Walpole survives a wild ride

Into semis with last-minute TD

WALPOLE — Quarterback Noah Mackenzie and his Walpole teammates watched in disbelief as Mansfield’s Brandon Jackman stepped into the end zone to finish a 55-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left and put the Hornets in front.

But as the lead changed hands for the sixth time in the game Friday night, there was plenty of time for a seventh.

“It wasn’t over. No matter what they did on offense — they have a great offense — but we just kept telling ourselves it wasn’t over,” Mackenzie said. “There was more time.”

Mackenzie directed Walpole down the field, covering 64 yards in seven plays, regaining the lead by finding an open Jamal Abdal-Khallaq on a slant from 11 yards out with 14 seconds to go as the fourth-seeded Timberwolves defeated No. 5 Mansfield, 39-31, in the Division 3 quarterfinals at Turco Field.

“That safety was really wide and Jamal runs a bender really well,” Mackenzie said.

The junior threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns and added 118 yards and two scores on the ground.

Mansfield ran two plays in hopes of producing another miracle, but a couple of laterals resulted in the ball being fumbled. With players scattering in all directions, Walpole’s Kamari Hughes picked it up and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown as time expired.

“We did a great job in the first half, then [Mackenzie] came alive running the ball in the second half. He’s a great thrower and they’re tough to cover with the amount of kids they have,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding, whose team had its seven-game winning streak snapped.

Walpole (7-3) is just one win away from playing for a state title at nearby Gillette Stadium. The Timberwolves face topseeded Milford (9-1) in the semifinals after the Scarlet Hawks defeated North Attleborough, 24-17.

Mansfield quarterback Connor Curtis threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing TD.

Nolan Bordieri gave the Hornets (7-3) a 24-13 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 4yard run, but Mackenzie rushed for TDs from 2 and 11 yards, with the Walpole defense getting a three-and-out in between, to go in front, 27-24, with 1:51 left.

Curtis and the Hornets only needed four plays to reclaim the lead when Jackman hauled in a deep ball against single coverage, stepping out of a tackle inside the 10 for the 55yard score — his second touchdown of the game — with 54 seconds left.

Just enough for Mackenzie and the Timberwolves to create some magic.