Duxbury tops Holliston, returns to state title game

BRIDGEWATER >> In the first half of Saturday’s Division 4 semifinal, Holliston’s passing attack gave Duxbury problems, and the teams went into the break tied.

But the Dragons’ secondary clamped down admirably after that, while quarterback Matt Festa and running back Alex Barlow handled much of the production on offense, as Duxbury rolled to a 42-14 win.

Duxbury improves to 10-0 and makes it back to Gillette Stadium after losing the Div. 4 state title to Scituate a year ago. The Dragons will play Grafton. Holliston falls to 9-2. Barlow rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught a 23-yard scoring toss from Festa. Festa rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, and completed 15 of 22 passes for 226 yards and the score to

Barlow.

Brendan Bonner made two interceptions, including a pick-six, and Trevor Jones and Sam Wien also made one each.

“Kids making plays,” Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi said of the interceptions. “The kids made some really good plays. (Holliston) had some really good athletes. We tried to keep them in front of us, prevent the big play. Brendan Bonner stepped in and made an unbelievable break on the ball. Kids made plays.”

Coming out of a 14-14 tie at halftime, Duxbury scored in the third quarter when Festa ran in a 17yard touchdown.

The Dragons forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing Holliston possession, and Duxbury went right back to work. Barlow had a 37-yard run to set up his 1-yard touchdown to make it 28-14 with 2:54 left in the third.

The Duxbury defense struck again on the next Holliston drive, as Alex Rovegno sacked Holliston quarterback TJ Kiley (192 yards passing, 2 TD), and forced a fumble that Henry Bicknell recovered.

Just two plays later, Festa hit Barlow on the 23yard touchdown over the middle, an the rout was on.

Bonner made his 80yard interception return for a touchdown on the next Holliston drive and it acted as the exclamation point for Duxbury’s victory.

“All year, I dropped a few of those, dropped a few picks. I knew he had to take a shot,” Bonner said. “Tried to catch the ball and take off. I took advantage of it.”

Holliston jumped out early to a 7-0 lead, as Duxbury muffed a Panthers punt, and Jack Schellings recovered. That led to Kiley hitting Brady Sweeney on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Duxbury answered, though, as Festa hit consecutive completions to Colin Quinlan and Barlow for a combined 54 yards to set up Festa’s 2-yard touchdown run that tied it at 7.

Kiley stayed hot, as he found Devin Harding for a 33-yard connection. Then Kiley hit Andrew Denson over the middle for a 14yard touchdown late in the first quarter as Holliston grabbed a 14-7 lead.

But Duxbury’s offense was not to be denied, as Festa went 5-for-5 for 45 yards on the next drive to help set up Barlow’s 13yard touchdown right up the gut and help tie it at 14 at the half.

Bonner is happy to get the chance to put last year’s loss at Gillette behind the team.

“Last year was heartbreaking,” Bonner said. “We’ve all been motivated to get back there. We’re back and we’ve just got to make a statement and go out and win this next game.”