BROCKTON, Mass. – Stoughton (9-2) forced a turnover on downs and got the ball back with just 2:04 remaining on the clock down by two points in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s Division 3 state semifinal against Plymouth South (9-1). The Black Knights, who had not gotten a first down since halftime, needed to go 70 yards to advance to the Super Bowl.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Gibb kept the season alive on fourth down with an 11-yard completion to Kevin McDonald. After three straight incompletions, Gibb did it again, this time on a 15-yard pass to Lennox Green that put the Black Knights on the Plymouth South 40. On the next play, Gibb looked deep down the field for McDonald, who drew a pass interference call that moved Stoughton to the 25.
As the excitement built in the stands and Stoughton fans started to believe that a trip to Gillette Stadium could be possible, Gibb tried to hit McDonald on a slant, but the pass was behind him and was picked off by Anthony Schena. The Panthers took a knee and clinched a 14-12 victory at Brockton’s Marciano Stadium.
Stoughton head coach Greg Burke spoke after the game about that final pass from his young signal caller. He explained, “We were just trying to get in position for a field goal. Tough spot for a sophomore quarterback, but he did a pretty good job. We thought that we could throw a little bit on them, but they did a good job covering…and that’s why they’re going to Gillette.”
Burke also spoke of his pride in the tournament run that Stoughton went on over the past three weeks that included an upset of top seed and rival Oliver Ames in the D3 Southwest sectional final.
“I thought we played hard,” he remarked. “I’m proud of the town; I’m proud of the kids. Hopefully we can move on and learn from this and be right back here next year.”
Through most of the first half, Plymouth South and its star running back Dylan Oxsen controlled the action. On its second possession, which started on the Stoughton 38, Plymouth South took the lead. Oxsen cut between the tackle and guard and found a seam that took him 29 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
In the second quarter, the Panthers doubled the lead with an impressive nine-play, 67-yard drive that included eight carries and 71 yards from Oxsen. The senior found the end zone from six yards out and it was 14-0. The Stoughton offense had produced little to that point, so it seemed like the game was on the verge of getting away from them.
But, the Black Knights took their next possession to the Panthers 15-yard-line where they faced a fourth and eight. Gibb threw a perfect pass over the top of the defensive back and hit Green in stride for a touchdown that got Stoughton on the board at 14-6 with just 1:16 left in the half. The extra point was blocked.
Stoughton then proceeded to recover an onside kick. Suddenly, all the momentum was on the side of the Hockomock League team. Gibb hit McDonald for a 36-yard completion to the Plymouth South 15. On the next play, Gibb threw a swing pass to Green who could not hold onto it and it was ruled a backward pass and a fumble.
It was a missed opportunity for the Black Knights, but Oxsen would give them a second chance when he fumbled a pitch at his own 38. Two plays later, Gibb threw a screen pass to Joe Girolamo and the fullback eluded tacklers on his way into the end zone. Down by two, Stoughton attempted a two-point conversion but Taylor Calisi could not get the edge on a sweep and the score was 14-12 at halftime.
“Two points…you can if/buts and start second guessing everything. I thought we had the right call on the two-point, but we didn’t get it done.”
In the second half, neither team could manage a first down until late in the fourth quarter. The Stoughton defensive line of Pat Raeke, Joey Wilder, and Dom Evangelista started to impose itself and block up the running room for Oxsen. The Panthers star still finished with 213 yards on 40 carries, but 150 of those yards came in the first half.
“I thought we did a great job on him in the second half. He got some tough yards on us and made us use our timeouts, which hurt. He did the job in the first half, but we came back.”
Despite the loss, this was still a remarkable season for the Black Knights. Burke noted the three very difficult games that his team has played in the playoffs and that it may have worn down the Black Knights, who face a short week ahead of their Thanksgiving Day game at Canton.
“I’m proud of the kids. We had a great year. That really showed the character of our team with [senior running back Malachi] Baugh out in the second half of the year. This is a tough road, this playoff stuff with four tough games in a row. That’s why the playoffs are good because you have to be real tough to get to this point.”
Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.