like their backs are against the wall,” said Sharon head coach Dave Morse.

Stoughton

2019 Record: 8-3
2019 Finish: Reached D3 South Quarterfinals
Coach: Greg Burke

Key/Returning Players: Christopher Ais, Sr., RB/LB; Christian Ais, Sr., RB/DB; Christian Georges, Sr., HB/DE; John Burke, Sr., QB/DB; Jake Queeney, Sr., WR/DB; Sproul Derolus, Sr., OL/DL;

Outlook:
Stoughton head coach Greg Burke always leans heavily on his senior class and he has a real talented group this year.

The Black Knights have a handful of very talented and experienced seniors that have played a lot of snaps over the past two seasons and that has Stoughton primed for a run a the Davenport division title. Senior John Burke is back under center at quarterback for the Knights and it’s likely we’ll see Brady Conlin take some snaps similar to how Burke split with Clayton Rahaman last season. Both quarterbacks will have plenty of options to work with, especially on the ground. The Knights have a “home run” type offense with any given handoff capable to break off a big run. Senior brothers Christopher and Christian Ais recently committed to the University of New Haven and both bring speed and power when running the ball. Christian Georges is another workhorse out of the backfield while juniors Anthony Girolamo and Jonah Ly could see some carries as well. What makes Stoughton’s run game so dangerous is all of the backs do a great job of blocking when they don’t get carries. Jake Queeney will be the main target in the passing game for the Knights. Sproul Derolus is one of the few returners on the offensive line so Stoughton will need some players to step up there.

Defense is always a staple for the Knights and that looks to be the case again this year. A lot of the same faces that make plays on the offensive side will be the ones making plays on the defensive side. Georges is an absolute monster coming off the edge and uses his speed and strength to cause havoc in the backfield. Christopher Ais will be joined by Ly and Girolamo at linebacker while Christian Ais, Queeney, and Burke are all returners in the secondary for the Knights.

“Hopefully without a ton of injuries we can have a good year,” Burke said. “We have some experience and the kids have worked hard in the clubs for weight training. We need the juniors to step up and contribute fast while still learning varsity speed. The league is always tough and hopefully, we can survive tough crossover games.”

2020 (Fall II) Davenport Division Preview

11/09/201911/09/2019

Defense Helps Canton Get Past Mistakes and Foxboro

Canton football — Canton players Robbie Gallery (32) and David Allen (1) celebrate a fumble recovery against Foxboro. The Bulldogs won 15-0 to advance to the D5 South final. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

CANTON, Mass. – In a game filled with penalties, turnovers, and mistakes at the most inopportune times, two elite defenses were showcased in the Div. 5 South semifinal at WWII Veterans Memorial Field.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Canton’s defense tossed its fifth shutout in nine games this season and the Bulldogs did just enough on the offensive side to pull out a 15-0 win against Foxboro to remain unbeaten and to advance to is second straight sectional final.

“Our defense was outstanding, our special teams was very good tonight, and as usual these kids stepped up and got things done for us and I’m very proud of them,” said Canton coach Dave Bohane. “

The Bulldogs set the tone right from the start when Owen Lehane got into the backfield to stop a jet sweep for a five-yard loss on the game’s first play. Foxboro almost struck on a deep ball to Elijah Lewis on second down, but the Warriors went three-and-out.

Starting at its own 40, Canton moved the ball upfield quickly in search of an early lead. The Bulldogs got as far as the Foxboro 28, but then on second and short Johnny Hagan (7-of-11, 77 yards) was picked off on the one by Mike Devlin. Two plays later, the snap sailed over the head of Foxboro quarterback Shayne Kerrigan (7-of-22, 93 yards) and out the back of the end zone.

On the ensuing kick-off, Gersom Rivera (91 yards of offense) broke free down the near sideline for a 60-yard score only to have a penalty take the points off the board. The Bulldogs drove into the red zone but defensive linemen Anton George and Austin Read stuffed a second down play and Hagan’s third down pass to David Allen fell incomplete. Lehane booted a 22-yard field goal for a 5-0 lead.

Bohane said, “We’d get in that nice second and three and okay here we go, and then we’d jump offsides or on third down we’d take a bad penalty. We’d get momentum going, be on their side of the field, and find ways to shoot ourselves in the foot.”

The baseball score continued into halftime because both defense remained on top. Jahmi Aldin had a sack and recovered a Kerrigan fumble to end a pair of Foxboro drives, while TJ Perry had an interception in the red zone to stop a Bulldogs possession. With time winding down in the half, Foxboro got to the Canton 24, but a sack by Lucas Ragusa and Jack Connolly kept Canton in front at the break.

To start the third quarter, a Rivera kick return and a personal foul penalty put Canton at the Foxboro 48. The Bulldogs got to the 28, but on fourth and three Kyle Fitzgerald (17 carries, 63 yards) was stopped a yard short of the marker.

Foxboro’s next possession stalled and Robbie Gallery came flying off the edge to block the punt, putting Canton back in business at the 19-yard-line. A false start to begin the possession stymied the momentum and the Bulldogs had to settle for another Lehane kick, this one from 31 yards, to put another three points on the board with four minutes left in the third.

“They played great,” Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli said about his defense. “I felt pretty good at halftime down 5-0, still a one-score game. The blocked punt hurt us to give them the eighth point on a field goal and then we responded and came up empty-handed.”

The Warriors finally put together a drive and gave themselves a shot at tying the game. Kerrigan hit Luis Sulham for 11 yards and then Ryan Hughes for 12. Back-to-back penalties made it third and 12, but Kerrigan hit Hughes in stride for a 41-yard completion down to the Canton three.

Kerrigan gained two yards on two plays against the Canton defensive line to set up third and goal at the one, but misfortune struck as a snap sailed over his head. He scrambled to recover it but lost 22 yards on the play. His fourth down pass fell incomplete.

“We couldn’t change field position at all and we held on as long as we could and if you don’t cash in on the one or the two then you don’t deserve to win the game,” said Martinelli. “They’re a great team but our kids played their hearts out.”

“We feel like w’re never down defensively,” said Bohane. “The quarter ended and one coach thought they were going for the conversion and it was like, no they haven’t gotten in yet, and it was like okay well let’s keep them out. Good fortune on the snap but good effort by the defense.”

After an Allen punt pinned Foxboro deep, Gallery and Connolly combined on a sack to force the Warriors to punt from their own end zone. Canton took over at the 28 and for the first time was able to make field position count.

Hagan finally found a seam on the right side, followed his blockers and burst into the end zone for a 15-yard score and a 15-0 lead. Aldin and Lehane capped the evening with a sack of Kerrigan with two minutes left to seal the shutout and the trip to the final.

“They had probably 10 guys in the box, the whole game,” said Martinelli. “They weren’t going to let [Shayne] run and they didn’t. They had the kids to do it and executed and hence no points on the board. We felt we needed three scores to win the game because we felt our defense was good enough to keep us in it and it did.”

Canton (9-0) will host No. 2 seed Holliston in the South final next Friday night. Foxboro (5-4) will await its next opponent in the non-playoff bracket.

“Couple guys said that to me over the off-season who’ve been through this and they were like you want to get that third game at home and we’ve done it,” Bohane explained, “but Holliston we’ve never played and I’ve only heard great things about them. So, we’re going to get to work on them now, probably tonight, and just try to crack that riddle.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.