BROOKLINE – As Rory Funke took the sphere Saturday, he and his teammates knew that that they had a chance to verify off one in all their season targets.
Mission completed. The sophomore quarterback was surgical, finishing 12-of-13 passes for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He additionally added 11 carries for 116 yards and a 3rd rating as Dexter Southfield clinched a NEPSAC Class A Bowl bid with a powerful 23-10 victory over Loomis Chaffee at dwelling.
“It was superior,” Funke mentioned. “Preseason, we had the identical targets as final 12 months. Each sport’s a winnable sport. Our o-line actually performed nice for me. It’s all about coronary heart. Clinching a bowl is large.”
Dexter Southfield (6-0) got here out with ardour as senior defensive again Owen Norris picked off Loomis Chaffee’s Romy Jain on the sport’s opening possession. His group gained possession and proceeded to march proper up the sphere. Funke capped the drive, scrambling free for a 13-yard landing run. Then Joshua Berglund added a two-point rush, as Dexter Southfield seized an 8-0 lead with 8:36 left within the first quarter.
Brendan Mulderig put Loomis Chaffee on the board moments later, drilling a 32-yard area purpose to trim issues to 8-3 with 3:45 left within the body.
Then each faculties started to battle offensively, buying and selling possessions till the waning seconds of the primary half. Nonetheless, Dexter Southfield was in a position to capitalize late following a brief punt by the Pelicans, as they took over deep in enemy territory on the 29-yard line with 27 ticks left within the second quarter.
After driving his group into the pink zone, Funke evaded stress, then fired a last-ditch bullet on the horn. Junior wideout Gavin Marzouki made a one-handed seize for a nine-yard landing reception, as Dexter Southfield took a 14-3 lead into the break.
“I simply noticed him throw it up, and I used to be like: ‘I’ve bought to go get that,’ ” chuckled Marzouki.
Going through fourth-and-goal from distance on the opening possession of the third quarter, Dexter Southfield transformed. Funke related with sophomore Jack Riordan for a 16-yard landing reception, breaking issues open at 21-3 with 8:05 left within the stanza.
Loomis Chaffee (2-4) tried to rally within the fourth, as Romy Jain tossed a cross to the nook of the top zone. Jeremiah Robinson made a one-handed snag for a powerful two-yard landing reception to chop the deficit to 21-10, however that was as shut because the Pelicans would get.
Dexter Southfield compelled a security with 1:04 left, serving to to ice an excellent win. The Brookline-based faculty will now face one of many prime groups from the opposite Class A division (NE Prep) later this fall for a Bowl title.
There are nonetheless just a few video games to go within the common season. Dexter Southfield coach Casey Day doesn’t plan on trying too far forward, however nonetheless took a second to have fun the group’s newest achievement.
“We’ve heard plenty of chatter going into this 12 months, that it’s going to take us time,” mentioned Day. “That it’s going to be a course of. However we knew what we had in our locker room. I feel there’s some issues that, quote-on-quote, journey effectively. I feel our guys are powerful. We play good protection, we like to play soccer. I don’t care if it’s Class A, Class B or Class C. In the event you’ve bought guys which might be powerful, which might be going to run round on protection, and guys like we’ve on offense that may make performs and guys up entrance like we’ve, you’re going to be a very good soccer group. Whether or not it’s Class A, or Class C, it doesn’t matter.”
