By Jeff Kiesling
Community Contributor
The DSHS Varsity Football Team secured an exhilarating victory last Friday night at Medway High School in a closely contested matchup. The game witnessed a seesaw battle between the two teams, with the outcome hanging in the balance until the final seconds. Both squads exchanged leads throughout the contest until DS made a remarkable comeback in the end, ultimately prevailing with a score of 40-33. DS had been trailing the Mustangs 33-32 when they scored with less than 30 seconds left in the game, securing the victory. Notably, the Raiders managed to overcome their injury challenges as another key starter, WR/DL Brian Olson, joined the list of sidelined players. The team responded admirably to being shorthanded, with several players stepping up on both offense and defense.
The Raiders received the opening kickoff and executed a well-rounded 14-play drive, mixing runs and passes effectively. However, their drive stalled at the host's 5-yard line, resulting in a turnover on downs. In response, the Mustangs embarked on a 14-play drive of their own, progressing down the field to score with just two minutes remaining in the first quarter, taking an early 8-0 lead.
The Raiders' subsequent offensive possession lasted only two plays, as RB Zach Jaffe (7) received a handoff and sprinted down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. Jaffe's path was cleared by two crucial blocks, one of which came from receiver Vincent Stefanelli (23), who not only flattened a Mustang cornerback to free Jaffe but also sprinted downfield to eliminate the last potential tackler 40 yards from the endzone. Despite a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Raiders trailed 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs' offense maintained its momentum at the start of the second quarter, quickly scoring to extend their lead to 14-6. Undeterred, DS responded on their next possession when QB Garrett Webb (18) lofted a perfect pass to WR Chris Kiesling (2), who had released on the left side into open space. Kiesling caught the ball in stride and evaded two defenders, with assistance from a crushing block by WR John Saber (11), before reaching the endzone for a touchdown, narrowing the Raiders' deficit.
Following a quick three-and-out forced by the defense, DS looked to score again before halftime. Webb unleashed a 50-yard pass to WR Bobby Saber (19), who made a spectacular circus catch and advanced inside the ten-yard line. Bobby Saber, in addition to his impressive performance at receiver, anchored the left edge of the Raiders' defensive line throughout the game. On the subsequent play, Webb took the snap, feigned a throw to his left, and cruised through a wide-open lane carved by his offensive line, securing another touchdown. Webb then connected with Kiesling on a quick pass out of the backfield for the conversion, giving the Raiders a temporary 20-14 lead. However, the Mustangs quickly responded with a long pass play to regain the momentum and the lead, going into halftime with a score of 21-20 after a fiercely contested and entertaining first half.
DS's offense came out firing in the third quarter, picking up where they left off in the first half. On their first possession, Kiesling lined up wide left and outpaced his defender down the sideline, receiving a 60-yard pass from Webb. Jaffe capitalized on the opportunity, taking a handoff at the 15-yard line and charging through a gaping hole created in the heart of Medway's defensive line, crossing the endzone. Although the conversion attempt failed, DS regained the lead at 26-21 with 6:56 left in the third quarter.
Dover Sherborn's defense stiffened in the third quarter, effectively shutting down the Mustangs' passing game while the defensive line punished runners, forcing them to grind for every yard. This defensive pressure paid off early in the fourth quarter when they forced a turnover at the DS 20-yard line. Unfortunately, DS promptly gave the ball back, essentially gifting a touchdown to the Mustangs, who regained the lead at 27-26 with under 7 minutes remaining in the game.
Ronan Richards (12) received the ensuing kickoff deep in Raiders' territory and headed toward the right sideline, where the return unit had created a solid wall, bringing the ball close to midfield and providing DS with excellent field position. DS capitalized on this favorable position, taking only four plays to advance the ball to the Medway 30-yard line. Webb then found Richards wide open on the right side for a touchdown. Jaffe successfully ran the ball in for a 2-point conversion, giving DS a 32-27 lead with less than 4 minutes remaining.
However, any hopes of the Raiders containing the Mustangs' offense to secure the win dissipated when Medway's QB reversed field on a broken play near midfield and raced into the endzone for a seemingly devastating score with just three minutes left to play. Although the center of the defensive line remained resilient and thwarted the 2-point conversion attempt, DS now trailed 33-32 with time running out.
It was now the Raiders' turn to respond, and the players calmly took the field to execute their offense in pursuit of the game-winning score. On the first play of the drive, Webb once again connected with Kiesling on the left side. Kiesling raced down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds near the Medway 30-yard line. Three carries by Jaffe and three more completions between Webb and Kiesling moved the ball inside the 10-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
With the game on the line, Webb targeted Richards, who initially advanced up the field but then abruptly changed direction to elude defenders, enabling him to dive into the endzone for the winning score. A successful 2-point conversion, with Webb connecting to Kiesling, sealed the game with a final score of 40-33 and only seconds remaining.
With this incredible comeback, DS appears to have regained their momentum and currently holds a 2-3 record for the season, with four games remaining. They will be on the road once again this week, facing Millis High School on October 13 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
