1. Mayflower mania: The Mayflower Athletic Conference got the slate started on Wednesday with a double-overtime thriller between Bishop Connolly and Holbrook/Avon. The Bulldogs picked up the 34-31 win behind a brilliant, and draining, performance from Brady Sheehan. Sheehan ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came in overtime.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: All the Week 4 scores and highlights
After Connolly kicked a field goal in the first overtime, Sheehan scored the walk-off win with a 4-yard TD run.
“I just lowered my head and brought it straight in,” said Sheehan. “I’m usually looking at everything else. On the goal line, I was taking it right in, head down.”
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Brady Sheehan stars as Holbrook/Avon defeats Bishop Connolly in double OT
The win was the first for coach Brendan Case, who is also Holbrook’s athletic director. Brandon Olivera had two TD runs in the win.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Holbrook AD Brendan Case busy rebuilding Holbrook/Avon
The Cougars, who only suited up 18 players for the grueling game, came up just short of starting 2-0 on the season.
On Thursday night, Blue Hills and West Bridgewater played each other for the first time in 10 years. The Warriors used long drives, including a 17-play, 94-yard march that did not end in points, to slow down the Wildcats. Behind a pair of TD runs from Devlin Young, Blue Hills defeated WB, 20-14. That was the Wildcats’ first regular-season loss since September of 2018.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Blue Hills wears down West Bridgewater with plodding attack
Blue Hills coach Ed Catabia’s bunch played an incredibly disciplined brand of football to wear down the Wildcats. A WB punt or turnover seemed to always mean that the Wildcats wouldn’t see the ball again that quarter. Blue Hills had a 34-8 edge in first-half plays.
More:PHOTOS: West Bridgewater versus Blue Hills football
2. Taking care of business: Early reports have Week 5 having the biggest and best slate of the season so far. With league titles on the line, or to be heavily decided by this week’s matchups, Week 4 was filled with potential trap games. And yet, no one seemed to overlook any opponents.
Brockton and Bridgewater-Raynham both rolled to set up the biggest game in Enterprise Land this season. With each team 3-0 in the Southeast Conference title chase, the league’s first football crown will be decided between these two schools on Saturday at noon in Brockton.
The Boxers shook off a blowout loss against Xaverian by defeating New Bedford, 41-0. Senior quarterback Devonte Medley threw two TD passes and added two more on the ground, all in the first half.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Brockton bounces back in a big way against New Bedford
Meanwhile, the Trojans had their hands full early, but ultimately rolled to a 48-24 win over Dartmouth. Anthony Morrison ran for five TDs and 297 yards.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Morrison runs wild once again as Bridgewater-Raynham topples Dartmouth
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: B-R’s Morrison credits his offensive line for success in Fall 2 season
In the Patriot League, Scituate and Plymouth South continued to roll to set up a showdown in the Fisher Division.
More:H.S. FOOTBALL: Top 10 rankings
The Sailors broke the 40-point mark for the third consecutive week in a 40-13 win over Quincy. Scituate always seems to have one of the most explosive offenses in the area, but Plymouth South might have the answer to slowing down the Sailors: keeping their offense off the field. Plymouth South freshman running back Casious Johnson ran for 201 yards and three scores in a 39-13 win over Pembroke.
3. Hold-Your-Breath Hingham: The Harbormen, who stand at 2-1, might not be the best team in the area this season, but they sure do play entertaining games. Hingham’s first three games have been decided by a total of 12 points.
The closest one yet came Thursday. The Harbormen defeated Silver Lake, 14-13, as they blocked a Laker kick at the end of regulation.
Following last week’s 35-28 loss to Fitchburg, which ended with a Harbormen incompletion in the end zone, Hingham coach Mark Nutley was hoping for some more breathing room in games.
“It was a fun game,” Nutley said after playing Fitchburg. “But I don’t like close games. That’s two weeks in a row, a little too close for comfort.”
Well, make it three in a row for Coach Nutley.
In the season opener, Hingham rallied back from a 10-0 halftime deficit to beat Plymouth North, 14-10.
4. On the rise: After missing the playoffs in 2019, North Quincy and Archbishop Williams are off to impressive starts this season.
Liam Hines had a career day to lead the Raiders (2-1) over Hanover, 28-13. Hines ran 26 times for 185 yards, a career best, and three TDs. Tackle Brandon Baker played a big role in North’s big day on the ground (257 yards).
Will LeClair threw for 206 yards and three TDs as the Bishops defeated Arlington Catholic, 35-8, to improve to 3-1. Matt Kowalski was LeClair’s favorite target with 111 yards receiving and a 41-yard TD pass.
The Bishops’ lone loss came against Bishop Stang, 29-22. In that one, Stang scored three defensive TDs.
More:Undefeated Bishop Stang scores a rare three defensive touchdowns to beat Archbishop Williams
5. Game of the Week – Holbrook/Avon 34, Bishop Connolly 31 (2OT)
There were a lot of good candidates for this category this week. Stoughton vs. North Attleboro, Hingham vs. Silver Lake, and Blue Hills vs. West Bridgewater all came down to the final minute, but only the Bulldogs walked it off with a double-overtime win. When the first game of the week goes to double OT, a good week of football is bound to follow.
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