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Longmeadow makes quite a splash, entering this week's MIAA boys' lacrosse Top 25 poll at No. 11 while making its season debut.

The Lancers crack the rankings this week after notching a Top 25 victory over Central Mass Power Algonquin. However, they weren't the only Western Mass. squad entering the poll this week, as South Hadley -- only a half-game behind Longmeadow in the Wheel standings at 5-0 -- also makes its season debut at No. 22.

(Editors note: Rankings do not reflect Tuesday's results or the adjustment in records made in accordance with Foxborough's forfeited win over No. 12 Reading.)

A BIG WIN
Aside from Longmeadow, the team covering the most ground this week is Dover-Sherborn. The Raiders hop up 10 spots to No. 15 after a huge 6-3 win over Tri-Valley League rival Medfield -- showing why they're to team to beat (again) in Division 3. Now, we could have been more harsh on the Warriors, but we still believe Medfield is the team to beat in Division 2, so we're keeping them in the Top 10 at No. 7 -- for now. Also drawing a significant boost from a conference win last week is Andover, which moves up seven spots to No. 16 after a thrilling overtime victory over Merrimack Valley rival Billerica.

FRANKLIN, Mass. -- Medfield needed some sort of spark after giving up a shorthanded goal late in the first period and senior captain Ben Cox delivered it during the intermission between the first and second periods.

His message was about staying calm and composed in the face of a potential onslaught by rival Medway, and from the seniors down to a group of talented freshmen, the Warriors heeded his words.

Medfield strung together four straight goals in the second period and put themselves in the driver's seat for the Tri-Valley League championship with a 5-2 victory over the Mustangs at Sgt. Pirelli Rink Wednesday afternoon.

"What really turned us around was our captain, Ben Cox," explained Warriors freshman Matt Treiber, who had two goals and an assist in the win. "He got us really fired up during the first intermission. He just told us to go out there and do our job and that we can beat this team like we did today if we play our game."

With the memory of a 6-2 thrashing by Medway (12-1-3 overall; 9-1-2 TVL) earlier in the season still stinging, Medfield (16-1-0; 11-1-0) found itself on its heels as the Mustangs scored a pair of shorthanded goals. Jack Kilty got the first one, scoring on a breakaway with 2:11 left in the first, and Bobby Schindler scored in similar fashion just 11 seconds into the second.

Penalties would be an issue all night long, and with Cox's intermission speech eventually taking hold, Medfield made some adjustments to its extra-man strategy that paid immediate dividends. Rather than cycling the puck up high, the Warriors elected to move deeper in the zone and cashed in as freshman John MacLean fired a perfect pass to Justin Hirschfeld for a one-timer just 18 seconds after Schindler's goal.

Treiber continued the roll, burying a nice feed from Tyler Etzkorn at 3:44 to tie the game at 2-2. MacLean then put Medfield ahead for good, pouncing on the rebound of a shot by sophomore Will Murphy with 3:46 to go in the frame.

The Warriors added one more power play marker by Matt Crowell and a third-period score by Treiber for the final margin.

Undisciplined play did Medway no favors as the team took 13 penalties and had two players ejected in the third period.

"I thought we came out relatively well in the first period but once we started getting the penalties in the second period it obviously changed the whole momentum of the game to Medfield's favor," Medway head coach Chris Ross admitted. "Once we had those few penalties in a row we never recovered. We stopped moving our feet, we were undisciplined. I was not happy with how we played at all.

YOUTH SERVES WARRIORS WELL
The atmosphere was electric as fans from both towns filled the rink and made to make their presence felt. A potential league title was on the line, not to mention the heated rivalry between two towns who regularly battle one another for the TVL title.

Young players who may not be fully used to such situations are excused if they don't handle the elements well, but such was not the case for Medfield.

Freshmen Matt Treiber and MacLean combined for three goals and two assists while sophomore blue-liners Murphy and Hirschfeld made strong contributions as well.

"It's great to have kids who can come in here and play at this level and be very relaxed and handle the situation," Medfield head coach Toby Carlow praised. "I think this being the second time we've done this - big crowd, loud, great atmosphere - they were more relaxed this time, thats for sure and it showed. They're a good group of little players and I'm happy to have them, thats for sure."

Added Cox, ""We had some of the younger guys like Matt, who really stepped up, and John MacLean. It was really huge when they take some of the weight off the older guys. We just told them to keep their heads. Medway gets a little chippy sometimes, and so do we in big games, but we had to keep our composure and I think we did that."

TVL RACE
Both teams came into the game tied atop the Tri-Valley League with 20 points, and the Mustangs had a chance to clinch at least a share of the title. Medfield changed all that with the win, and can now claim the crown if they can take down Dover-Sherborn next Wednesday.

