There should be no surprise here: a football game between King Philip and Mansfield has huge implications on the Kelley-Rex title race.
The Hornets and Warriors will take the field on Friday night for the 55th time against one another. Mansfield currently holds a 36-15-3 advantage in the series and has won 13 straight, dating back to 2001. King Philip's last win came in 2000, a 47-14 win over the Hornets at home.
The two teams enter Friday night's game coming off convincing road wins. Mansfield took care of Taunton, 27-0, and KP bested Franklin 26-7. Mansfield has won two in a row after a rocky and injury-riddled start to the season. The Hornets are averaging 21.2 points per game but the last two weeks have been nearly a touchdown more than that. On defense, Mansfield is allowing 23.6 points per game but have allowed just 14 points total over the last two games.
King Philip's defense has been by far the best in the league this year in terms of points allowed. The Warriors are allowing a measly 7.2 points per game. In league play this year, King Philip has only allowed a total of 15 points in three games. Their offense is second best in the Hockomock, and best in the Kelley-Rex, scoring an average of 26.6 points per game.
The Hornets and Warriors will take the field on Friday night for the 55th time against one another. Mansfield currently holds a 36-15-3 advantage in the series and has won 13 straight, dating back to 2001. King Philip's last win came in 2000, a 47-14 win over the Hornets at home.
The two teams enter Friday night's game coming off convincing road wins. Mansfield took care of Taunton, 27-0, and KP bested Franklin 26-7. Mansfield has won two in a row after a rocky and injury-riddled start to the season. The Hornets are averaging 21.2 points per game but the last two weeks have been nearly a touchdown more than that. On defense, Mansfield is allowing 23.6 points per game but have allowed just 14 points total over the last two games.
King Philip's defense has been by far the best in the league this year in terms of points allowed. The Warriors are allowing a measly 7.2 points per game. In league play this year, King Philip has only allowed a total of 15 points in three games. Their offense is second best in the Hockomock, and best in the Kelley-Rex, scoring an average of 26.6 points per game.
King Philip
King Philip enters Friday night’s game with a perfect 5-0 record and after a couple of uninspiring wins to begin the season has gotten on a roll once Hockomock play began. The Warriors have outscored their three Kelley-Rex opponents 99-15, including a 33-0 win at Community Field that KP players admitted was about sending a message to the league.
North Attleboro coach Don Johnson said after the game that KP was probably the best team the Rocketeers had played to that point and that included this week’s opponent for the Warriors -- Mansfield.
On offense, KP is not about trick plays or spreading a defense out and throwing all over the field. This is smash mouth football behind a solid offensive line, controlling the clock, and wearing teams down. It has been a style that Brian Lee brought to the program and has been very effective in recent years.
The focus has been on starting back Mark Glebus, who has rushed for six touchdowns this season. He is a quick, downhill runner that doesn’t hesitate to hit the hole and has the speed to break into the clear, as he did against Franklin for an 84-yard score. Glebus can be counted on for at least 15 carries a game, and at times many more depending on the score, and expect a lot of encounters between him and Mansfield linebacker Q’Ra Guichard.
KP has not put up 99 points just because it can run the ball. Sophomore quarterback John DeLuca has been learning on the job and his confidence has grown throughout the season, as has his efficiency. While the focus is on the ground game, DeLuca has been able to make plays down the field to senior receivers Kyle Loewen and Lukas Cepkauskas and across the middle to tight end Peter Garrity. DeLuca is tied for second in the Hock with seven TD passes this season.
On defense, KP is typically aggressive and utilizes its size up front, led by senior Chris Winbourne, to control the line of scrimmage and to allow its linebackers to make plays in both the running game and pass rush. Senior KC Webster was a terror in the shutout of the Rocketeers and will be helped against Mansfield by defensive end Garrity and Glebus from his safety position. Glebus and Loewen (cornerback) will also be important in stopping Brendan Hill in the Hornets passing attack.
Mansfield
Mansfield enters Friday night's game on a two-game win streak after dropping their first Kelley-Rex game of the year. Mansfield is 2-1 in the Kelley-Rex so far and after a tough loss to North Attleboro, has outscored their last division opponents 56-14.
On offense, Mansfield has been using a running back by committee approach because of numerous injuries. The Hornets have relied on Bryan Lynch, CJ Daniel, Q'Ra Guichard and Matt Garvin as the main ball carriers so far this season but depending on the game, it seems to be a new runner.
