Dhakal helps Norwood run past Holliston
NORWOOD — As Subodh Dhakal and his teammates tapped Kevin Morrison’s memorial for inspiration Saturday, they did so with the hopes of making an assertion. Collectively, they were aiming to prove that Norwood is truly a program to watch within the MIAA’s Division 3 football rankings.
Based on what transpired thereafter, it might be time to start paying attention. The senior running back had an explosive outing, finishing with 14 carries for 149 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, as the Mustangs erupted for a convincing 42-7 rout of Tri-Valley League foe Holliston.
“This is great,” Dhakal said afterward. “We knew that with Holliston, they’re always a tough opponent, so we were prepared all week. All the coaches had a great game plan for us, and we executed it very well.”
During a somewhat quiet opening quarter, the Mustangs (5-1) drew first blood with 5:35 remaining in the stanza, as senior Bryan Metayer took a quick handoff from Joseph Steeves, then sprinted 11 yards into the end zone virtually untouched to provide Norwood a 6-0 lead.
Once the second quarter got underway, so did Dhakal. Within a period spanning about eight minutes of game clock, the senior would notch three consecutive touchdowns on the ground, the last of which came with eight seconds remaining in the half to put the Mustangs ahead 28-0.
Just 1:58 into the third quarter, Dhakal put a cap on his incredible day, as he broke off a 79-yard touchdown rush to make it a 35-0 contest.
Metayer, who finished with nine carries for 113 yards in his own right, registered his second touchdown with a 41-yard rush a few minutes later, closing the scoring for the Mustangs.
TJ Kiley provided the lone highlight for Holliston (1-5), as he fired a 10-yard touchdown strike to junior Joey Gentile with about three minutes remaining.
In the latest list of power rankings put out by the MIAA this past Wednesday, Norwood was slotted at No. 16 overall for Div. 3. Needless to say, it would be surprising if that position holds come the next unveiling.
“I think this proves that we should be higher,” Dhakal said. “In the past, our team hasn’t been so great, so they kind of sleep on us. But I think we proved ourselves today, that we deserve to be at the top.”
Mustangs coach Manny Lopes can still vividly remember when Holliston dealt his program a massive loss during his first year with Norwood back in 2019.
Not only have the Mustangs flipped the script within the Tri-Valley League since then, but they could find themselves in a premier class of teams if this winning trend continues.