"The kids knew if they they wanted to have a chance at the league title we had to come here and do this," Carlow said. "They did it and now it's one of those things where you control your own destiny."

Ross explained why the league race is now in Medfield's control, despite the fact that the two teams could end up tied in points once league play is complete.

"I don't forsee Medfield losing out any games. It's a weird situation. There's a rule that a team can opt out and Hopkinton opted out of playing Medfield so it will go by winning percentage. So if they win their next game they clinch the TVL title no matter what we do, even if the points end up even."

FRANKLIN, Mass. -- Medway hockey’s seniors have done a lot in their high school careers to date, including skating on the Garden ice last year as the Division 3 Eastern Mass. champions.

But there was one thing that eluded them in the previous two seasons heading into Wednesday night: a win over Tri-Valley League rival Medfield.

“They’ve been our kryptonite, so to speak,” Mustangs head coach Chris Ross said.

Medway bucked the trend, jumping on the previously undefeated No. 21 Warriors early and often en route to a 6-2 win at Sgt. Pirelli Veterans Memorial Rink.

Mustangs senior forward Jack Kilty tallied a hat trick and added an assist for a four-point game

“This is the first game that we’ve played three, complete periods,” Ross said. “It’s the first time we’ve scored six goals, our previous high was five, and to do it against a ranked Medfield team, I’m proud of these guys.”

Kilty got Medway (5-0-2, 4-0-1 TVL) started with his first of the game at 1:40 of the first. No. 2 came midway through the first before Kevin Kaufman’s backdoor stuff in off a terrific cross-ice pass from Kilty gave the Mustangs a 3-1 lead at the first intermission.

Medway opened up with a two-goal second period, with junior forward John Guerrero taking a ricochet off the end wall for a 4-1 lead before Kilty capped his hat trick with 2:10 remaining in the second.

The Mustangs added another insurance marker in the third on Tim King’s blast, assisted by Bobby Schindler and Andrew DeCristoforo.

Both Warriors (7-1-0, 4-1-0) goals were scored by Matt Dresens, who raised his season goal total to 14.

Medway’s Mike Boldy and Medfield’s Ben Cox both had two-point games with a pair of assists, respectively.

“Everybody came out and played their role, nobody didn’t play good,” Kilty said. “We took the game to them and came out with the W.”

Presenting to you five, players, groups, teams and scenes on the rise heading from Turkey Day into the postseason.

5. STIFLING DEFENSES
Perhaps no team impressed more on the defensive side of the ball than St. John’s Prep, which authoritatively stamped its postseason pass book with a 9-0 shutout against Xaverian. Of course, the Hawks were equally up to the task with a huge day from its four-man line of Joe Gaziano, Ray Gobbi, Mo Hurst, and Elijah Jolly.

Yet, the Eagles were also able to control the line of scrimmage coming off their blocks. Chris Newton, a lunch pail linebacker turned defensive tackle, might have had the game of his life with two sacks, including a strip-sack. Feeding off the double-teams generated by fellow tackle Corey Jean-Jacques, the duo were able to create an interior pass rush, and help bottle up the Hawks’ physical backfield of Hurst and Hunter Taute.

Still, the performance of the day belonged to the Newton North secondary. The Tigers terrorized Brookline for six interceptions in the 116th annual meeting between the Bay State Conference rivals. Newton North also returned two of the picks to the house, a difference-maker in a 21-0 defensive maelstrom. Junior defensive back Jack Boucher led the charge with three interceptions, including a pick-six.

4. THE BERLUTI HOUSEHOLD
In lifting Westwood to a 42-14 win over perennial Tri-Valley League Large favorite Holliston, the Wolverines punched a card to their first postseason date since their Super Bowl season of 2004.

Leading Westwood’s aerial attack was Alex Berluti. The senior completed 14 of 17 attempts for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Naturally, his top target was brother Bo Berluti. Bo finished the game with five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.

"It’s nice throwing to him," Alex Berluti told correspondent Bruce Lerch on Thursday. "It’s fun. It was memorable. I’ll have that for the rest of my life."

3. PIONEERS AFOOT
In projecting the result of the penultimate CAL/NEC Tier 3 game between Lynnfield and North Reading earlier this week on our podcast, I talked about Pioneers quarterback Mike Karavestos and his ability to change the game with his arm. Turned out I was partially right, but I underestimated Karavestos’ running ability. The tough-nosed signal-caller’s 157 yards on the ground on 19 carries set the tone for Lynnfield and his rushing touchdown truly was the difference-maker in a tightly contested 14-7 win over the Hornets, propelling Lynnfield into the playoffs.