Mansfield is able to provide a solid balance to the run in the pass game with quarterback Matt Carafa. Obviously the biggest threat for the Hornets in the passing game is senior Brendan Hill, who typically requires more than one player to defend him. Carafa has always developed chemistry with Matt Hogan and Michael Boen, who both have touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Hornets continue to get better as they get healthier. They gave up 42 points in Week 1 against Archbishop Stepinac and then again in Week 3 to North Attleboro, but a lot of those scores game on special teams or on big plays on offense. In the last two games, the Hornets have allowed just 14 points and they shutout Taunton last week.
The Horstman brothers - Brock and Andrew - currently lead the Hornets with 24 and 21 tackles respectively. Junior Connor Finerty has battled back from injury to become a force on the defensive line and has 14 tackles, including a team-high three tackles for loss and a team-best two sacks. Mansfield's secondary continues to improve with a lot of fresh faces, including Ben Wisnieski and Joe Bukuras, who both have an interception this season.
King Philip enters Friday night’s game with a perfect 5-0 record and after a couple of uninspiring wins to begin the season has gotten on a roll once Hockomock play began. The Warriors have outscored their three Kelley-Rex opponents 99-15, including a 33-0 win at Community Field that KP players admitted was about sending a message to the league.
North Attleboro coach Don Johnson said after the game that KP was probably the best team the Rocketeers had played to that point and that included this week’s opponent for the Warriors -- Mansfield.
On offense, KP is not about trick plays or spreading a defense out and throwing all over the field. This is smash mouth football behind a solid offensive line, controlling the clock, and wearing teams down. It has been a style that Brian Lee brought to the program and has been very effective in recent years.
The focus has been on starting back Mark Glebus, who has rushed for six touchdowns this season. He is a quick, downhill runner that doesn’t hesitate to hit the hole and has the speed to break into the clear, as he did against Franklin for an 84-yard score. Glebus can be counted on for at least 15 carries a game, and at times many more depending on the score, and expect a lot of encounters between him and Mansfield linebacker Q’Ra Guichard.
KP has not put up 99 points just because it can run the ball. Sophomore quarterback John DeLuca has been learning on the job and his confidence has grown throughout the season, as has his efficiency. While the focus is on the ground game, DeLuca has been able to make plays down the field to senior receivers Kyle Loewen and Lukas Cepkauskas and across the middle to tight end Peter Garrity. DeLuca is tied for second in the Hock with seven TD passes this season.
On defense, KP is typically aggressive and utilizes its size up front, led by senior Chris Winbourne, to control the line of scrimmage and to allow its linebackers to make plays in both the running game and pass rush. Senior KC Webster was a terror in the shutout of the Rocketeers and will be helped against Mansfield by defensive end Garrity and Glebus from his safety position. Glebus and Loewen (cornerback) will also be important in stopping Brendan Hill in the Hornets passing attack.
Mansfield
Mansfield enters Friday night's game on a two-game win streak after dropping their first Kelley-Rex game of the year. Mansfield is 2-1 in the Kelley-Rex so far and after a tough loss to North Attleboro, has outscored their last division opponents 56-14.
On offense, Mansfield has been using a running back by committee approach because of numerous injuries. The Hornets have relied on Bryan Lynch, CJ Daniel, Q'Ra Guichard and Matt Garvin as the main ball carriers so far this season but depending on the game, it seems to be a new runner.
Mansfield is able to provide a solid balance to the run in the pass game with quarterback Matt Carafa. Obviously the biggest threat for the Hornets in the passing game is senior Brendan Hill, who typically requires more than one player to defend him. Carafa has always developed chemistry with Matt Hogan and Michael Boen, who both have touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Hornets continue to get better as they get healthier. They gave up 42 points in Week 1 against Archbishop Stepinac and then again in Week 3 to North Attleboro, but a lot of those scores game on special teams or on big plays on offense. In the last two games, the Hornets have allowed just 14 points and they shutout Taunton last week.
The Horstman brothers - Brock and Andrew - currently lead the Hornets with 24 and 21 tackles respectively. Junior Connor Finerty has battled back from injury to become a force on the defensive line and has 14 tackles, including a team-high three tackles for loss and a team-best two sacks. Mansfield's secondary continues to improve with a lot of fresh faces, including Ben Wisnieski and Joe Bukuras, who both have an interception this season.
