ATTLEBORO, Mass. - The Attleboro High School Blue Bombardiers kept rolling, defeating the Franklin High School Panthers 37-20 in their Hockomock League opener for their third consecutive win on the young season.
“We’re improving," said Attleboro coach Mike Strachan. "That’s a very good football team, very well coached, so that’s a good start to the season.”
Quarterback Tim Walsh threw two touchdown passes and Tom Burns came up big on both sides of the balling, running for a touchdown while also recording three interceptions on the defensive side.
"Huge plays, I mean, those picks were at critical moments for in the game and the touchdown, said Strachan of Burn's efforts. "He broke three tackles to get in. It was a very good run; [he’s a] very good player."
The Bombardiers received the opening kickoff and capitalized on it, finishing the 63 yard drive off with a two yard touchdown pass from Walsh to the tight end, Luke Morrison. Mike Cannata, who was perfect on all his attempts of the night, added the point after and Attleboro took an early 7-0 lead.
Attleboro had possession of the ball and found themselves in the red zone as the first quarter ended, and would score on the first play of the second when Walsh found Brenden Massey from 14 yards out to go up two touchdowns over the Panthers.
Two drives later, Franklin's Quentin Harrell picked off a Walsh pass that bounced off of Massey's hands on the Attleboro 21 yard line and took it 10 yards. After landing on their own fumble to save the drive, quarterback Nick Zucco would hand it off to Chris Roche who ran it in from six yards out for the six points.
It would only be six for the Panthers on the drive, as on the point after attempt, Attleboro forced a fumble that was picked up by Pat Dunn and ran all the way down field for two Bombardier points, making it 16-6 with 6:14 left in the half.
Attleboro scored again on the next drive, with Dave Duquette, who was busy once again on the ground effort for the Bombardiers, ran it in from seven yards out as his team would take a 23-6 lead and carry it into the half. On one of the final plays of the first half, Attleboro's Kyle Murphy came up big again on defense with a huge pass swat that forced the Panthers to punt.
Franklin received to open up the second, and after a drive that took up almost half the quarter, finished with a goal line one-yard run in from Zucco, and the point after made it 23-13 with 6:30 left in the third.
Attleboro struck back on the next drive, capping off an 80 yard drive with a 12 yard run into the end zone by Burns, and the Bombardiers were up 30-13 with 1:21 left in the quarter.
But the Panthers showed that they too could strike back fast, starting off with a big 25 yard run by Daevon Weathers and ended in another goal line touchdown run from Zucco. A successful PAT by Nick Yelle made it 30-20 as they opened the final quarter.
Two drives later, Burns picked off Zucco for the second time, setting up a big 43 yard touchdown run by Damon Belin, the first of his varsity career, and Cannata would bring it to the eventual score at 37-20
Burns picked off Zucco a third and final time near midfield, allowing for the Bombardiers to run out the clock and finalize their first Hockomock win of the 2013 season.
Attleboro returns to action next Friday when they'll host the red-hot Mansfield Hornets, while Franklin will play host to the Taunton Tigers.
Feedback for student reporters can be sent to [email protected]. Cameron Merritt can be follow on Twitter at @RedSoxCam1996.