There shall be loads of firepower on show Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium when Wakefield and Milton meet within the Div. 3 Super Bowl. The Warriors and Wildcats have mixed to win all 23 of their video games this season, establishing one of the crucial awaited matchups of the weekend.
Getting to Gillette was no simple process for both group as every needed to struggle by means of the rugged Div. 3 bracket. Milton (11-0) rolled previous Minnechaug within the opening spherical after which needed to rally within the second half to get rid of defending champion Marblehead earlier than outlasting Hanover, 32-30, to earn their spot,
Wakefield (12-0) needed to work equally laborious because it survived a stern check from Masconomet within the opening spherical and one other from Plymouth South within the quarterfinals earlier than holding off North Attleboro to clinch its spot.
“With the three games in the playoffs and our game against Melrose on Thanksgiving, it’s been a dogfight for sure,” mentioned Warriors coach John Rafferty, a graduate of Wakefield.
The recreation units up as a showcase for a pair of gifted backfields.
Milton quarterback Owen McHugh has been sensible all season each working and throwing whereas Jack Finnegan has executed a little bit little bit of every part for coach Steve Dembowski, who’s taking a group to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in his profession.
“This has been a good experience for the kids,” Dembowski mentioned. “We knew that the bracket was going to be tough, I really felt that any of the top eight teams could easily win it.”
Wakefield has its personal dual-threat quarterback in senior Javin Willis, who has guided an offense that averages 27.5 factors per recreation. His working mate, Nathan Delgado, stepped into the highlight on Thanksgiving when his laborious working helped the Warriors overcome a deficit within the remaining minutes towards Melrose.
“Everyone has had a little bit of a hand in helping us,” Rafferty mentioned. “Javin is the guy that makes it go as a quarterback but it really is a team effort. He’s been really good at distributing the ball and getting everyone involved.”
Wakefield’s protection has allowed solely 8.8 factors per recreation however will face most likely its sternest check of the season in a Milton offense that averaged 35.6 factors per recreation and eclipsed the 40 level mark on 5 events.
“Wakefield is a really impressive team and they are really well-coached,” Dembowski mentioned. “Their quarterback is dynamic and they can run the ball well and have a defense that has been fantastic. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
DIVISION 3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, December 3, 5:30 p.m. at Gillette
Milton vs. Wakefield
MILTON WILDCATS (11-0)
Head coach: Steve Dembowski
MILTON 33, Scituate 26
Milton 47, FRAMINGHAM 6
MILTON 42, Holliston 6
MILTON 28, Walpole 14
Milton 29, WEYMOUTH 7
Milton 41, NEEDHAM 7
Milton 28, NATICK 7
MILTON 46, MINNECHAUG 21
MILTON 24, Marblehead 20
Milton 32, Hanover 30
MILTON 42, Braintree 0
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
WAKEFIELD WARRIORS (12-0)
Head coach: John Rafferty
WAKEFIED 28, Greater Lawrence 6
Wakefield 39, BELMONT 12
WAKEFIELD 28, Northeast 0
WAKEFIELD 28, Stoneham 6
WAKEFIELD 35, Burlington 0
Wakefield 21, WOBURN 13
Wakefield 21, WATERTOWN 7
WAKEFIELD 45, Wilmington 0
WAKEFIELD 21, Masconomet 12
Wakefield 24, PLYMOUTH SOUTH 14
Wakefield 31, North Attleboro 24
Wakefield 15, MELROSE 12
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
SUPER BOWL HISTORY
Milton is making its first state championship look. Last 12 months, the sixth-seeded Wildcats received their first-round recreation earlier than dropping to North Attleboro within the quarterfinals.
Wakefield is heading to the championship for the primary time since 2001 the place they misplaced to Acton-Boxboro 27-7 within the Div. 2 finals. Wakefield’s solely bowl win got here in 1999 after they defeated Acton-Boxboro 13-6 as Mark Sullivan ran for 142 yards and a landing, whereas William Morrison’s 1-yard TD within the fourth quarter proved to be the margin of victory/
For the historical past buffs, 1999 was the 12 months Wakefield and Melrose tied for the league title after taking part in to a tie on Thanksgiving (the league had no additional time guidelines in place). The faculties settled it the following morning with a coin flip, received by Wakefield.
Source: www.bostonherald.com