Ryan Lanigan, HockomockSports.com
King Philip has been rolling on all cylinders so far this season and I think this is year they break their losing streak against Mansfield. Their offense is very tough to stop once they get going and both their offensive and defensive lines have been terrific this season. Coupled with my upset pick of Franklin over North, I think there will be a new Kelley-Rex champion tonight.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Mansfield 14
Josh Perry, HockomockSports.com
This will be a battle in the trenches and the difference may come down to KP having more experienced weapons in the passing game to cause problems down field. With Kyle Loewen leading the way, the Warriors have a deep threat for young QB John DeLuca as well as someone to match up with Mansfield's Brendan Hill on the other side of the ball. The league has been anything but predictable this season, but it looks like it might finally be the year for KP to end its losing streak against the Hornets.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Mansfield 20
Jeffrey Pickette, Stoughton Media Access
North Attleboro will be rooting hard for a Mansfield victory. A Mansfield win and a North victory over Franklin gives all three teams (North, Mansfield, KP) a 3-1 Kelley-Rex record going into the last week of regular season. It won't happen though. King Philip pulls out the win in fairly a low scoring affair, establishing the Warriors as the top Kelley-Rex team.
The Pick: King Philip 21, Mansfield 14
Chris McDaniel, The Enterprise
The last time King Philip defeated Mansfield was before the professional sports in Boston started to dominate. History has a habit of repeating itself and it's hard not to feel that Mansfield just has King Philip's number after winning 13 consecutive in this series. The Hornets have started to look more and more like everyone thought they would in recent weeks and I don't see that stopping.
The Pick: Mansfield 21, King Philip 13
Scott Barboza, ESPNBoston
Again, the X-factor in this game could be the health of Brendan Hill. If he’s ready and able to go, it makes the defensive matchup for KP that much more difficult. If the Hornets have to go without Hill, the Warriors should be able to stack the box more, freeing up free safety Mark Glebus to help more in run defense, in trying to slow down tough-running Mansfield sophomore Brian Lynch. I think KP wins out on account of their defense, which is again among the state’s top units.
The Pick: King Philip 20, Mansfield 14
King Philip has been rolling on all cylinders so far this season and I think this is year they break their losing streak against Mansfield. Their offense is very tough to stop once they get going and both their offensive and defensive lines have been terrific this season. Coupled with my upset pick of Franklin over North, I think there will be a new Kelley-Rex champion tonight.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Mansfield 14
Josh Perry, HockomockSports.com
This will be a battle in the trenches and the difference may come down to KP having more experienced weapons in the passing game to cause problems down field. With Kyle Loewen leading the way, the Warriors have a deep threat for young QB John DeLuca as well as someone to match up with Mansfield's Brendan Hill on the other side of the ball. The league has been anything but predictable this season, but it looks like it might finally be the year for KP to end its losing streak against the Hornets.
The Pick: King Philip 28, Mansfield 20
Jeffrey Pickette, Stoughton Media Access
North Attleboro will be rooting hard for a Mansfield victory. A Mansfield win and a North victory over Franklin gives all three teams (North, Mansfield, KP) a 3-1 Kelley-Rex record going into the last week of regular season. It won't happen though. King Philip pulls out the win in fairly a low scoring affair, establishing the Warriors as the top Kelley-Rex team.
The Pick: King Philip 21, Mansfield 14
Chris McDaniel, The Enterprise
The last time King Philip defeated Mansfield was before the professional sports in Boston started to dominate. History has a habit of repeating itself and it's hard not to feel that Mansfield just has King Philip's number after winning 13 consecutive in this series. The Hornets have started to look more and more like everyone thought they would in recent weeks and I don't see that stopping.
The Pick: Mansfield 21, King Philip 13
Scott Barboza, ESPNBoston
Again, the X-factor in this game could be the health of Brendan Hill. If he’s ready and able to go, it makes the defensive matchup for KP that much more difficult. If the Hornets have to go without Hill, the Warriors should be able to stack the box more, freeing up free safety Mark Glebus to help more in run defense, in trying to slow down tough-running Mansfield sophomore Brian Lynch. I think KP wins out on account of their defense, which is again among the state’s top units.
The Pick: King Philip 20, Mansfield 14
HockomockSports.com Picks | ||||||||||
Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Jeff Pickette |
Chris McDaniel |
Scott Barboza |
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Game of the Week Staff | ||||||||||
Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
SMAC |
The Enterprise |
ESPN Boston |
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King Philip @ Mansfield Friday, 7:00 |
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Taunton @ Attleboro Friday, 7:00 |
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North Attleboro @ Franklin Friday, 7:00 |
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Canton @ Foxboro Friday, 7:00 |
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Milford @ Oliver Ames Friday, 7:00 |
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Stoughton @ Sharon Saturday, 1:00 |
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Total | Lanigan 25-16 |
Perry 26-15 |
Pickette 25-16 |
McDaniel 24-17 |
Guests 8-4 |