THE MELROSE High football team is that much closer to a playoff berth thanks to another solid performance from quarterback Jack Feeney (pictured, 9) who led Melrose to a 32-0 shutout over Watertown. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
After press time:
Melrose defeats Wilmington 48-7 (Nov. 1)
Published November 1, 2024
Regular season finale vs. Wilmington is home tonight
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High football team wraps up their regular season finale game this evening against Wilmington at home, coming off a 32-0 win over Watertown on the road last week. Now, on top of everyone’s mind: Playoffs.
Melrose is currently power ranked No. 15 with the top 16 teams in each division earning a playoff berth and upcoming MIAA brackets released this weekend.
Say what you will about the MIAA’s recently implemented playoff system: it certainly provides a learning lesson.
Last year, despite a 7-4 winning season, Melrose football had to watch their playoff potential squander thanks to a Power Rating system that left them out in the cold. Through no fault of their own, several otherwise historically strong Middlesex League teams such as Reading and Lexington had failing seasons, which hurt Melrose in power rankings. Simply put, it’s a system that rewards losses to strong teams over wins against weaker teams. That leaves coaches encouraged to create the strongest schedule possible.
That was then and this is now. The fact that Melrose has played three unbeaten teams in their own league (Stoneham, Burlington -prior to 10-25- & Reading) plus strong teams who are playoff bound like Peabody, Swampscott and Woburn means that Melrose has corrected any wrong in terms of matchups. In fact, since Sept 13, Melrose has not lost a game by more than one touchdown. And given the strength of schedule, it says a lot about the team.
Tonight, Melrose welcomes the Wilmington Wildcats (0-7) who are experiencing a slow year, to Fred Green Field for their regular season finale. It seems all but assured that Melrose will maintain (or even rise) their No. 15 spot after Friday. Pairings are expected Sunday and playoffs will commence next weekend. It remains to be seen if Melrose will host a playoff game, but there is a better likelihood of them traveling. During the last season in which Melrose competed in playoffs (2022) they drew the #13 seed and traveled to Holliston in a road loss.
Nonetheless, Melrose did a great job proving they belong in the Div. 4 playoff field when they shutout Watertown, 32-0 at Victory Field on the road last Friday evening. Melrose was an offensive juggernaut, totaling 315 total yards, many of them in passing thanks to Melrose quarterback Jack Feeney, who was once against terrific, tossing for nearly 160 yards. Feeney is simply having a year, coming off a strong performance against Burlington on Oct. 18.
It was a great night for Melrose receivers Nick Hitchman, Max Lanciani and Marco Albanese, the latter of whom caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Feeney for Melrose’s first score of the night and a 75-yard Pick-6 TD return to close out the night. Nick Hitchman had two huge touchdowns for Melrose, with his first a 35 yard pass to put Melrose up 12-0. Right after, Max Lanciani had Melrose fans on their feet with a 72-yard rush that set up a Melrose touchdown to make it 19-0 Melrose.
Melrose also saw a fumble recovery orchestrated by Pat Buggy and Keegan Moloney and an interception by Jack Casey at the Melrose 50 to return the ball to Melrose in the second to set up Albanese’s touchdown. A 64-yard touchdown pass to Hitchman in the third helped put Melrose way up 26-0 and Marco Albanese’s 75-yard pick 6 put Watertown to bed early, 32-0.
Tonight, Melrose hosts a struggling Wilmington Wildcats, who at 0-7, is still searching for wins. A victory of any kind will officially cement Melrose’s playoff appearance. Get ready fans. Game starts at 7:00 p.m. at Fred Green Field.
