WRENTHAM — With two unbeaten groups squaring off Friday evening between Milford and King Philip, it felt just like the playoffs have been beginning early.
And the best way it has been these days, that’s simply how the host Warriors prefer it.
In a back-and-forth affair, King Philip offered the ending touches within the second half of a 23-14 win.
With the victory, KP improves to 7-0, and Milford drops to 6-1, and the previous clinches a minimum of a share of the Hockomock League Kelley-Rex title with a 3-0 mark.
“It was nice to see everyone, in all things, contributing,” KP coach Brian Lee stated.
True to type for KP, the Warriors got here by means of with possibly their greatest performs on protection. Brandon Nicastro made two interceptions, together with a choose six, and Hayden Schmitz made one other within the first quarter.
Offensively, the operating sport once more proved crucial for the Warriors. Andrew Laplante rushed for 134 yards and a landing on 23 carries. Sophomore Tallan King had 52 yards and a landing on eight carries.
Laplante, over the previous couple of weeks, has separated himself as the highest again within the rotation that additionally consists of Aidan Astorino.
“You just need that dude,” Lee stated. “(Laplante)’s not playing a lot of defense for us right now. . . . It was just nice to see, he’s kind of becoming the guy, the number one guy. And then everybody else can split those carries after that. Having someone that you know what you’re getting and that stability, is nice.”
Nicastro’s choose six was immense. Milford led 7-3 and had the ball deep in its personal finish. Scarlet Hawks quarterback Jack Buckley lofted a cross towards the close to sideline. Nicastro intercepted it, gathered himself and raced down the sideline for a 40-yard rating as KP took a 10-7 lead into the break.
“I saw the route. I’ve been watching a lot of film all week,” Nicastro stated. “They went to the slant earlier, in the beginning of the game. I know they weren’t going to do it again, because I broke that one up. I was waiting for the slant and go. I saw the ball in the air, jumped up, and made the play.”
But Milford wasn’t executed. Buckley (101 yards passing) hit Jason Stokes with a 36-yard scoring cross over the center early within the third to provide the Scarlet Hawks a 14-10 lead.
KP answered, as King ran it in from a yard out on the following possession to provide the Warriors a 16-14 benefit.
The Warriors blocked an Araujo (92 yards speeding on 17 carries) 46-yard discipline objective try originally of the fourth quarter. Laplante then put it away when he took an possibility pitch to the appropriate for a 6-yard landing to assist full the scoring.
KP scored first on a Woods 25-yard discipline objective to begin the second quarter. Araujo plowed in from a yard out within the second quarter to take the lead earlier than Nicastro’s heroics.
“We had a couple kids get dinged up pretty good tonight, starters,” Milford coach Dale Olson stated. “Sophomores went in and played tremendous for us tonight. We’ll rebound just fine. That’s a solid Division 2 team. We’re going to move on and play in the Division 3 playoffs, but we’ve got to get ready to play Franklin, a very good Franklin team.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com