Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Medfield High varsity football team welcomed Dedham to the Tri-Valley League on Friday evening with a 34-14 win on the road in the FOX-25 High School GameDay Game of the Week.
Senior captain and defensive utility man John Lowell gave Medfield the ball with terrific field position after jumping a route and intercepting a screen pass deep in Marauder territory midway through the first quarter. Senior running back and captain Mason Giunta punched the ball in from four-yards out while going untouched to give the Warriors (1-0) a 7-0 lead. Dedham responded with a touchdown drive of their own to tie the game at seven.
Jake Dubbs (8) and senior captain Liam O’Toole (22) stuff a Dedham rushing attempt. Photos by Lizzy Collotta
Following exchanged punts, Medfield quarterback Mitchell Gonser orchestrated a six-play scoring drive in the final minutes of the half, capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Stephen Williams to reclaim the lead for Medfield at the break at 13-7 (PAT no good).
The Medfield offense began the second half right where they left off, as Gonser led the Warriors on another long touchdown drive, connecting with Williams for his second score of the night followed by a successful two-point try by Giunta to extended the lead to 21-7 with 7:21 to play in the third.
Running back and senior captain Mason Giunta (33) celebrates a first quarter touchdown run with teammate Jake Dubbs (8) during Medfield’s 34-14 season-opening win at Dedham on Friday. Photos by Lizzy Collotta
The Gonser-to-Williams connection continued during the fourth quarter, as Williams scored his third touchdown of the evening on a 33-yard play-action pass from Gonser with 9:31 to play in the fourth to make it a 21-point lead for the Warriors at 28-7. Dedham responded with a touchdown to cut it to 28-14, but junior running back Joey Vachon sealed the win for Medfield with a rushing touchdown with 2:08 remaining to push the lead to 20 at 34-14. The Warriors would go on to win by the same score.
The Warriors will look to move to 2-0 when they host Ashland on Friday for their home opener before traveling to Norton on September 23.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
