HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Stoughton's playoff hopes staying alive with win over Brockton
Chris McDanielSTOUGHTON – If the playoffs were to begin before this week’s slate of high school football games, the Stoughton High football team would be watching from home.
That should change for Stoughton, which came into the weekend as the No. 19 seed in Division 3 (top 16 qualify), following Friday's 31-13 win over Brockton, which stood at No. 10 in Div. 1.
“All we want to do is get in the playoffs. I think we can,” said Stoughton coach Greg Burke, who didn't think these two local rivals had ever played before. “We should get a lot of points in our opponent value, especially with these guys having a big opponent value. That’s the key.”
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Brockton’s playoff hopes took a hit with the loss. There’s a three-win minimum to earn a playoff spot, so the Boxers will have to win their final two games of the season (Oct. 23 at New Bedford, Oct. 30 vs. Durfee) to have a shot.
The Black Knights (3-3) never trailed against the Boxers (1-5) and the tough running of sophomore quarterback Jarred Daughtry (two rushing touchdowns) and senior Anthony Girolamo (19 carries, 168 yards, two TDs) allowed Stoughton to put the game away in the second half.
Stoughton’s defense forced a Brockton three-and-out on the first drive of the second half and took advantage of a 12-yard punt. The Black Knights went with a heavy dose of Girolamo to get into the end zone. After carrying the ball six times for 65 yards in the first half, Stoughton stuffed the ball into the chest of the 5-11, 225-pound back five times to the tune of 39 yards. He capped the drive with a 19-yard TD run up the middle to put Stoughton up 19-7.
On the one run Girolamo didn’t have on the drive, Daughtry had a physical rush to pick up 5 yards and a first down on third-and-5. Girolamo rumbled into the end zone on the next play.
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Later in the second half, the Boxers flirted with a comeback attempt.
Brockton senior quarterback Jason Wonodi capped a five-play drive with scrambles of 17 and 24 yards (TD) to get into the end zone. That cut Stoughton’s lead to 25-13 with 11:49 remaining.
On the ensuing kickoff, Daughtry set the tone. He fielded the ball around his own 20 and returned it to midfield. On the return, Daughtry looked to be stopped around the 40, but the 5-9, 145-pound quarterback stayed on his feet and pushed the pile.
Daughtry capped the ensuing eight-play drive with an 8-yard TD run to put the Black Knights up 18 (31-13) with 5:20 remaining.
“He’s awesome,” said Girolamo of his QB. “He just does his thing. He grinds hard in practice and he runs hard. He makes a guy miss and then he just drops another guy like you see. I love him out there.
“Going into it, it was 25-13 and getting that field position, him just charging through is amazing. He gave us great field position, we went down and scored.”
In the third quarter, Daughtry scored on a 5-yard TD run. He took a big hit at the goal-line, but stayed on his feet to score the TD, which put Stoughton up 25-7.
“He’s just an athlete,” said Burke when asked about his QB’s toughness. “He’s got to work on his mechanics, but I’m so proud of him. … Big Tony (Girolamo), what can I tell you about the big hoss?”
The Black Knights largely frustrated Brockton’s offense, which was coming off a 42-point performance in a win over previously unbeaten Dartmouth last week.
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Stoughton forced Brockton to punt on the Boxers' first three possessions, including consecutive three-and-outs to open the game. During that time, the Black Knights opened a 12-0 lead.
Girolamo got the Black Knights on the board with a 24-yard TD run. Daughtry completed a 25-yard pass to senior Emmett Pearl to help set up the score.
Brockton’s Malachi Johnson intercepted a pass at the Stoughton 14, but the Black Knights defense responded by forcing a punt. Stoughton senior Jonah Ly capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run to put the Black Knights up 12-0.
The Boxers showed their explosiveness with a five-play, 66-yard drive to cut the deficit to 12-7 with 2:04 remaining in the first half. Wonodi completed chunk passes to Christensen Paul (14 yards) and Cameron Monteiro (14 yards) before scrambling for 17 yards. Mauricio Powell, a junior, capped the drive with a 20-yard TD run. John Dumas added the extra point.
Stoughton has tough games at Milford (Oct. 22) and at home against North Attleboro (Oct. 29) remaining.
“I think we can play like this every single game, no matter who our opponent is, and I love it,” said Girolamo. “I love being on this team.
“This game was huge, it gives great hope, great momentum going into Milford, one of the best teams and we’re ready.”