By Jeff Kiesling
Community Contributor
The DSHS Varsity Football Team won on the road against Tri-Valley League rival Millis on the road last Friday night to even their season record at 3-3 and keep their playoff hopes alive. The Raiders led by two scores at the half and the defense held the hosts scoreless until the final minutes on their way to a 14-6 final score.
On Dover Sherborn’s first play from scrimmage QB Garett Webb (18) found WR Ronan Richards (12) down the right sideline for a long gain deep into Millis territory. A few plays later Chris Kiesling (2) lined up tight left and at the snap released untouched and turned toward the left sideline. Webb lofted a perfect pass to Kiesling who caught it, turned up field and was hit immediately by a tackler that he dragged the final five yards before lunging into the endzone for the first score of the night. K Tyler Hwang (25) split the uprights for the extra-point and DS led 7-0 at the 7:00 mark of the first quarter.
The Mohawks’ ensuing drive stalled near midfield, and they were forced to punt. DS took over near its own twenty and went back to work. A quick connection between Webb and Kiesling moved the Raiders near midfield to end the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Webb threw a short pass to RB Zack Jaffee (7) on the right side at the thirty-five, who caught it, wove through traffic, and outran Millis’ secondary for a second Raiders touchdown. Hwang again nailed the extra-point making the DS lead 14-0.
Jaffee carried the workload on the ground for the Raiders for the remainder of the half as the two squads traded possessions without scoring. Millis was unable to run up the middle as Kiesling and LB Luca Mariano (54) kept it clogged and the defensive line kept pressure on the quarterback which disrupted any pass attack. The Raiders defensive highlights in the second quarter included an interception on a jump ball by DB John Saber (11) and a solo sack by DL Dylan Rogers (78) who flushed the Millis QB from the pocket and then dropped him for a loss to stall the hosts’ drive near the end the first half.
Up by two touchdowns, the Raiders decided to keep it simple in the second half and ran the ball, which meant feeding it to Jaffe, who pounded through the holes created by his offensive line. The two squads were able to generate some offense but neither defense yielded the goal line and DS remained up 14-0 with one quarter remaining. The see-saw battle continued for most of the fourth quarter, but the Mohawks were able to avoid the shutout by scoring in the final minute. Their comeback was short-lived however as DS grabbed their onside kick and ran out the clock for a 14-6 win.
The Raiders return home at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night to play Norton High School. They end their league schedule on the road against Bellingham on October 27 at 6:00 and their final game is at home this year against (non-league rival) Medfield in the annual game on Thanksgiving morning at 10:00.
