West Boylston stays perfect with another rout
WEST BOYLSTON — There are several reasons why the West Boylston High football team is riding high at 6-0 this fall. These reasons include an ongoing desire to play physical football, a passion for aggressive defense, and a plethora of versatile talent on offense.
The Lions were the beneficiaries of all three during Friday night’s matchup with Tyngsborough. Hitting hard from the start, West Boylston led all game and did not allow a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.
On offense, four players tallied TDs, with senior running back Connor Muldoon reaching the end zone three times, on rushes of 27, 37 and 62 yards. The combination enabled the Lions to gain an easy 42-7 triumph at home.
West Boylston, the Division 7 state champion last fall, is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 8. Tyngsborough, ranked sixth in Division 7, fell to 4-2.
“This was a very physical game, and we played well,” West Boylston coach Mike Ross said. “I thought our team played good defense. The offense got things done, too, controlling the clock. We were also able to get a lot of kids into the game, and that’s always good. And they all contributed.
“Getting all the kids in is so important,” he added. “The kids gain confidence and experience, and we as a team gain depth.”
Muldoon had plenty of help in the rushing department. Senior Jamie McNamara had a TD rush and also scored a 2-point conversion. Running back John Ruas and quarterback Luke Foley, both seniors, also had scoring scampers. Sophomore Tommy Kursonis kicked two extra points.
“These guys have all been great,” Ross said. ‘We’ve got a lot of guys contributing, and we’re putting together a pretty good year. We’re healthy, we’re playing hard, both offensively and defensively. We’re subbing guys in, and they’re getting the job done.”
Senior Jake Arcand likes what he’s seen through the first six games. Most importantly, Arcand understands that a major motivator for the Lions is the commitment to team play. Though the individual talent is there, it takes more than physical skills to win games.
“It’s all about team, and this was a team win,” Arcand said. “The running backs were taking advantage of openings, the blockers were creating holes all game. And our defense was just outstanding. Tyngsborough can score, but our defense shut them down.”
West Boylston exploded for 22 points in the second quarter, expanding a 6-0 first-quarter advantage to 28-0 by the intermission.
Ruas scored the TD that proved decisive, a 7-yard burst on the first play of the second quarter. Ruas’ rush capped a three-play, 36-yard drive that commenced after a defensive stop at the Tigers’ 36-yard line. McNamara ran in the 2-point conversion, increasing the lead to 14-0. McNamara had a 23-yard firstdown rush on the second play of the drive.
Not long after that, West Boylston struck again when McNamara crashed the line for a 2-yard TD. He also ran in the conversion. Foley and McNamara rushed for first downs during the drive, which covered 42 yards and followed an interception by Ruas.
The Lions concluded their first-half scoring when Muldoon broke free for a 37-yard TD, his second scoring run of the half. West Boylston came up empty on the 2-point conversion attempt, keeping the score at 28-0.
Senior Brian Smith was impressed with both West Boylston’s focus and mindset.
“The season really comes down to concentrating on one game at a time — you can’t take any opponent lightly,” Smith said. “Play hard, wear teams down and focus on one play at a time. We all work hard. Also, we’re not the biggest team so we have to come ready to play each game. Next up for us is Lunenburg, and we’ll be ready. We look forward to another good week of practice.”
—Contact Craig Holt at sports@telegram.com.