By Jeff Kiesling
Community Contributor
The Dover-Sherborn High Raiders hosted the Medfield High Warriors for the 56th annual Thanksgiving Day Football game before a full house last week. Medfield came into the game leading the series 30-21-5, but the Raiders had won the last two meetings. Fans filled both stands and were rewarded with a clear and bright morning for the traditional outing as the teams watched their seniors take the field against their town rival for the final time.
Both offenses were held in check early as the defenses forced three-and-outs for the first couple of possessions. Medfield got on the board first midway through the first quarter when WR Cal Gardener broke free down the right sideline and QB Nick Hasapidas lofted a pass that he hauled in near the DS 10. A few plays later Hasapidas called his own number at the goal-line, and he was able to sneak into the endzone for the first score of the day. The extra-point was good, and Medfield led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
DS tried to get something going on offense, but a fumbled handoff returned the ball to Medfield near midfield early in the second quarter. A defensive penalty set the Medfield offense up in the Dover-Sherborn red zone and they pulled off a nifty misdirection play that fooled the defense and allowed RB Brady McCormack to cruise into the endzone on the left side untouched. Medfield could not connect on its attempted 2-point conversion, but they were up 13-0 and would carry that lead into the half.
The DS offense finally got on track midway through the 3rd quarter when RB Zach Jaffee took a handoff near midfield and raced down the right sideline before being dragged down by Medfield defenders at the Medfield 7-yard line. Two plays later Jaffee took a handoff and bounced his way through defenders to the endzone for a DS score. Tyler Huang drilled the extra-point, putting DS down by one score, 13-7.
Medfield responded with a methodical 12 play drive which paid off with a Hasapidas throw to McCormack in the back left corner of the endzone to push their lead to 19-7. Turnovers continued to bite the Raiders as they fumbled the ball back to Medfield at their own 30-yard line to end the third quarter. The Warriors seized the opportunity and drove ten plays down the field to set up McCormack who took a pitch at the 5-yard line and raced defenders to the left pylon where he dove in for the score. The try for two was turned away by the DS defense, but the touchdown put Medfield up 25-7, which would be the final score. The Warriors took the Turkey Day Trophy back home!
After the trophy presentation the players’ family and friends lingered to snap pictures and offer congratulations. When there was no more to be said, the players, many for the last time, reluctantly left the field one-by-one, soaking in the memories. Congratulations to both teams on terrific seasons and on a hard-fought and entertaining season finale.
Medfield High School Warriors Seniors:
Ben Carpenter, Chase Coughlin, Declan Frazier, Nick Gangemi, Cal Gardiner , Will Griffin, Nick Halesworth, Nick Hasapidis, Nate Malvese, Max Masters, Luca Morello, Alex Munz, Marco Musto, Tomiwa Ojuolape, Tyler Rosen, Roman Schoenfeld, and Matthew Stevens.
Dover-Sherborn High School Raiders Seniors:
Walker Adams, Emilio Cabey, Tyler Hwang, Zach Jaffe, Chris Kiesling, Jacob Kummailil, Robert Lanczycki, Chip McStravick, Brian Olson, Dylan Rogers, Bobby Saber, John Saber, Vincent Stefanelli, Drew Thompson, and Garrett Webb.
