RANDOLPH, Mass. - Behind a strong running game, the Sharon High football team defeated Randolph, 27-8, on Friday night.
Host Randolph started with the ball. Junior Erik Kushner and friends sacked the Randolph quarterback and forced a fumble. Sharon, taking over at the Blue Devils 2, ran senior back Eric Lesser up the gut for a touchdown.
Sharon forced another fumble on the next Randolph possession. The next play, Eagles junior running back Evantz Elisma turned the corner for 26 yards behind a clear-out block by senior receiver Brian Lawrence.
Five plays later, Elisma walked home from five yards out behind great blocking by his offensive line. Lesser’s point-after increased the Sharon margin to 14-0.
“Evantz did a very good job,” said head coach Dave Morse. “It looked like he had a little hop in his step. It was good to see.”
A long Randolph pass took them inside the Sharon red zone on the next drive, but Eagles senior captain Adam Banks’ strong pass rush forced an incompletion on 4th-and-9.
The Sharon aerial attack came alive in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Sean O’Neill found senior wideout Bradley Kaufman on and up-and-out route for a 21-yard score.
One black mark for the Eagles was committing penalties; Sharon was whistled for several in the first half.
“I think we’re an aggressive team,” said Morse. “We’ve got to harness our aggression and stay out of the penalty box.”
The Eagles took the second half kickoff and scored their final points of the night. O’Neill hooked up with Kaufman again, this time from 41 yards out.
Sharon finished off the 27-8 victory with many players stepping up in a strong performance and improved to 7-1. The Eagles head to Franklin next Friday night.
Morse said, “We’ve just got to minimize penalties; come out, be more efficient on offense; and just move the ball better.”