Deerfield tops Milton
MILTON — Defense has been a staple of Deerfield Academy’s success after a tumultuous 1-2 start to their season, ripping off a six wins in a row to earn themselves a date with unbeaten Milton Academy in the Mike Silipo NEPSAC Bowl.
The Big Green were able to make it lucky No. 7, stifling a red-hot Mustangs offense en route to a 26-23 victory Saturday at Milton Academy.
The Mustangs (8-1) seemed to a have a full head of steam to open the second half, getting a big kickoff return to set themselves up at the Deerfield 22, before Luke Thorbahn darted up the middle for a 19 yard score to put Milton Academy ahead 14-13 just 1:02 into the third quarter.
Deerfield (8-2) was unfazed, striking back just 1:42 later after a few big chunk plays set up junior running back Griffin Schutz for a three yard touchdown run, giving the Big Green a 20-14 lead.
It was the third touchdown of the day for the 6-foot-3 220-pound back, who would go off for 166 rushing yards on 33 carries.
Milton was able to move the ball on their next two drives, but Deerfield made them fight for every inch.
St. John’s Prep 14, Centreal Catholic 0 — St. John’s Prep’s title defense is alive and well.
James Guy rushed for 140 yards while the St. John’s Prep defense pitched a shutout as the Eagles claimed their second straight Div. 1 North title with a 14-0 win over No. 1 Central Catholic on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.
The win sets up a rematch of last year’s Division 1 Super Bowl between Catholic Memorial and St. John’s Prep (9-1), a 40-22 Prep victory. CM handed St. John’s Prep its only loss thus far of the 2019 campaign back in Week 6.
St. John’s Prep’s defensive line of Collin Taylor, Anthony Fagan, Jack McDonald, Cooper Smith, and Mason Davis suffocated the Raiders. Even when Central Catholic was able to set up with good field position deep inside Eagle territory, the possession always resulted in a turnover on downs.
Tewksbury 29, Winchester 28— After scoring a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the game to pull within one point, Winchester had a tough decision to make: kick the extra point to hopefully force overtime, or go for the 2-point conversion, knowing that just a week prior Concord-Carlisle went for the 2-point conversion in a similar situation but was stuffed by the Redmen defense, who then held on for a one-point victory.
The Sachems elected for the 2-point conversion and called for 6-foot-1, 220pound quarterback Tommy Degnan — who scored three of his team’s four TDs — to take the ball going to his right, following his offensive linemen. As he did that, he was greeted by a handful of Tewksbury players, including junior Kyle Darrigo, who made the initial hit, followed by support from Owen Gilligan, Riley Auth, Danny Fleming and Nolan Timmons, and they all stopped him just inches before the goal line.
Tewksbury then ran out the clock and celebrated with the dramatic 29-28 victory as Tewksbury captured its third straight Division 3 North sectional championship title.
Around the region
Jaison Tucker ran for 92 yards and two scores as Wayland (7-2) doubled up on Marblehead, 28-14, in a nonplayoff game. Marcos Pereira led a strong defensive effort with seven tackles.
Brenden Brown ran for three scores as Malden Catholic (2-8) defeated Arlington,
42-28. … Clayton Marengi threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns as Lynnfield
(8-2) defeated Wilmington,
25-22.
Jackson Murray ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns, while Miles Hannah added 138 rushing yards and a score as Coyle-Cassidy
(6-4) defeated Upper Cape,
31-0.
Cole Cleary tossed a pair of touchdowns and 186 yards tolead Middlesex (6-2-1) to a 21-12 win over Canterberry in the Mark Conroy Bowl.
Colton Fahey ran for one touchdown, threw for a second and returned an interception for a third score as Pingree (8-1) rolled over Proctor Academy, 34-12, to capture the Ken Hollingsworth Bowl.