For Duxbury, the 2022 season was considered by the Dragons as a possibility to reload as they chased the last word type of redemption.
The Dragons have used the heartbreaking loss to Scituate in final 12 months’s Super Bowl as motivation. The Dragons ripped via 11 opponents to earn an opportunity at perfection towards Grafton Friday evening.
“We’re definitely motivated,” mentioned Duxbury quarterback Matt Festa. “It’s kind of been the motivating factor for us all season. It’s always been in the back of our heads, every game we play. We’re definitely motivated by last year.”
Festa has been very good this 12 months, finishing 152 of 227 move makes an attempt for two,681 yards and 33 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Chris Walsh has hauled in 47 receptions for 1,071 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Dragons have averaged 41.45 factors per sport to this point this season.
“I think the seniors are definitely motivated to win,” mentioned Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi. “Is it a result from last year? I think there’s a piece of that for sure. But overall, I think we’ve tried to treat it as a new season. So I think these kids are just focused on the task at hand.”
Grafton (11-1) will probably be chasing its first Super Bowl crown in a decade. Despite continually shifting between divisions through the years, one factor has remained constant for the Gators: Chris McMahon’s group has continued to seek out new methods to compete, whatever the competitors.
Grafton has launched into two journeys to a Super Bowl within the final decade, with its final title coming in 2012 on the Div. 4 Central Mass. last. This latest stretch has included 4 separate journeys to the state semifinals for this system as effectively.
The Gators suffered their lone lack of the 12 months at their annual Thanksgiving Day tilt with Millbury this previous week, once they rested their starters throughout a 37-13 end.
Senior Casey Jordan has amassed 1,102 yards within the passing sport with 14 touchdowns to his credit score, 13 of which have been hauled by Liam Donagher (919 yards receiving). Junior Tyson Thomas has added 938 yards dashing for the Gators.
“I think we are balanced offensively and have done a nice job on defense limiting teams,” McMahon mentioned. “We have multiple starters back on both sides of the ball from last year’s team and they learned a lot from the playoff run. Overall, we have an experienced group of players. Last year’s team was a great group and they did a remarkable job of showing our players this year what it takes on and off the field to be successful.”
DIV. 4 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. at Gillette
Duxbury vs. Grafton
DUXBURY DRAGONS (11-0)
HEAD COACH: Matt Landolfi
DUXBURY 21, Hanover 7
Duxbury 44, SCITUATE 22
Duxbury 34, FRANKLIN 21
Duxbury 52, PLYMOUTH NORTH 19
DUXBURY 48, Silver Lake 7
DUXBURY 35, Hingham 9
Duxbury 42, WHITMAN-HANSON. 22
DUXBURY 50, Newburyport 16
DUXBURY 62, Middleboro 41
Duxbury 42, Holliston 14
Duxbury 26, MARSHFIELD 7
HOME TEAMS IN CAPS
GRAFTON GATORS (11-1)
HEAD COACH: Chris McMahon
Grafton 27, NASHOBA 7
GRAFTON 35, Masconomet 21
GRAFTON 25, South 6
Grafton 13, MARLBORO 7
Grafton 42, DOHERTY 7
GRAFTON 13, Shrewsbury 12
GRAFTON 42, Tantasqua 7
Grafton 33, SHEPHERD HILL 7
GRAFTON 31, Falmouth 0
GRAFTON 31, Marlboro 14
Grafton 21, Foxboro 12
MILLBURY 37, Grafton 13
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
SUPER BOWL HISTORY
Duxbury is heading to its tenth Super Bowl, all since 1997. The Dragons have an general document of 5-4 with the final victory coming in 2016 the place they defeat Shrewsbury, 40-7. Bobby Maimaron threw for 4 touchdowns and rushed for a fifth, whereas Ryan Reagan hauled in eight catches and 155 yards and a pair of scores.
Grafton is making its eight championship sport look, having received 4 of these seven contests. The final win got here in 2012 when Douglas Oevermann ran for 115 yards and a pair of scores in a 21-0 win over Northbridge.
Source: www.bostonherald.com