NORTH ATTLEBORO — It was solely pure for Mansfield to consider final yr’s stinging Division 3 Tremendous Bowl loss to North Attleboro when the perimeters met Friday night time for the primary time since that contest.
However this time, the Hornets put collectively a efficiency far more to their liking in opposition to their Hockomock League rival.
Mansfield pulled off a gritty street win, buoyed by two speeding touchdowns from senior working again Mason Bordieri and a game-altering 75-yard punt return for a rating by Darrian Sanders to take down North Attleboro, 24-14, at Beaupre Area.
“It meant totally different to most of us,” Bordieri stated. “We all know final yr, 35-0, in a Tremendous Bowl sport, horrible. Proper once we received the schedule, this sport was circled. We have been ready all yr, labored all yr for this, and we got here out and performed at present.”
A 40-yard subject purpose by James Warren opened the scoring, after which Mansfield (5-2) transformed a North Attleboro (5-2) fumble into factors when Bordieri scored on a 2-yard run to offer the Hornets a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
The Purple Rocketeers drummed up the right response with a 12-play, 82-yard scoring drive. North Attleboro used a heavy dose of quarterback Dylan Brousseau (21 carries, 118 yards) within the run sport earlier than Frankie Strachan capped the drive by plunging into the top zone from a yard out.
The groups traded three-and-outs after however the Hornets snatched momentum again due to Sanders’ pivotal play. Sanders fielded the punt at his personal 25 and received a key block by Bordieri earlier than Sanders broke a couple of tackles alongside the sideline to spring free for the landing and a 17-7 lead with 3:40 remaining within the second quarter.
“Clearly the play of the night time was Sanders on the punt return. Nice effort,” Mansfield head coach Mike Redding stated. “The momentum had shifted of their favor and that form of received it again for us.”
North Attleboro as soon as once more minimize the deficit to 3 late within the third quarter when Nathaniel Robin punctuated one other 12-play scoring drive with a two-yard landing run.
However the Hornets weren’t going to be denied this time and Bordieri’s 45-yard landing run simply over the halfway level within the fourth quarter sealed an necessary win for the Hornets.
The victory not solely helped Mansfield get a dose of revenge on North Attleboro, however put the Hornets in nice place to attempt to safe a Davenport Division title.
“Truthfully, beating North Attleboro, it’s simply such an amazing rival,” Redding stated. “If we have been each 0-6, you’ll have seen what occurred tonight. Clearly the stakes are increased, the seedings within the division.
“However I believe the league championship, some leagues it’s not a giant deal anymore. Round right here it’s. Successful a Hockomock championship within the Davenport and outplaying Canton, North Attleboro, Foxboro, meaning so much in Mansfield.”
