Dunne, Olsen fuel KP victory
H.S. FOOTBALL
When it’s raining sideways, the little things are going to add up in a football game. King Philip’s Ethan Dunne and Alex Olsen were up for the challenge.
The Warriors (4-0, 2-0) went on the road and edged Mansfield, 20-17, last night in a key Hockomock League Kelley-Rex Division battle to remain undefeated. Dunne blocked a punt to set up the first KP touchdown, and Olsen took over on the ground in the second half — scoring a touchdown and recording a key sack late in the game to lead the Warriors.
Trailing 3-0, Dunne came off the right edge and blocked a Hornets punt to give the Warriors the ball on the Hornets’ 21-yard line.
It took nine plays from scrimmage, including two mental errors resulting in penalties, before Sean Garrity took a play-action swing pass from Brendan Lydon 25 yards down the left sideline for the score with 55 seconds left in the first half.
Mansfield (2-2, 1-1) marched down to the Warriors’ 27, utilizing their timeouts, but the Warriors’ special teams were at it again as Diogo DeSousa’s 44-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked — allowing King Philip to take a 7-3 lead into the locker room.
“We were struggling to move the ball offensively and we needed something positive to happen,” said King Philip coach Brian Lee. “We work a lot of special teams and to make plays like that — that’s two huge plays to turn things around.”
The momentum shift didn’t bother Nick Graham (19 carries, 132 yards), as he broke off a 50-yard run on the third play from scrimmage to start the second half, and the Hornets jumped back in front, 10-7.
Olsen’s pounding running style was perfect for the second half as he punched in a 2-yard blast after Dunne hauled in a 39-yard Lydon toss to the Hornets’ 13.
With the rain dwindling, the playbooks for both sides opened. Mansfield answered back as Anthony DeGirolamo found Hunter Ferreira for a 66-yard touchdown pass to give the Hornets the 17-14 lead with 2:17 left to play in the third quarter.
KP senior captain John DeLuca took a direct snap right through the teeth of the Mansfield defense 61 yards on the next series to set up a Warriors’ first-andgoal from the KP 4. Lydon called his own number on a 1-yard keeper, but after a failed extra point KP led 2017 lead with 8:05 left. In other games last night: E.J. Perry erupted for seven touchdowns, throwing for six and adding a score on the ground, leading Andover (2-2) to a 5828 win over Lowell in the Merrimack Valley Large. ... J.C. Laguerre and Jukka Morales combined to score five touchdowns as Haverhill (31) coasted to a 34-13 win over Methuen. John Grady’s 2-yard TD run and David Guekguezian’s PAT in the third quarter was the difference as Newton North (3-1) edged Needham, 7-6, in the Bay State Carey. . . . Rob Proude registered three sacks as Weymouth (2-2) defeated Brookline, 14-3. Jack Tishman fired three TD passes, including two to Brendan Dolan, as Wellesley (4-0) handled Dedham, 36-7, in the Bay State Herget. ... Christian D’Antonio ran for three touchdowns as Natick (3-1) handed Milton its first loss, 26-7.
Jared Martino completed 13-of-16 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 120 yards and two scores as Malden (1-3) held off Somerville, 25-19, in the Greater Boston League.
Jovohn Bernard ran for two scores as Cambridge (22) defeated Newton South, 34-6, in the Dual County Large.
Tre Pignone provided the spark with three rushing touchdowns as Stoneham (4-0) defeated Burlington, 28-19, in the Middlesex Freedom. . . . Deon Smith and Vasken Kebabjian each ran for scores as Watertown (31) edged Melrose, 14-12. . .. Mike Lucey completed 8-of13 passes for 190 yards and two TDs as Wakefield (2-2) topped Wilmington, 26-0.
Victor Skopol hit a 28yard field goal in the third quarter as Woburn (1-3) defeated Belmont, 10-7, in the Middlesex Liberty.
Matt Andreas ran for 184 yards and a touchdown as Danvers (3-1) defeated Lynn Classical, 26-0, in Northeastern North action.
Jon Gonzalez and Chris Zuffante rushed for scores as Winthrop (1-3) defeated
Salem, 14-0, in the Northeastern South.
Ethan Phelps rushed for 161 yards and three TDs, while Brendan Frawley added 113 rushing yards and two scores as Whitman-Hanson (3-1) defeated Quincy, 41-0, in the Patriot Keenan.
Reed Wilson tossed three TD passes, including the game-winner in the final quarter, as Westwood (2-2) roared back from an 18-point deficit to knock off Holliston, 36-34, in the TriValley Large.
Justin Olowu ran for 223 yards and two TDs on 23 carries to lead Cardinal Spellman (1-3) to a 36-6 win over Austin Prep in the Catholic Central Large. . . . Casey Earle ran for 151 yards and two TDs on eight carries, while adding eight tackles and two sacks as Archbishop Williams (2-1) took down Bishop Fenwick, 23-6. Austin Wentzel and Tyler Longo combined for three TDs for Lowell Catholic (22) in a 34-29 win over St.
Clement in the Catholic Central Small. Pat Snow’s second touchdown of the game, a 3-yard run in the third overtime, gave East Bridgewater (3-1) a 39-33 win over Middleboro in the South Shore Sullivan.
Patrick Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 107 yards and two TDs, while picking off a pair of passes to lead Latin Academy (3-1) to a 30-0 victory over Madison Park in Boston North. . . . Nate Hall completed 22-of30 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns, three of them going to Jerrod Clark, as Brighton (4-0) posted a 34-6 victory over West Roxbury. . . . Joel Pastrana ran for two TDs as East Boston (22) beat Dorchester, 28-20.
Emmanuel Exilhomme compiled over 200 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to lead O’Bryant (3-1) to a 22-6 win over Boston English in Boston South. ... Patrick Culbreath returned two interceptions for touchdowns and also rushed for a score to lead Burke (1-2) to a 22-6 win over Charlestown. Matt Dunn tossed a pair of TD passes to Jakigh Marcelin as Rockland (2-2) beat Carver, 27-6, in a nonleague contest. . . . Jeremy Thiboutot finished with 18 carries for 130 yards as Case (3-1) beat Bishop Connolly, 31-0. ... Ben Antoine rushed for 210 yards and four touchdowns as Medford (3-1) took care of Weston, 47-15.