Foxborough Warriors Football Hang on to Defeat Franklin 29-21

Anytime the Warriors go against a school twice as big as them it’s a challenge. Getting a win is extra challenging. It can also be challenging when it looks like your team may be a one half team.

“Looks like we’re a first half club and not a second half club. We’re gonna have to work on that somehow,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli. 

Holding off a Franklin comeback in fourth quarter after a strong first half, the Warriors got away with a 29-21 win over the Panthers.

Already on the board with a safety that was the result of a botched Franklin punt; The Warriors went to work with their two star running backs Jeff McPherson and Kiivone Howard. Marching 58 yards down the field, Howard scored on a simple 2-yard run to put the Warriors up 9-0 with less than 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Relying on the run, The Warriors once again drove for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Quarterback Nick Sestito found the end zone on a 2 yard QB keeper to take a 16-point lead.

Franklin would answer back with a 7-yard pass from Nick Zucco to Rhett Davis towards the end of the half to bring the Panthers to within 10. A two-point conversion that would of cut the lead to 8 was no good after the Warriors stopped Panthers running back Brett Weaver at the 1-yard line.

Mistakes continued to hurt the Panthers in the third quarter when a fumbled handoff at the Panthers 7-yard line was picked up by Foxboro’s Paul Nader and retuned for a touchdown. The score gave the Warriors’ defense 9 points for the evening and 23 for the Warriors.

“That was great,” sommented Martinelli.

A 17-yard pass to made it a 29-6 game at the end of the third quarter of a game that seemed like it belonged to Foxboro. While the game belonged to the Warriors, the final quarter belonged to the Panthers.

“Defensively in the first half we played good football. Second half I wasn’t pleased with our pass coverage,” said Martinelli.

Holding the Panthers to a 4th and 6 on the Warriors 10 yard line, the Panthers went for it and found Davis in the end zone again. Unlike last time though, Weaver found the end zone during the 2-point conversion to make it a 29-14 game in favor of the Warriors.

With roughly 2 minutes to play, the Panthers found themselves within a score. Zucco found Brandon Eccher in the end zone for his third touchdown of the evening to get the Panthers to within 8.

Unable to put the Panthers away on their final offensive possession, the Warriors would have to rely on a defense that had been shaky during the fourth quarter. An excellent punt by Jake Sorccorso forced the Panthers to start at their own 2-yard line with 1:34 left in the game.

A completion to Zach Beiler gave the Panthers a 3rd and 6 from their own six but that is as far as the drive would go. Two incomplete passes ended the game as the Warriors escaped with an eight point win.

“Wasn’t pretty but we’ll take it. A win is a win,” said Martinelli.

Once again the Warriors were defined by their ability to run the ball. McPherson led the game with 70 yards rushing. Howard rushed for 50 yards with a touchdown. In addition to his touchdown on the ground, Sestito threw for 78 yards and a touchdown on 6-10 passing. Stamatov caught 3 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Zucco led the Panthers going 19-35 on 189 yards passing with 3 touchdowns. Davis caught 5 receptions for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Eccher also caught 5 receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Finamore caught an interception for the Panthers on defense.

Next up for the Warriors will be a match with the division leading Oliver Ames Tigers. The 3-1(0-0) Tigers will host the 3-2(1-0) Warriors in what will be the first Davenport Division match for OA. Game time is set for 7pm on Oct. 14.