Game of the Week - 10/12/12
Breakdown:
Our third installment of Game of the Week pits two undefeated teams, one from each division in the Hockomock. The 5-0 Sharon Eagles will travel to Wrentham to try and hand the 5-0 King Philip Warriors their first loss of the season. The Eagles have surprised many people this year, going 5-0 for the first time in over a decade. Three of their wins have come on the road, including two back-to-back come from behind wins over Taunton and Canton (in overtime). King Philip has picked up five convincing wins that has many media outlets ranking them as a top 10 school in the state. Sharon’s knack for clutch wins will be tested by the Warriors combination of a lethal offense and solid defense.
When: Friday, October 12, 2012, 7:00
Where: Arnold Macktaz Field, King Philip Regional High School
Players to Watch:
With both teams standing at 5-0, each side has plenty of players to watch from Friday night. Sharon quarterback Sean O’Neill leads the league in touchdown passes at 8 and has helped lead his team down field on more than one occasion in comeback situations. O’Neill is complimented by receivers Bradley Kaufman – who leads the league in touchdown catches with 5 – and Adam Banks. Most importantly could be O’Neill’s running back: Sean Asnes. Asnes broke out last year and has found the end zone five teams this year – four on the ground and one in the air. For King Philip, quarterback JJ Dillon has been very consistent at the helm for the Warriors. He has four scores in the air and two runs from a yard out. Arguably the best part for KP is the variety they have. Five different players have recorded a rush touchdown – Dillon, Joe Johnston, Christian Flaherty, Sean Littlefield, and Ryan Dunn – and four different players with touchdown receptions – Johnston, Dunn, Joe Cochrane, and Sam McDonald. A bonus for the Eagles could be kicker Eric Lesser, who is one of only three kickers to convert a field goal in the Hock this year.
Key Matchup:
The Key Matchup this week will pit King Philip running back Joe Johnston against the Sharon Eagle defense. Johnston has been scoring at will, racking up 10 rushing touchdowns through 5 games and adding a score through the air. The Sharon defense has only given up a respectable 14 points a game, most of which have come in the first half. They have pitched two second half shutouts this year and only given up a total of two four scores in the second half. If the Eagles want a shot at winning this, their key will be giving KP limited opportunities at scoring, and converting their chances when given. Johnston is a dangerous back – one of the best in the league – and is a step away from changing the entire complexity of the competition.
Our third installment of Game of the Week pits two undefeated teams, one from each division in the Hockomock. The 5-0 Sharon Eagles will travel to Wrentham to try and hand the 5-0 King Philip Warriors their first loss of the season. The Eagles have surprised many people this year, going 5-0 for the first time in over a decade. Three of their wins have come on the road, including two back-to-back come from behind wins over Taunton and Canton (in overtime). King Philip has picked up five convincing wins that has many media outlets ranking them as a top 10 school in the state. Sharon’s knack for clutch wins will be tested by the Warriors combination of a lethal offense and solid defense.
When: Friday, October 12, 2012, 7:00
Where: Arnold Macktaz Field, King Philip Regional High School
Players to Watch:
With both teams standing at 5-0, each side has plenty of players to watch from Friday night. Sharon quarterback Sean O’Neill leads the league in touchdown passes at 8 and has helped lead his team down field on more than one occasion in comeback situations. O’Neill is complimented by receivers Bradley Kaufman – who leads the league in touchdown catches with 5 – and Adam Banks. Most importantly could be O’Neill’s running back: Sean Asnes. Asnes broke out last year and has found the end zone five teams this year – four on the ground and one in the air. For King Philip, quarterback JJ Dillon has been very consistent at the helm for the Warriors. He has four scores in the air and two runs from a yard out. Arguably the best part for KP is the variety they have. Five different players have recorded a rush touchdown – Dillon, Joe Johnston, Christian Flaherty, Sean Littlefield, and Ryan Dunn – and four different players with touchdown receptions – Johnston, Dunn, Joe Cochrane, and Sam McDonald. A bonus for the Eagles could be kicker Eric Lesser, who is one of only three kickers to convert a field goal in the Hock this year.
Key Matchup:
The Key Matchup this week will pit King Philip running back Joe Johnston against the Sharon Eagle defense. Johnston has been scoring at will, racking up 10 rushing touchdowns through 5 games and adding a score through the air. The Sharon defense has only given up a respectable 14 points a game, most of which have come in the first half. They have pitched two second half shutouts this year and only given up a total of two four scores in the second half. If the Eagles want a shot at winning this, their key will be giving KP limited opportunities at scoring, and converting their chances when given. Johnston is a dangerous back – one of the best in the league – and is a step away from changing the entire complexity of the competition.
