Bridgewater, Mass- Walking onto the field at Bridgewater-Raynham High felt like walking into a snow globe that had just been flipped. Swirling winds, bright lights, and the frozen mix of snow and rain made for difficult conditions to play football.
In the midst of the wintry mix, Mansfield junior quarterback Kyle Wisnieski hit sophomore receiver Brendan Hill for a 74-yard touchdown that turned out to be the game winner in a 23-19 victory that sends the Hornets to the Division II EMass Super Bowl on Saturday and ends Duxbury’s 37-game winning streak.
“We had to do everything right to be able to get out of here with a win,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Redding after the game. “We got turnovers, we got a couple of 3 and outs…everything we needed to do - we had to do all of it.”
The deciding touchdown came with just over 4 minutes remaining in the game. The Hornets offense had been struggling to get anything going after halftime and the Dragons had gotten back within three at 16-13.
On 3rd and 7 from its own 26, Mansfield called for Hill to come across the middle of the field, but rather than running a simple crossing route he turned upfield and got behind the secondary. Wisnieski threw a perfect pass and Hill showed a second gear to outrun the defenders for the score.
According to Redding, “We snuck him in at that backside tight end and all year we’ve been running the drag route. People were overplaying it so we sold the drag and ran the flag backside. Play of the game obviously, at that point we didn’t want to give them the ball.”
As would be expected in windy and snowy conditions, the running game was the dominant attack for both teams. Senior running back Kevin Makie rushed 20 times for 123 yards and Robbie Rapoza returned from injury to carry the ball 13 times for 67 yards. Each rushed for a first half touchdown.
“Those two run hard…and our O-line did a really good job up against a really good defensive front,” noted Redding. “Makie ran hard on that bad ankle and Rapoza was better than last Thursday. I think playing last Thursday helped.”
Makie talked about the importance of having his fellow running back to give the Hornets another weapon, “It was great. We practiced all week…me and Robbie are great friends and we just can’t wait until the Super Bowl.”
Mansfield jumped out to an early lead on the opening possession of the game. Makie had a 49-yard run and the Hornets drove inside the Duxbury 10. A pair of incomplete passes from Wisnieski (6-15, 129 yds., TD) forced Mansfield to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Michael Hershman.
After the teams traded punts, Duxbury star running back John Hurvitz (12 car., 155 yds., 3 TD) broke a 69-yard touchdown run straight up the middle to give the Dragons the lead.
After the offense went 3 and out, the Hornets defense stepped up and forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Michael Barressi. Mansfield marched 56 yards in 9 plays and Makie scored from inside the 1-yard line to put the Hornets back on top.
Duxbury took only three plays to give the ball back to Mansfield. Barressi again stepped up, this time with an interception right at midfield. Thirteen plays and 50 yards later, Rapoza punched it in from two yards out on fourth and goal on the final play of the first half.
Redding spoke after the game about the importance of taking those turnovers and getting points, “That was the key, just moving the chains and finishing the drives. I think every time we got inside the 20-yard line we got points.”
Hurvitz struck again for Duxbury right after the break as he capped a 9-play drive with a 15 yard score that brought the Dragons back within three points with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
This is the point when things got a little strange.
Mansfield went three and out. The punt was muffed by the Duxbury return man, but the Dragons recovered to save the possession. On 2nd and 10 from its own 23, Duxbury appeared to have lost a fumble. The play was initially ruled a change of possession but the Back Judge changed the call. The ball was marked at the 28, but the chains had already moved and a 5-yard gain suddenly turned into a first down for Duxbury.
The Dragons nearly turned it over four times on that one possession, but somehow held onto the ball. They were not able to take advantage, however, and that set up the Hornets to step in and make the big play that sends them into the Super Bowl.
Hurvitz added his third touchdown with 2:50 remaining, but the Hornets ground game ran out the remainder of the clock to set up a meeting with Reading in the D2 Super Bowl.
After the final whistle, no Mansfield players were worried about the cold, the rain or the snow. In fact, it seemed like the Hornets would have to be dragged off the field at Bridgewater-Raynham.
And they would be chanting “We’re going to the ‘Ship” the whole way.