WOBURN – Cohasset senior Mike Wildfire delivered a virtuoso efficiency throughout the Division 7 semifinals, main the Skippers previous Northbridge, 35-15, at Woburn Excessive College to advance to the Tremendous Bowl.
Wildfire rushed for a landing and threw for 2 extra. He additionally made an impression on protection at cornerback and security, shutting down a fourth-ranked Northbridge crew that averaged 35 factors a recreation and scored a mixed 90 factors over the previous two weeks.
“Credit score to our O-line and D-line – they gained us this recreation,” mentioned Wildfire. “We obtained pushed round within the playoffs our freshmen and sophomore years, so we knew we would have liked to be those within the weight room to be sure that didn’t occur once more.”
After ending a recreation beneath .500 final yr, top-ranked Cohasset (9-2) is within the midst of a dream season. The key to their success has been a bodily fashion of play, which is on show each single snap by the offensive and line of defense.
“That’s the place video games are gained, particularly when groups are so evenly matched,” mentioned Cohasset coach Pete Afanasiw. “If you happen to can bodily transfer the opposite crew round, you’ve a bonus. Our guys rose to the event. My unofficial motto for this crew is NSLD – by no means skip leg day. Our guys have put within the work. Now we now have our greatest take a look at but with Amesbury.”
Cohasset was first to place factors on the board when Wildfire linked with senior Nolan Flaherty on fourth-and-goal from the ten on the 6:42 mark of the opening quarter. After Jack Roach kicked the additional level, the Skippers held a 7-0 benefit.
The lead doubled when Wildfire rushed 10 yards into the tip zone with 10:24 remaining within the second quarter. After forcing a fast three-and-out collection, Wildfire then accomplished a one-play drive with a 60-yard missile down the sideline to senior receiver Hendrix Gustafson, who burned his defender in man-to-man protection. That made the rating 21-0 in Cohasset’s favor with 9:08 to play within the half.
The third quarter was a clock-management masterclass from Cohasset. After marching down the sphere, one run at a time, to grab a 28-0 lead after Gus Greene powered his approach into the tip zone with a three-yard rush, the following kickoff ricocheted off a Northbridge participant and was recovered by Cohasset junior Jeff Lombardi. Northbridge didn’t run a play till 4 seconds remained within the third.
“We haven’t been glad all yr,” mentioned senior captain JT MacDonald, an anchor on the offensive and line of defense. “We labored onerous within the common season, we had been the one seed, we’ve gained all three playoff video games. However we’re nonetheless not glad. We’ve obtained extra to do.”
The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for Northbridge (9-2), although it by no means diminished its spirit on the sphere. After a 40-yard completion down the sideline to senior receiver Kevin DiMuzio that put the Rams within the pink zone, senior quarterback Joel Lachapelle lastly broke the objective line with 9:01 to play within the fourth.
Greene answered for Cohasset together with his second dashing landing, discovering the open lane and exploding 49 yards to increase the result in 35-7 with 6:14 to play. That marked Greene’s twenty seventh TD, making him the all-time scoring report chief in Cohasset historical past.
“It means absolutely the world to me to interrupt this report with my teammates,” mentioned Greene. “The O-line carries me, and it means much more as a result of I grew up with these guys. Having the entire city (supportive), it’s the best feeling.”
Northbridge injected some pleasure when backup QB Mason Mawn accomplished a picturesque 36-yard landing move to DiMuzio with 3:11 to play. After a two-point conversion and a profitable onside kick, Northbridge appeared to have a brand new life till Cohasset’s protection stifled Lachapelle on the following drive.
“Cohasset is an excellent crew,” mentioned Northbridge coach Ken Lachapelle, who’s teaching his fiftieth and last season. “Give kudos to their offensive and defensive strains – they managed the sport. Their working backs made it occur. Give them a variety of credit score.”
Cohasset will now sq. off in opposition to undefeated Amesbury (11-0) within the D7 Tremendous Bowl.
“It’s my dream to play at Gillette with these guys,” mentioned Wildfire. “We have now a stronger connection than any non-public faculty may. It’s that hometown feeling – all of us grew up on this small city collectively.”