What To Expect...
...From Sharon - The Sharon passing game took another step forward last week in the 21-14 overtime victory in Canton. Junior quarterback Sean O’Neill was sharp once again, throwing money passes in crunch time. He had three touchdown tosses in the fourth quarter and overtime, showing poise and confidence in leading the 5-0 Eagles back from a 14-0 fourth-quarter hole.
Senior wideout Bradley Kaufman scored two of the late touchdowns, blowing by his defender after
catching slant passes. Senior tight end Adam Banks also had a strong game, with a 14-yard gain
on a screen play and the game-winning touchdown reception.
The Sharon running game, which had routinely received big plays in prior games from senior
running back Sean Asnes and junior tailback Evantz Elisma, Jr., was bottled up by the Bulldogs
in the first two quarters. However, in the second half, the Eagles’ offensive line began to control
the line of scrimmage, and Asnes grinded several times for tough yards at critical junctures.
Defensively, Sharon was, as senior captain Calvin Joseph put it, “gashed” up the middle by
Canton in the first 22 minutes, but the Eagles recorded several key run stuffs late. Stopping the
powerful King Philip rushing attack will be pivotal for Sharon to remain unbeaten after Friday
night. - Yoni Monat, Sharon Football Beat Writer
...From King Philip - Coming into the season, there were questions about whether Joe Johnston could fill the hole left by Charles Ruffin. With 745 yards and 10 touchdowns after five games, Johnston has proven to be a reliable weapon for the Warriors, especially on toss plays to the
outside.
In the air, junior quarterback John Dillon hasn’t gotten a lot of throws yet but that’s not due to quality. With the strong running game, there hasn’t been a need to throw the ball yet. Against Taunton, Dillon showed off his arm with a 42 yard touchdown pass to Joe Cochrane. It will be interesting to see if the Warriors resort to the passing game against a smaller but quick Sharon team. On the defensive side of the ball, Brett McEvoy has been all over the field with 23 tackles including four for a loss. Johnston also has 22 tackles.
The team overall has played good defense, letting up less than 500 rushing yards and less than 250 passing yards this year. The Warriors looked good defending the screen pass but they haven’t had a chance to play against an offense that throws the ball. That will chance when they have to face Sean O’Neill on Friday. - Dan Libon, Wrentham Patch
...From Sharon - The Sharon passing game took another step forward last week in the 21-14 overtime victory in Canton. Junior quarterback Sean O’Neill was sharp once again, throwing money passes in crunch time. He had three touchdown tosses in the fourth quarter and overtime, showing poise and confidence in leading the 5-0 Eagles back from a 14-0 fourth-quarter hole.
Senior wideout Bradley Kaufman scored two of the late touchdowns, blowing by his defender after
catching slant passes. Senior tight end Adam Banks also had a strong game, with a 14-yard gain
on a screen play and the game-winning touchdown reception.
The Sharon running game, which had routinely received big plays in prior games from senior
running back Sean Asnes and junior tailback Evantz Elisma, Jr., was bottled up by the Bulldogs
in the first two quarters. However, in the second half, the Eagles’ offensive line began to control
the line of scrimmage, and Asnes grinded several times for tough yards at critical junctures.
Defensively, Sharon was, as senior captain Calvin Joseph put it, “gashed” up the middle by
Canton in the first 22 minutes, but the Eagles recorded several key run stuffs late. Stopping the
powerful King Philip rushing attack will be pivotal for Sharon to remain unbeaten after Friday
night. - Yoni Monat, Sharon Football Beat Writer
...From King Philip - Coming into the season, there were questions about whether Joe Johnston could fill the hole left by Charles Ruffin. With 745 yards and 10 touchdowns after five games, Johnston has proven to be a reliable weapon for the Warriors, especially on toss plays to the
outside.
In the air, junior quarterback John Dillon hasn’t gotten a lot of throws yet but that’s not due to quality. With the strong running game, there hasn’t been a need to throw the ball yet. Against Taunton, Dillon showed off his arm with a 42 yard touchdown pass to Joe Cochrane. It will be interesting to see if the Warriors resort to the passing game against a smaller but quick Sharon team. On the defensive side of the ball, Brett McEvoy has been all over the field with 23 tackles including four for a loss. Johnston also has 22 tackles.
