Stoughton runs past Foxboro
STOUGHTON — When it comes to the main running backs at Stoughton, defenders may tackle them, but the Black Knights’ ballcarriers deliver a punishing blow with every run.
After a while, it becomes a lot less fun to try and stop them.
For a while Friday night, Foxboro was able to slow the relentless Stoughton ground attack. But the Black Knights scored two late touchdowns to pull away for a 21-7 win.
“I just think that with the size that we have and the endurance, us being able to go all game, our endurance, our strength, our speed, I find it hard for anybody to bring us down,” said Stoughton running back Christopher Ais, who had 135 yards rushing on 20 carries. “Unless there are two, three guys on the ball, I don’t think that there’s anybody who can take us down.”
With the victory, Stoughton improves to 2-0 and is every bit a contender for the Hockomock League’s Davenport division title. Foxboro drops to 1-1 with the defeat.
Early on, Stoughton jumped out to a quick lead when Ais took a toss to the right, slipped a few tackles and sped off for a 44-yard TD.
But Foxboro’s defense stiffened. The Warriors forced a turnover on downs near midfield and marched their way toward a tying score after Omarion OttoBroomstein plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
It stayed that way until halftime, as Stoughton moved the ball well at times but shot itself in the foot. The Black Knights lost two fumbles, turned the ball over on downs twice, and had a 65-yard touchdown run by Christian Ais wiped out by a holding penalty.
Finally, in the fourth quarter, Stoughton put together its best sustained drive of the game to pull ahead. The Black Knights traveled 80 yards on 10 plays — all runs — and chewed 6:27 off the clock. Christian Ais brought the ball to the Foxboro 10yard line with a 21-yard scamper, then blasted in off left tackle for a 2-yard score with 4:33 to play.
On the ensuing Foxboro possession, Stoughton’s Andrew Medina made a highlight-reel diving interception at the Foxboro 41. It took seven plays for the Black Knights to get back in the end zone, as quarterback John Burke ran off the left end for a 9-yard score.
“Just so happy for the kids,” Stoughton coach Greg Burke said. “They work hard. We made some mistakes. That’s high school football, not for lack of effort, that’s for darn sure. We’re just trying to get better every week.”