After B Squad was the only 2016 postseason qualifier for Needham Junior Football, the Junior Rockets took the field on Sunday in their Bay State semifinal game against Norwood.
Despite a hard-fought and physical effort, the Rockets fell 16-14 to the Mustangs, putting an end to not only their season but all of Needham Junior Football for the 2016 slate.
The Jr. Rockets found themselves down 8-0 early on, before fighting back behind great offensive line blocking and power running. Sam Billante, Chris Closuit, Matt Ferrara, Isaiah Grupee, Will Harris, Thomas Hartley, Matt Filippine, Alex McKay, Jimmy Meunier, Hanson Miller, Aidan O’Brien, Peter Papakryrikos, Gerald Perkins, Brady Ross, Jason Silver, Jack Snelling, and Micah Taylor all played stellar on offense.
An Adrian Rufo pass to wideout Brendan Morley for a touchdown and successful two-point kick attempt knotted the game at eight at the half.
In the second half, the defense played very well and shut down a high powered Norwood offense aside from one long run by a shifty Norwood running back that put the Mustangs up 16-8 in the third quarter.
B Squad never gave up and continued to grind with a tough running game by Griffin Colwell, Nick Dugan, Ryan Hannigan, Chris Northrup, John Ogletree, Krystian Reese, Brendan Morley and Adrian Rufo. Early in the fourth quarter behind great lead blocks, Morley ran in a score to cut the deficit to 16-14. The two-point kick attempt by the Jr. Rockets was blocked by a surging Norwood defensive line and the game remained 16-14 in favor of the Mustangs.
Needham worked hard with a stingy defensive effort and shut down the Mustang offense in the fourth quarter highlighted by great tackles by Will Harris, Adrian Rufo, Ryan Hannigan, and Griffin Colwell and an interception by Brendan Morley to keep Needham’s hopes alive for one final score.
The Jr. Rockets played with incredible heart to the very last play but fell short, ending a great season at 6-2 and as a top team in the Bay State conference. Coaches Greg Cooper, Ivo Rufo, Garrett Ross, Ed Filippine, Sean Hannigan, Mike Duffy and Paul Morley were all very proud of their players who worked incredibly hard to improve themselves all season long while having their best season yet as a team.
