HOLLISTON – Saying goodbye to the seniors has by no means been simple for Holliston soccer head coach Todd Kiley. This yr, it bought even more durable with 15 – together with his personal son, TJ Kiley – headed out the door.
If it’s bought to finish, although, routing rival Westwood 42-7 with the entire neighborhood in attendance on Thanksgiving Day is one heck of a solution to exit.
Junior Devin Harding paced the Panthers (10-2) offense with 188 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom, pairing properly with Kiley’s three landing passes – two of which to fellow senior Andrew Denison (91 yards). Much of that got here off the six turnovers the protection generated, together with 4 turnover-on-downs because the Wolverines (4-7) struggled to a 3-for-12 success price on third down.
Holliston might not have gotten again to the Super Bowl prefer it dreamed it may, however finishing the undefeated season within the Tri-Valley League in opposition to a foe additionally in search of a share of the league title feels simply advantageous.
“It’s awesome, that’s what these kids set out to do Day 1,” Todd Kiley stated. “Our mission was to win the league and make as much noise as we possibly could in the tournament. … It’s a special group. My kid’s part of it, so I guess that makes it a little extra special, but it’s always special when you get to finish it this way with your senior group. I’ve done it for 20 years. We’ve had a lot of these highs, sometimes it’s a low on this day and that hurts. Today we finished on a high.”
Westwood challenged lots regardless of what the ultimate rating reads. But for each burst of momentum the Wolverines would get behind quarterback Brendan Donegan (204 yards, TD) and a defensive effort that produced two interceptions, Holliston would flip it proper again.
By forcing a pair of turnover-on-downs on Westwood’s first two possessions, the Panthers jumped out early behind Harding. A 34-yard TD run to get on the board within the first quarter was adopted by the Wolverines protection’s first interception on Holliston’s subsequent probability, however the Panthers compelled a three-and-out that led to a 53-yard punt return from Denison. Two performs later, a tipped ball on the line was caught for a 4-yard landing by offensive lineman Jimmy Parmese.
Holliston seemed to be cruising when it jumped out to a 20-0 lead on a 16-yard landing run from Harding, however Westwood adopted with a great defensive sequence on the following possession to pressure a brief punt that set it up on the Panthers 34. Donegan linked with Thomas Kane for a 20-7 deficit.
That’s all of the Panthers protection would give up, although. Denison caught a 67-yard heave from Kiley for a 28-7 halftime lead, and Brady Sweeney’s interception return within the third quarter arrange a 37-yard landing run from Harding as the road created massive gaps to run by means of. By the time Kiley scrambled earlier than connecting with Denison for a 22-yard rating, the rout was properly in hand.
“Today was a microcosm of our season,” Todd Kiley stated. “It hasn’t been one guy. It’s just a been a bunch of different guys, different guys stepping up every game. … It’s good to see other guys step up.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com