SCITUATE — For Scituate’s soccer program, one participant has performed the function of catalyst all 12 months lengthy, and he was again at it Friday.
Senior quarterback Jackson Belsan completed 13-for-17 passing, racking up 266 yards to go together with 5 touchdowns as seventh-seeded Scituate held on for a 47-36 victory over No. 10 Wayland within the opening spherical of the Division 4 soccer playoffs.
Like many anticipated, this recreation had the makings of a traditional through the first half. After Scituate (6-3) drew first blood on a 19-yard landing strike from Belsan to Lawson Foley, the Sailors watched their benefit evaporate, quickly. Max Dressens broke off a 53-yard landing scamper 1:28 later, tying the rating at 7-all. The faculties would commerce scores another time, with Alex Burrill scampering for a five-yard landing for Scituate to cap the quarter.
With 9:57 left within the first half, Wayland’s Michael Caulfield sprinted six yards for a landing, tying the rating once more at 14-14. By then, Sailors followers had began to reside themselves to the actual fact they may be in for a protracted evening.
Then, the levee collapsed on Wayland. Just 31 seconds after the Warriors (6-3) evened the rating, Belsan uncorked a 39-yard landing strike to Charlie Hartwell, as Scituate jumped proper again in entrance. The Sailors would discover luck on particular groups as effectively 2:08 afterwards, as Roman Glowac returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a rating with 7:15 to play within the second quarter, as Scituate prolonged its edge to 28-14.
“First and second quarter, it was back and forth,” Belsan stated. “We were kind of nervous, but then we just started running our plays, doing what we do out there perfectly. We started taking shots, and that was just working.”
The momentum swing proved monumental, and the Sailors continued to experience the wave as they tallied 26 unanswered factors in opposition to the Warriors.
While Wayland staged a rally because the second half progressed, the deficit was just too nice of a gap to climb out of. After the Warriors reduce it as shut as 40-30 off a 40-yard landing rush by Caulfield, Belsan iced the sport on the following possession by connecting with Allard for a 39-yard rating, sealing issues as Scituate made it 47-30 with 3:10 left.
“We love that play,” Belsan stated. “We run it everyday at practice, every game. We knew it was going to work. I saw that there was no high safety, and I just knew it was there.”
Allard completed with three receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns for Scituate, whereas Foley added 4 catches for 61 yards and a pair of scores.
Max Dresens turned in 18 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns for Wayland.
The win units up an Elite Eight showdown with a well-known postseason opponent for Scituate – No. 2 Holliston. The packages will meet for an opportunity to play within the Final Four subsequent.
“It’s funny, because the head coach at Holliston (Todd Kiley) and I laughed,” Scituate coach Herb Devine stated with a chuckle. “It seems like every year, somehow we find each other in an early round. Obviously, they’re a great program. Tons of tradition, great coaches, great atmosphere, great players. We’ve had to see them four out of the last five years I feel like, during the playoff run. We’re going back there again.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com