By Charlie Bean
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse” (Walt Whitman, O me! O life!). The Medfield Football coaching staff emphasized this quote and its message throughout the week of practice leading up to Friday night’s affair.
Bellingham started with a strong drive that had fans questioning if this Blackhawks squad would be the first opponent to keep the score tight against Medfield. Bellingham struck first, scoring a touchdown on a 68-yard drive. Little did they know it would be their last of the night.
Medfield responded with a 65-yard drive of their own, with Brady McCormack scoring his first of four touchdowns on the night.
Graber was called on again during Bellingham’s next possession when he tackled the Blackhawks’ QB for no gain on 4th and 2 to force a turnover on downs.
Bellingham's next drive was stalled by Medfield’s stingy defensive line, including a tackle for loss by Dani Chahine, forcing another turnover. Medfield took over at Bellingham’s 44-yard line. Nine plays and six minutes later, quarterback Owen Sokolowski connected with Jack Gage for an electric 15-yard strike, provoking an eruption from the student section.
The halftime message from Medfield coaches was that of protection. If the Warriors protected the football, the lead, and each other, they would improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1964.
Medfield started their first drive of the second half on their own 40. On their first play McCormack broke away for a 59-yard touchdown run.
While the Warrior offense picked up where it had left off, so did the defense. Gavin Seitz headlined a great defensive possession with a tackle for loss on the opening play leading to another Bellingham punt. McCormack and the punt return team worked in cohesion to set up another short field for the Warriors. Six plays later, a 17-yard McCormack touchdown rush made it 40-7.
While Seitz and Charlie Hurley secured another tackle for loss, a clutch tackle by Dillon Larkin forced the Blackhawks to return the ball to Medfield after five plays.
On his last rush of the night, McCormack rattled off a thunderous 60-yard touchdown for his fourth of the game, breaking Medfield’s single season TD record. Gage converted the two-point try shortly after.
Tackles by Hurley and Joey Gemski forced another turnover on Bellingham’s next drive. A possession later, senior Charlie Bean intercepted the Blackhawks QB ending another drive with no points, allowing Medfield to run out the remainder of the clock.
Medfield’s defense tallied six tackles for loss and nine tackles for no yards. They’ve held opponents to seven or fewer points in their last three games.
Revisiting Whitman’s quote following the victory – this Warrior squad doesn’t just wish to contribute a verse; they want to write an entire book.
Medfield plays Norton at home on Thursday with the winner likely taking home the TVL Small Championship.
