DUXBURY — Duxbury started its soccer season with a rocky opening, however has discovered its groove at simply the proper time.
Senior captain Brady Rhinesmith accomplished 14-of-18 passes Friday, ending with 305 yards and 4 touchdowns because the fourth-seeded Dragons superior to the Div. 4 semifinals once more with a 38-14 romp of No. 5 Burlington.
“We knew they had been an excellent crew coming in right here,” Rhinesmith mentioned. “We simply caught to the sport plan and executed the perfect we will. We had been fortunate sufficient to come back out with the win. All of us needed it actually badly. You can inform from Monday on. This was the sport we had circled, and clearly, we got here out on prime.”
Utilizing its signature single-wing offense, Burlington (9-1) tried some trickery proper out of the gate. Nonetheless, the Purple Devils had been foiled as Ryan Brooks fired a halfback cross up the sector. He was picked off by Dragons’ senior Lucas Falls, as Duxbury (7-3) took over at its personal 24. Moments later, Rhinesmith heaved a cross for the tip zone. Jack Carney hauled it in for a 38-yard landing reception, and the Dragons led 7-0 with 5:17 left within the opening body.
In a while within the second quarter, the Purple Devils determined to go for it on fourth down from their very own 39. Brooks was tackled wanting the road to achieve, organising Duxbury with nice discipline place. Going through a fourth down sequence of their very own, the Dragons capitalized as Rhinesmith took one other deep shot. Carney corralled it, then escaped a would-be tackler on his technique to a 39-yard landing reception. In a flash, it was a 14-0 contest with 5:22 left within the half.
Burlington would reply, as Brooks broke off a 53-yard rush to set his crew up within the crimson zone. The star working again discovered paydirt with a one-yard rush two performs later, because the Purple Devils trimmed it to a 14-6 recreation.
Duxbury was capable of make it a two-possession recreation on the finish of the second quarter, as Gavin Hammond drilled a 24-yard discipline aim to supply his crew a 17-6 benefit.
Duxbury obtained the second-half kickoff and easily saved on rolling. The Dragons staged a methodical drive into Burlington territory. Then, Rhinesmith determined to take one other Hail Mary shot. This time, the senior captain hit Nate Learn for a 28-yard landing cross, pushing the result in 24-6 with 6:58 to go within the stanza.
Shortly thereafter, Duxbury compelled one other turnover on downs and took over at its 45. The Purple Devils then tried a blitz. Rhinesmith dumped a display screen off to Jake Falls, and the captain slipped away from a tackler and took off for a 53-yard landing reception. By that time, the Dragons had been in full command, up 31-6 with 2:42 left within the third.
Cole Barberia put the ending touches on the victory for Duxbury, scampering for an 11-yard landing run with 6:35 left in regulation to make it 38-6.
Sammy Fernandes accounted for Burlington’s remaining rating with a 57-yard landing rush.
It’s the seventh straight journey to a state semifinal for Duxbury, and its fifth consecutive on the Div. 4 stage. The Dragons will face a longtime nemesis in Scituate. In 4 out of the final 5 seasons, the Patriot League rivals have met within the Div. 4 Tremendous Bowl, splitting titles.
“We’re going to actually are available, work our tails off, belief the method and never fear concerning the outcome,” mentioned Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi. “We perceive that not lots of people are choosing us. We’ll see.”
