HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Fairhaven, Wareham come out on wrong end of OT thrillers

Both Fairhaven and Wareham came out on the wrong end of thrilling games on the road Friday night with the Blue Devils losing to West Bridgewater in overtime and Wareham falling short to Holbrook in double overtime. 

Here's a look at Friday's action: 

West Bridgewater 33, Fairhaven 27, OT 

Turnovers cost the Blue Devils, who let a 14-point lead slip away in the second half and lost in overtime on the road.

“It was a great football game,” said Fairhaven head coach Derek Almeida. “Both sides played really hard. It was one of those games where there were a lot of momentum swings and big plays both ways.”

Fairhaven led 21-7 at the half thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns from senior Cadence Chase and another TD by senior quarterback Peter Joseph Jr. 

But the Wildcats clawed their way back in.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL:Defense pitches another shutout as Dartmouth beats GNB Voc-Tech

“They came out and scored a quick one,” said Almeida of the third quarter. “We fumbled the ball on a pitch and they tied it up.

“We put another drive together, fumbled again. We put the ball on the ground a few times tonight.”

With the game tied at 21, the Blue Devils got back the momentum when Chase recovered a pitch and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to give Fairhaven a 27-21 lead with 1:20 left in regulation.

The Wildcats drove down the field on the arm of quarterback Nathan Razza and scored to force the overtime.

“The quarterback for them threw the ball really well,” Almeida said. “We became one dimensional. We’re having trouble with pass protection up front. We didn’t throw as much tonight. They were more balanced. They were able to mix in the pass and the run and that was the difference in the game. We’ve got to do better.”

Fairhaven, which turned over the ball three times, failed to score in overtime while West Bridgewater (1-1) secured the win with a touchdown run by Will DeLuca. 

Chase has five of Fairhaven’s six touchdowns in two games this season.

The Blue Devils (1-1) will look to bounce back against rival GNB Voc-Tech (1-1) next Friday.

“We’ve got to keep working and keep trying to get better regardless of the outcome,” Almeida said. “

Holbrook 28, Wareham 22, 2OT

The Vikings were an inch away from securing their first win over 2021 on Friday night as they let a 14-6 lead slip away and eventually lost to Holbrook in double overtime.

With the game tied at 22 going into the second overtime, Wareham was stopped on fourth down just short of the goal line and the Bulldogs responded with the game-winning touchdown on their ensuing possession.

“We get the ball and get stopped on fourth down at the half-inch line,” said Wareham head coach Fran Cass. “We led the game the whole way until a minute left. We feel that we gave the game away.”

After a back-and-forth start to the game, Wareham scored late in the first quarter on a 13-yard touchdown run by Avyn Lopes. Elijah Carrion connected with Terrell Cardoza on the two-point conversion to put the Vikings ahead 8-0.

Wareham scored again on a six-yard touchdown run by Andre Silva to enter halftime up 14-6.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Vikings drove to the Holbrook 10, but couldn’t convert on fourth down. Holbrook answered with a 90-yard, game-tying drive with 1:15 left to force overtime.

Wareham got the ball first and Lopes scored on a three-yard run. Carrion completed the conversion pass to put the Vikings up 22-14, but Holbrook answered with its own touchdown and two-point conversion.

“We have to bounce back,” Cass said. “We’ve got some great opponents coming up with Old Colony and Upper Cape. We’ve got an uphill battle. 

“If we stick together and stay healthy, we’ll eventually get one.” 

Abington 35, Apponequet 0

Mistakes cost the Lakers in their second-straight loss. 

Apponequet trailed just 6-0 after the first quarter, but gave up three TDs in the second quarter to enter halftime down 28-0.

Abington quarterback Eddie Reilly threw a pair of touchdowns to Tony Fanara while Mason Kilmain and Kurtis Lucas-Summers each had rushing TD. Drew Donovan also had an 88-yard pick six.

“Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes,” said Apponequet head coach Zane Fyfe. “Sloppy football.”

The Lakers (0-2) will look to get on track with a bye next week.