THE MELROSE High football team’s playoff run ended in a competitive loss against Holliston. They will play consolation games, including tonight at home against Tewksbury at 5:00 p.m. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
Tight game goes to Panthers 25-14; Tewksbury tonight
By JENNIFER GENTILE
HOLLISTON—The Melrose High football team (6-3) fell in the opening round of the Div. 4 state tournament against #4 seed Holliston on the road at Holliston High last Friday, Nov. 4 by a score of 25-14.
While their playoff journey is over, their football season is not. Melrose has more competitive games on tap, including a fight for a share of the league title with 9-0 Wakefield on Thanksgiving, making that one watchable turkey day at home. But this Friday Melrose will battle on old rival, Tewksbury (5-4) in consolation play, which should be a very competitive game. Kick off is early, at 5:00 p.m.
Against the Holliston Panthers, it was a tight battle throughout and Melrose certainly had all the makings of an upset. Ultimately the game was a lot closer than the final score would indicate, with Melrose coming within just 5 points at 19-14 with 2:36 left in the game. Holliston came into the game #4 seed to Melrose’s #13, so Melrose had their work cut out. Holliston’s running back Devin Harding ran for over 100 yards, while Melrose would rely on the touchdown passes of senior quarterback Josh Madden to senior Ellis Davis and Sam Madden.
The Panthers had recently taken the Tri-Valley League over rival Hopkinton and will now face Scituate in another step to get to Gillette.
Last Friday’s game was slow at the start, with both sides swapping punts until Holliston’s Harding scored a touchdown right before halftime to put them up 7-0 into the break. With the Panthers still holding a brief lead, they’d score again on a quarterback keeper by Nick Larche to make it 13-0 in the third.
Melrose barely blinked, and in response, senior quarterback Josh Madden connected with Ellis Davis for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 13-7 and it was really anyone’s game as the team’s started the fourth. With 10:26 to play, Panther quarterback Josh Kiley connected with Sweeney for a 36-yard touchdown to make it 19-7.
Melrose would threaten to score with ten minutes to go after a huge pass to Oto Albanese to the Panthers 35 but another pass was intercepted by Holliston’s Sweeney, thwarting that drive. Melrose would regain the ball with 6:00 minutes to go and launched their way downfield on a 20-yard run by Ben Cassavoy and a key first down conversion run by Nico Chillu. Melrose would set up a touchdown after a beautiful Madden pass to Steve Fogarty on the 5. From there, Sam Madden got open in the far corner of the end zone and caught a touchdown pass to Sam Madden to narrow the score at 19-14 with 2:56 left.
However, Holliston killed the clock on their next possession and sealed the game with a 25-yard touchdown rush by Andrew Denison.
Melrose will look to rebound this Friday evening in consolation play against the Tewksbury Redmen at 5:00 p.m. One more week of consolation play will follow.
