Walpole coach Chris Sullivan is fast to say the occasions of Oct. 13 can have little bearing on what transpires Thursday evening when the Timberwolves meet Milton for the Div. 3 state title.
The Bay State Conference groups met within the common season and it was a struggling Walpole crew that discovered its mojo that night. Noah Mackenzie threw for 3 touchdowns, two going to Jamal Abdal-Khallaq, who additionally returned an interception for a rating in a 42-23 win.
That was the second of eight straight wins for a Walpole crew which has averaged greater than 40 factors a sport throughout that stretch. Sullivan isn’t stunned by that as he felt coming into the season his crew had an opportunity to make noise.
“I really thought we had a talented team, we scheduled a scrimmage against Catholic Memorial and added King Philip onto our regular-season schedule,” Sullivan mentioned. “We simply made too many errors in opposition to King Philip (a 31-0 loss) and you may’t try this in opposition to a crew like that.
“The next week, we played better against Natick (14-7 loss), but still we were making some mistakes. Two weeks later, we played Needham tough (21-19 loss) and had a chance to win the game with a field goal, so I could see we were getting better with each game.”
Milton was the alternative of Walpole. After 5 straight wins to open the season, the Wildcats got here again to earth in opposition to the Timberwolves. That was the primary of three straight losses, however Milton was capable of regular the ship in time for the postseason. Milton has received three straight video games by double digits to earn its second straight journey to the championship sport.
“We’ve been inconsistent at times this year,” head coach Steve Dembowski mentioned. “We’ve had instances the place we’ve run the ball nicely and different instances the place we’ve thrown the ball nicely. I do assume we will probably be rather more ready for this sport.
“We are going to have to be much better defensively than we were the first time. Our offense is going to have to start faster and we have to win on third down.”
Patrick Miller is the most recent in a protracted line of quarterbacks to thrive underneath Dembowski. Ronan Sammon has blossomed right into a star vast receiver, whereas Nathan Ehui is the featured again for the Wildcats. Those guys are sufficient for Sullivan to comprehend his protection should be prepared.
“I really don’t think there is much of an advantage just because we beat them the first time,” Sullivan mentioned. “We know Steve is a great coach and I’m sure that there are going to come up with a great offensive and defensive game plan, so we are going to have to be ready.”
DIVISION 3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Milton (8-4) vs. Walpole (9-3), Thursday, 8 p.m. at Gillette Stadium
MILTON WILDCATS
Head coach: Steve Dembowski
SEPT. 8: Milton 42, SCITUATE 14
SEPT. 14: MILTON 49, Framingham 0
SEPT. 22: Milton 42, HOLLISTON 14
SEPT. 29: MILTON 31, Weymouth 7
OCT. 6: MILTON 10, Needham 9
OCT. 13: WALPOLE 42, Milton 23
OCT. 20: TAUNTON 21, Milton 14
OCT. 27: Natick 17, MILTON 16
NOV. 3: MILTON 30, Minnechaug 14
NOV. 9: MILTON 28, Dartmouth 7
**NOV. 18: Milton 37, Westfield 14
NOV. 23: BRAINTREE 33, Milton 19
* – Home crew in caps. ** – Neutral discipline
WALPOLE TIMBERWOLVES
Head coach: Chris Sullivan
SEPT. 8: KING PHILIP 31, Walpole 0
SEPT. 14: NATICK 14, Walpole 7
SEPT. 22: WALPOLE 30, Wellesley 14
SEPT. 29: NEEDHAM 21, Walpole 19
OCT. 6: Walpole 31, SHREWSBURY 6
OCT. 13: WALPOLE 42, Milton 23
OCT. 20: WALPOLE 37, Braintree 3
OCT. 27: WALPOLE 45, Wachusett 13
NOV. 3: WALPOLE 46, Hingham 15
NOV. 10: WALPOLE 39, Mansfield 31
**NOV. 17: Walpole 45, Milford 35
NOV. 23: Walpole 44, WEYMOUTH 20
* – Home crew in caps. ** – Neutral discipline
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY
Milton had by no means performed in a championship till final yr when it misplaced to Wakefield 34-28 within the Div. 3 title sport. Running again Jack Finnegan was immense for the Wildcats within the loss, dashing for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, whereas including three catches for 34 yards.
Walpole is enjoying in its thirteenth title sport, amassing an total file of 7-5. The final time Walpole competed within the title sport was 2008 when it rolled to a 41-21 win over Mansfield within the Div. 2 Eastern Mass. Super Bowl. Ryan Izzo rushed for 193 yards and completed with three touchdowns, whereas Sonny Mastromatteo threw for 154 yards and a pair of scores.
Source: www.bostonherald.com