Football falls to Scituate in playoffs, 41-7

THE MELROSE HIGH football team suffered a loss against Scituate in the opening round of the D4 playoffs. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)

By JENNIFER GENTILE 

SCITUATE—The Melrose High varsity football team saw their playoff season end on the road last Friday evening with a 41-7 loss in the opening round of Div. 4 playoffs against host Scituate.

Having earned the No. 15 seed, Melrose was delivered a tall order going into the game on Friday evening. The Sailors came into the contest unbeaten and seeded No. 2, and had also played in the State Finals last year at Gillette Stadium against champ Duxbury, so they returned this season as an instant Div. 4 favorite.

With the loss, Melrose will travel to Bedford for a non-playoff consolation game this Friday and Scituate will play Wayland for a chance to advance to state semifinals.

Melrose will also now await their annual Thanksgiving Game against Wakefield, which is at home this year.

Melrose faced a two-headed beast in Jonny Donovan and running back Willy Robinson last Friday evening in Scituate. Donovan went 6-9 in passing for 225 yards and three touchdowns while Robinson ran for 135 yards and two scores.

“They were just a very complete team,” said Melrose head coach Tim Morris after the game. “They had good speed and size. They did it all well. They are a team that can go all the way.”

Melrose had no answers for most of the game, down 34-0 at halftime after Robinson ran nearly 90 yards for a touchdown. The Sailors also benefited from an intercepted pass earlier to make it a 20-0 game.  Donovan also connected o a 60-yard pass to Lawson Foley.

“We didn’t play our best game unfortunately,” said Morris. 

With six minutes left Melrose finally landed on the board when junior Max Lanciani scored an 11-yard touchdown and a good kick by Pat Buggy made it a 41-7 game. That would be the final score and Scituate advanced for a chance to return to Gillette, while Melrose still has two games under their belt and a chance to improve their final record to 6-5. 

They are scheduled to travel to Bedford on Friday for a 7:00 p.m. consolation game against a fairly unknown Bedford team. 

“We are studying film,” says Morris of the Buccaneers. “Looks like they run different formations and play sound football. They have a competitive schedule too.” 

And of course, Melrose will also continue their non-playoff season before the biggest game of all: Thanksgiving game at Fred Green Field on Nov. 28.