The team overall has played good defense, letting up less than 500 rushing yards and less than 250 passing yards this year. The Warriors looked good defending the screen pass but they haven’t had a chance to play against an offense that throws the ball. That will chance when they have to face Sean O’Neill on Friday. - Dan Libon, Wrentham Patch
The Pick
Each morning of game day, we will roll out our predictions in the section titled "The Pick." Here are our predictions with a brief explanation.
Jason Mastrodonato, The Boston Globe – Someone is falling off the bus, and you know neither team will have trouble getting up for this one on a Friday night. Ever since the young Dave Morse took over the Sharon program, there’s been some added energy coming out of the Eagles’ locker room. They’re 9-4 over their last 13 games dating back to last year and it looks like they may have their first winning season in almost 25 years. But King Philip quarterback J.J. Dillon has excelled with his electric wideouts Sam McDonald and Joey Cochrane. And because of the emotion that will be riding here, I think I’ll give the edge to the home team.
The Pick: King Philip 20, Sharon 14.
Dan Ventura, The Boston Herald – Sharon is off to its best start in nearly 25 years, but the Eagles haven't faced a team the caliber of No. 6 King Philip, I get the sense the Warriors have been waiting for this one to make an early statement in the Hockomock League. While the game does not have a direct bearing on the league title, look for an inspired effort from King Philip in this crossover battle of unbeatens.
The Pick: King Philip 24, Sharon 7
Brendan Hall, ESPNBoston.com – You have to give a lot of credit to Dave Morse for what he's done since the beginning of 2011 season. However, the Eagles have yet to see a defense quite like KP's. I don't know what kind of exotic schemes have been thrown at Sharon's offense this far, but there isn't a team in the Hock better at zone blitzes than the Warriors.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Sharon 10
Dan Libon, Wrentham Patch – Who would of ever thought that King Philip vs. Sharon would be a battle of 5-0 teams and had the potential to become the battle of quarterbacks? Neither team has really faced a team that likes to throw the ball or can defend the pass so this is going to be the first real test for the secondary and offenses of both teams. KP QB John Dillon reminded us how good he was with a couple of touchdown passes against Taunton while Sean O’Neill now leads the league with 10 TD passes and has led the Eagles to two game winning drives in as many weeks. While the Taunton game proved that Sharon could compete against a team that has a size advantage, there is a big difference between the Tigers and one of the best teams in Division 2. This is going to be a real interesting game to watch. I am curious to see if Sharon’s speed is enough to beat the KP secondary or if the Warriors’ size will be too much. Personally I think that KP is too big and that is going to be a problem when Sean Asnes has nowhere to run. With that being said, KP’s issue on the XP has to be a concern if this game gets close and if it isn’t then they should ask Taunton how that worked out for them.
The Pick: King Philip 27, Sharon 14
John Botelho, SportsJournal.co – Sharon is off to their best start in more than 30 years, but no team they've squared off with can match King Philip on the football field. Even though they're unbeaten, a Sharon win would mark a pretty big upset.
The Pick: King Philip 26, Sharon 14
Josh Perry, HockomockSports.com – In a season that has seen Mansfield play Needham and at Dracut and North Attleboro play LaSalle (RI) and at BC High, the schedule for King Philip has looked remarkably weak. Still, you can only beat the teams on your schedule and they remain one of the few unbeatens in the league. That should continue this week against another team that hasn't had the toughest schedule - Sharon. The Warriors defense is tenacious and should control the game against the Eagles. Offensively, KP can struggle to create big plays, but its size advantage at the line of scrimmage should create room for Joe Johnston to have a big day. Upsets have been the story in the Hock this season, but not in this game.
The Pick: King Philip 34, Sharon 6
Tim Rosenthal, HockomockSports.com – Who would've thought that Sharon would be 5-0 at this point of the season? It's certainly been a great start for the Eagles and their success should continue in 2012. Their momentum, however, will be put on hold against a well-rounded KP squad that is first in scoring (averaging 28.8 points per game) and has given up the second fewest points (allowing 7.2 points per game, trailing only Stoughton) in the Hockomock League. Running back Sean Asnes will help keep things close for Sharon, but I expect Joe Johnston to add another touchdown or two and I also expect the Warriors to pull away late in the fourth quarter.
