By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Needham High School varsity football hosted Milton on Friday evening in their season finale. Entering the game with a 2-2 record and coming off the heels of a 35-0 defeat to Natick, the Rockets were looking to rebound and finish the COVID-shortened season above .500.
Junior quarterback Chase Vaughan got Milton on the board first with 5:07 to play in the first quarter, leading the Wildcats down the field before capping off the drive himself with a two-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. Following a Needham punt, junior running back Amari Marsman busted a 57-yard run for a touchdown to double Milton's lead to 14-0 with 10:56 left to play in the half.
On Needham's ensuing possession, Milton senior defensive back Cassius Toussaint picked off Needham quarterback Will McDonald to set up the Wildcats in plus territory. Five plays later, Vaughan found senior wideout Malcolm Samuels for a five-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 21-0 lead at halftime.
With Milton getting the ball to start the second half and the Rockets in desperate need of a stop, senior safety Sam Chutkow delivered by intercepting Vaughan at midfield off of a deflection. On the ensuing possession, McDonald found senior Patrick Toolan for a 15-yard touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone, getting Needham on the board and trimming the deficit to 21-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Needham's defense forced a punt on Milton's ensuing series, giving the Rockets the chance get to within a single score with a touchdown. Unfortunately, McDonald was picked off by Milton junior linebacker Matt Paquette at the Needham 42-yard-line, setting up the Wildcats in plus territory with the chance to put the game away. Six plays later, Marsman pounded home his second touchdown of the day to make it 21-point lead for the Wildcats. Milton went on to win by a final of 28-7. Needham finishes the 2021 Fall II season 2-3.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
