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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Football is a sport where few wins ever come easily, but the Walpole Rebels (1-2) made it look as such on Saturday afternoon against arch rival Norwood (0-3), blanking the Mustangs 37-0 for their first win of the young season.
Senior quarterback Brett Lavanchy torched the Mustang secondary from the onset, throwing for two touchdowns on the day and scrambling for another. Meanwhile, senior defensive end Henry Dundon led the Rebel defense to an absolutely dominant performance, recording three sacks and five total tackles for a loss.
Senior defensive end Henry Dundon (81) drags down the Norwood quarterback for one of his three sacks on the day.
Walpole jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead thanks to the legs and arm of Lavanchy, who also serves as Walpole’s placekicker and punter.
With time winding down in the second half, the Rebels looked to put together one more drive to up their lead 28 at the break. Lavanchy led the Rebels all the way down to the Norwood one-yard line, thanks to a pair of deep passes. With 15 seconds to play, Lavanchy handed the ball off to senior running back Dylan McGraw who punched it in for a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Rebels a 28-0 lead at the half.
Brett Lavanchy (3) watches one of his four PAT attempts on the day sail through the uprights to give Walpole a 28-0 lead late in the first half of Saturday’s 37-0 win over Norwood.
Lavanchy kicked home a 29-yard field goal on Walpole’s opening possession of the second half to extend the Rebel lead to 31-0. Dundon and company forced a punt on Norwood’s ensuing possession, and the Rebel offense would add another score via sophomore wideout Drew Von Klock to go ahead by 37 on their first possession of the fourth quarter.
The Rebel defense continued to keep the Mustang offense put, and held on to preserve the shutout victory. Barry Greener’s boys will return to the field on Friday when they travel to Wellesley.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