The Pick: King Philip 24, Sharon 14
Ryan Lanigan, HockomockSports.com – Something will have to give when two unbeaten teams hit the field Friday night. Sharon was able to sneak by Taunton, who was just routed by King Philip. The hype surrounding the game will surely make the teams play better, but could also cause for nerves. Which team will be able to handle it? Advantage home team.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Sharon 20
Jason Mastrodonato, The Boston Globe – Someone is falling off the bus, and you know neither team will have trouble getting up for this one on a Friday night. Ever since the young Dave Morse took over the Sharon program, there’s been some added energy coming out of the Eagles’ locker room. They’re 9-4 over their last 13 games dating back to last year and it looks like they may have their first winning season in almost 25 years. But King Philip quarterback J.J. Dillon has excelled with his electric wideouts Sam McDonald and Joey Cochrane. And because of the emotion that will be riding here, I think I’ll give the edge to the home team.
The Pick: King Philip 20, Sharon 14.
Dan Ventura, The Boston Herald – Sharon is off to its best start in nearly 25 years, but the Eagles haven't faced a team the caliber of No. 6 King Philip, I get the sense the Warriors have been waiting for this one to make an early statement in the Hockomock League. While the game does not have a direct bearing on the league title, look for an inspired effort from King Philip in this crossover battle of unbeatens.
The Pick: King Philip 24, Sharon 7
Brendan Hall, ESPNBoston.com – You have to give a lot of credit to Dave Morse for what he's done since the beginning of 2011 season. However, the Eagles have yet to see a defense quite like KP's. I don't know what kind of exotic schemes have been thrown at Sharon's offense this far, but there isn't a team in the Hock better at zone blitzes than the Warriors.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Sharon 10
Dan Libon, Wrentham Patch – Who would of ever thought that King Philip vs. Sharon would be a battle of 5-0 teams and had the potential to become the battle of quarterbacks? Neither team has really faced a team that likes to throw the ball or can defend the pass so this is going to be the first real test for the secondary and offenses of both teams. KP QB John Dillon reminded us how good he was with a couple of touchdown passes against Taunton while Sean O’Neill now leads the league with 10 TD passes and has led the Eagles to two game winning drives in as many weeks. While the Taunton game proved that Sharon could compete against a team that has a size advantage, there is a big difference between the Tigers and one of the best teams in Division 2. This is going to be a real interesting game to watch. I am curious to see if Sharon’s speed is enough to beat the KP secondary or if the Warriors’ size will be too much. Personally I think that KP is too big and that is going to be a problem when Sean Asnes has nowhere to run. With that being said, KP’s issue on the XP has to be a concern if this game gets close and if it isn’t then they should ask Taunton how that worked out for them.
The Pick: King Philip 27, Sharon 14
John Botelho, SportsJournal.co – Sharon is off to their best start in more than 30 years, but no team they've squared off with can match King Philip on the football field. Even though they're unbeaten, a Sharon win would mark a pretty big upset.
The Pick: King Philip 26, Sharon 14
Josh Perry, HockomockSports.com – In a season that has seen Mansfield play Needham and at Dracut and North Attleboro play LaSalle (RI) and at BC High, the schedule for King Philip has looked remarkably weak. Still, you can only beat the teams on your schedule and they remain one of the few unbeatens in the league. That should continue this week against another team that hasn't had the toughest schedule - Sharon. The Warriors defense is tenacious and should control the game against the Eagles. Offensively, KP can struggle to create big plays, but its size advantage at the line of scrimmage should create room for Joe Johnston to have a big day. Upsets have been the story in the Hock this season, but not in this game.
The Pick: King Philip 34, Sharon 6
Tim Rosenthal, HockomockSports.com – Who would've thought that Sharon would be 5-0 at this point of the season? It's certainly been a great start for the Eagles and their success should continue in 2012. Their momentum, however, will be put on hold against a well-rounded KP squad that is first in scoring (averaging 28.8 points per game) and has given up the second fewest points (allowing 7.2 points per game, trailing only Stoughton) in the Hockomock League. Running back Sean Asnes will help keep things close for Sharon, but I expect Joe Johnston to add another touchdown or two and I also expect the Warriors to pull away late in the fourth quarter.
The Pick: King Philip 24, Sharon 14
Ryan Lanigan, HockomockSports.com – Something will have to give when two unbeaten teams hit the field Friday night. Sharon was able to sneak by Taunton, who was just routed by King Philip. The hype surrounding the game will surely make the teams play better, but could also cause for nerves. Which team will be able to handle it? Advantage home team.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Sharon 20
| HockomockSports.com Picks | ||||||||||
| Ryan Lanigan |
Tim Rosenthal |
Josh Perry |
Dan Libon |
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| HockomockSports.com Staff |  |
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| Sharon @ King Philip Friday 7:00PM |
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| Season | Lanigan 1-1 | Rosenthal 1-1 | Perry 1-1 | Libon 0-1 |
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