WESTWOOD — In a method, the ultimate play of Saturday’s Div. 4 state semifinal soccer recreation at Xaverian Brothers between Tewksbury and Duxbury was symbolic.
Sophomore Ben Christopher was tackled on the 2-yard line after a 28-yard reception.
The play wouldn’t have modified the end result, the Dragons gained by a 19-7 rating, however the afternoon was full of strong drives that simply got here up brief for the Redmen (7-4) in a Div. 4 state semifinal.
“We had some opportunities early on that I thought we didn’t capitalize on,” mentioned TMHS coach Brian Aylward. “In both halves really. I thought the guys we had ready and available played hard. This was a chance for them to go to Gillette (Stadium) and you would expect that from them.”
Top-seeded Duxbury (9-1), which scored 33 and 31 factors in its first two postseason wins, iwill face Scituate within the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.
In the primary half, 4 of Tewksbury’s 5 possessions reached contained in the Duxbury 30 and the Redmen received to the ten with an extended drive that began within the third quarter and ended with a four-down incompletion with 9:35 to go.
The Dragons scored on their subsequent drive, all however sealing the take care of 4:13 remaining.
Tewksbury performed nearly all of the sport with out high operating again Hunter Johnson, who was out nursing an harm. Senior Tyler Barnes and junior Manny Mengata received the majority of the carries within the backfield and did nicely.
In the second half, the Redmen additionally misplaced sophomore receiver Jonny Sullivan to an harm.
Tewksbury’s opening drive reached the Duxbury 25 earlier than the Redmen turned the ball over on downs.
After each groups punted, Duxbury took the lead when junior quarterback Trevor Jones related with senior Ryder Thomas for a 22-yard landing cross. Gavin Hammond’s further level made it 7-0 with 50 seconds left within the first quarter.
A 28-yard run by Mengata helped TMHS transfer to the 26 earlier than one other fourth-down cross fell incomplete.
Two performs later, the Dragons made it 13-0 when Jones discovered senior Sam Wien for a 48-yard cross play after which senior Alex Barlow scored on a 21-yard run.
The Redmen answered on their subsequent drive, shifting 65 yards in 11 performs and scoring on a 9-yard run by Barnes with 2:05 left within the half.
A 22-yard cross from junior quarterback Vincent Ciancio to sophomore Jake Burns, a 19-yard toss to senior Cam Kearney and an 11-yard reception by senior Kenny Nguyen helped arrange the rating.
Jackson Feudo added the additional level.
In the second half, Duxbury drove contained in the Redmen 30 to open the half, however turned the ball over on downs. The Redmen stopped the Dragons once more late within the quarter on the 29 and practically took the lead.
A drive that included an 18-yard run by sophomore Emeka Olu, a first-down carry by Barnes and a 16-yard cross to Sullivan put Tewksbury on Duxbury’s 15-yard line. On third-and-five from the 10-yard line, a fumbled handoff resulted in a 6-yard loss and a fourth-and-11 cross fell incomplete.
Duxbury then moved 84 yards in 9 performs, scoring on a 3-yard run by Barlow. Barlow’s 47-yard run arrange the landing.
Source: www.bostonherald.com