Senior captain Brian Malone (26) finds a seam and cuts up the field on a punt return. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
After their previous game against Framingham was cancelled due to COVID protocols, Walpole High School varsity football returned action on Friday afternoon at Braintree.
Walpole took the ball to start the game and picked up a first down thanks to an eight-yard run by senior captain Conor Schlittler, but were eventually forced to punt. Braintree quarterback James Tellier then led the Wamps down the field, hitting Cam Garrity for an 11-yard completion before a 32-yard jet-sweep by Mario Franciosa-Johnson brought the ball down inside the 10. Walpole's defense stood its ground along its own goal line, stuffing a pair of rush attempts and batting away a ball on third down to force a field goal try. Ryan Brooks cashed in from 24 yards out as Braintree took a 3-0 lead.
The game remained 3-0 until 5:50 to play in the second quarter. Telliers led the Wamps down the field with a series of completions to Garrity and Will Pistorino. Telliers capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak to extend Braintree's lead to 10-0.
Andrew Falzone ripped off a big 39-yard run to up set Walpole in plus territory on the first play of the ensuing possession. Two plays later, however, Walpole quarterback Owen Johnson was under duress in the pocket, escaped and threw a ball along the far sideline intended for Haidar Faraj that was intercepted by Pistorino. Braintree killed the remainder of the clock and took their 10-point lead into halftime.
Braintree received the second half kickoff and went right back to work. A long return out to midfield by Brooks set the Wamps up in plus territory. An eight-yard gain by Franciosa-Johnson on an end-around on first down, followed by back-to-back first down runs by Brooks, moved the ball down inside the red zone. Tellier then handed the ball to Brooks for a third consecutive play as Brooks cut to the outside and beat a chasing Conor Schlittler to the right pylon for the touchdown, extending Braintree's lead to 16-0 (PAT no-good).
A fumble on the second play of Walpole's ensuing drive set up Braintree with the chance to deliver the back breaker. Walpole's defense stood tall, however, stuffing Brooks on consecutive carries at the goal line. A holding penalty moved the ball back from the four to the 14 yard line as consecutive passing plays to end zone by Braintree fell incomplete, forcing a turnover on downs and allowing Walpole to stay within two possessions.
Sophomore quarterback Corry Kilroy took over for Walpole midway through the fourth quarter. Kilroy put together Walpole's best drive of the day, utilizing his legs for big gains on consecutive read-options to move the ball across midfield. Kilroy then connected with senior wideout Gianluca Gonser for a 33-yard gain on a go-route along the near sideline to move the ball inside the red zone. After an incompletion and consecutive run plays went for no gain, a holding call against Walpole moved the ball back to the 28-yard-line. Kilroy and the Walpole offense were forced to go for it on fourth down, needing a score and a successful two-point try to get to within one possession of tying. Kilroy took the fourth down snap and scrambled out to his left while avoiding pressure for as long as he could. The pressure eventually got there, though, and Kilroy attempted to heave up a prayer to the end zone. The ball was deflected and intercepted by Braintree's Hillard Baker. The Wamps took over and were able to run out the remainder of the clock, prevailing by the 16-0 final.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
