WRENTHAM, Mass. - The Attleboro High School Blue Bombardiers came into King Philip Regional High School in an unusual role Friday: the underdog.
But that did not phase them, as they upset the Warriors 19-12, handing them only their second loss of the year - and their second in a row - in a hard-fought battle between two Hockomock League powerhouses.
"I love this team," said Attleboro coach Mike Strachan. "They do things, they respond well, they work together... We were not right at the beginning of the game, and they all settled down. [We have] senior leadership, across the board, [and] I'm very, very proud of this team."
The Bombardiers struck first on the third play of their first drive, set up nicely by a Damon Belin kickoff return to the KP 25 yard line, as Tim Walsh found Brenden Massey from 30 yards out to make it 6-0. It would stay that way as King Philip blocked the PAT attempt by Mike Cannata.
The Warriors would strike right back, with JJ Dillon capping off the drive with a completion to running back Joe Johnston from seven yards out to tie the game at 6-6. King Philip attempted a 2-PT Conversion, but Dillon found no receivers to pass too and ended up throwing it away.
It was King Philip who'd strike again next, as the Warriors, set up by a failed fake punt incompletion by the Bombardiers, would score off a goal line quarterback sneak by Dillon to make it 12-6 with 1:52 left in the first quarter. The streak of failed extra point attempts would continue as Attleboro blocked their PAT attempt.
After some struggles on the passing game for the Bombardiers on their previous drives, they seemingly fixed the problem when Walsh connected with Massey for a 46 yard pass from midfield that set up a quick four yard goal line pass to Matt Elliot to tie things up at 12-12. Cannata added the first extra point of the night, as his PAT was good to make it 13-12 Attleboro with 4:11 left in the second quarter, a score line which would be taken into the half.
Attleboro came out even better in the second half, and were the first - and only - to strike in the half. After facing a 4th & 4 from 36 yards out in Warriors territory, Walsh passed to Tom Burns who took it 27 yards, setting up a 1st & Goal 9-yard touchdown run by Belin to make it 19-12, and once again, there'd be no extra points as a bad snap on the PAT was fumbled.
After that, the Attleboro defense really stepped up to a King Philip offense that wouldn't back down. Ryan Carello had five tackles, Brandon Pleas had four and Ryan Bowen had three as the Bombardiers shut out the Warriors in the second half despite their strong attempts, up until the final whistle, as the Bombardiers tool to the field to celebrate.
"[King Philip] is a physical team. They're very well coached," said Strachan. "I knew it was going to be a battle today, and this team needed this win today."
"Every day we set goals for ourselves in practice, and as silly as that may sound, we believe in it," said Strachan of the team's mentality and confidence. "And we get better every day. We talk about coming out, getting better, and setting goals for ourselves, and this team has really done that."
There was a scary moment late when Burns took a hit to the helmet late in the game and went down. After trainers came out to examine the receiver who's been an important weapon in Walsh's offensive arsenal this season, he was able to walk off the field.
Both teams are playoff bound in their respective divisions, with their first round opponents, as with all other MIAA playoff teams, to be decided on Sunday.
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