By Jeff Kiesling
Community Contributor
Dover Sherborn’s Varsity Football Raiders picked up their first win of the season last Thursday night at Sharon High School by defeating the host Eagles by the final score of 7-0. The Raiders had suffered two tough losses against non-conference opponents to start the season but looked to set things straight as they began tri-valley conference play on the road. The game was played before nearly full stands and the DS faithful made a great road showing in support of the squad. Due to the recent rains, the field was slick which seemed to hamper the offenses more than defenses as players struggled to make cuts and hold on to the ball.
The Raiders took the opening kickoff at their own 25-yard line and put the ball in the hands of running back John Oleyer (29) who managed to pick-up chunks of yardage by driving straight ahead before the attack stalled at the Eagles’ two-yard line. DS could not get traction on the ground or connect in the air on four successive downs and turned the ball over to Sharon on its own goal line. The home team was able to move the ball to midfield where the teams played and traded possession for the rest of the half with each squad managing to move the ball on the ground, but neither putting the ball into the endzone.
The two squads resumed their stalemate to begin the third quarter until DS took possession near their own 20 after a Sharon punt with about 7:00 left in the quarter. DS elected to pound the ball straight ahead with Oleyer behind the Raider Offensive Line: Dylan Rogers (78), Jacob Kummailil (59), Bo Newmarker (72), Luca Mariano (54) and Walker Adams (73). The O-line was able to drive gaps in Sharon’s large and athletic defensive front that DS rushers snuck through to move the chains down the field. The Raiders offense finally hit paydirt on the first play of the fourth quarter when QB Garrett Webb hit Brian Olson on a crossing route from the far-right side. Olson caught the ball in stride and shook a tackler to rumble into the left corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Kicker Tyler Hwang (25) nailed the PAT and the Raiders led the contest 7-0, which would be the final score.
With the win DS improved to 1-2 on the season. They return home to face rival foe Dedham High School on Friday, September 29 at 7:00.