2. AUGGIE TO MICAH … AUGGIE TO MICAH …
We all know what Austin Roberts means to Brockton and its offense. When one of the state’s toughest pound-for-pound athletes is running the Boxers’ Georgia Tech-style option game, few teams can find an answer. But in Thursday’s win over Bridgewater-Raynham, another encouraging sign for Brockton’s postseason hopes emerged. While Roberts dropped back to pass just five times against a stingy Trojans’ defense, he managed to complete four of those passes for 90 yards – all of those completions went to game MVP – and one could argue – Boxers’ MVP Micah Morel. Morel also grabbed a touchdown pass against B-R. While the ground game will continue to be the Boxers’ key to success, if Roberts and Morel can continue to dial up big plays in the passing game through the playoffs, Brockton will be that much more difficult to dissect defensively.

1. A FEELING OF THANKS
While Upper Cape Tech has plenty to be thankful for, what with securing the program’s first-ever playoff berth with a 42-18 win over Cape Cod Tech. However, if Holbrook/Avon beat West Bridgewater on Thanksgiving, the Rams would’ve had to sweat out a coin flip in a three-way tie-breaker procedure to determine who would represent the Mayflower Small in Saturday’s Super Bowl against Dorchester.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to that as West Bridgewater beat H/A, alleviating any potential agony.

As a token of thanks, we wonder if Rams coach Mike Hernon picked up anything on Black Friday as a thank you gift to the Wildcats?

WESTWOOD, Mass. -- In the final minute of the second quarter of their annual Thanksgiving clash with Holliston, Westwood found itself facing a fourth-and-nine situation at the Panthers 14-yard line.

The Wolverines held a 14-7 lead at the time but the stakes in this game were pretty high. The winner would clinch the Tri-Valley League Large title and the playoff spot that goes with it. The loser would be handing in uniforms and equipment the next morning.

Westwood coach Ed Mantie had to weigh his options carefully. He could opt for a field goal try, not always a sure thing in high school football. He could give the ball safely to one of his two sure-handed running backs, Daniel Roache or Brandon Rodenbush, with the hope that one of them might break through the line, or let dynamic Alex Berluti just keep it himself. Even if the Wolverines didn't produce anything, the Panthers would be pinned deep with minimal time to mount a drive.

Mantie decided throw caution to the wind and go for the jugular. Setting up in the shotgun, Berluti took the snap and faked a handoff to Roache. Holliston nose tackle Jake McLinden blew past the center and took a dive at Berluti's legs, forcing the quarterback to dance to the outside. Berluti took a couple of steps, set his feet and lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone where Pierce Dierker had gotten behind the Panthers safety and hauled down the pass for the touchdown.

The ensuing extra point gave Westwood a 21-7 lead with 31 seconds left in the half, but served as a microcosm for an aggressive nature borne out of a team's belief in itself.

"If you’re getting your kids to believe we’re the better team then once you have your hands around the throat you have to squeeze a little bit and that's what we tried to do," Mantie explained. "We were able to control the clock a bit at the end of the first half, get down into a position where we could take some chances. It got down to fourth down but we made it - that's the play of the game right there to push it up to 21-7 at the half."

The Wolverines inspired play continued in what was the most complete effort they put together all season en route to a 42-14 rout of Holliston (7-4) at Flahive Field. Now, Westwood (8-3) will make its first postseason appearance since winning the 2004 Super Bowl when they take on Wayland Tuesday.

"We haven’t won since 2004 so to bring home the league is really great," Berluti said. "The team played really well, everyone did what they had to do. We worked hard for two weeks. We prepped hard and it was a good win today."

FAMILY AFFAIR ON THANKSGIVING
The Berluti brothers - Alex, the quarterback, and Bo, the receiver - displayed a terrific connection on this day. Alex finished with 14 completions in 17 attempts for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Bo was his main target with five catches for 107 yards and the go-ahead score at the start of the second quarter.

Westwood had scored first, courtesy of a five-yard run by Rodenbush, but Holliston came right back to tie it up when TVL MVP Max Athy broke through the middle of the defense for a 26-yard scoring jaunt. The Wolverines proceeded to march from its own 24 down to the Panthers nine, where Alex drilled Bo on a perfect slant pattern to take a 14-7 lead.

"It’s nice throwing to him," Alex said. "It’s fun. It was memorable. I’ll have that for the rest of my life."

UP-TEMPO PACE MEANS SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE A STOP
Both teams favored the up-tempo, no-huddle offensive style that is en vogue across the nation. Holliston runs its plays so fast that the sideline chain gang had to hustle to keep up after each gain. Berluti proved equally adept at running the fast-paced spread, primarily utilizing his brother and Dierker, who finished with 72 yards and two scores on four catches.

What helped Westwood stand apart on this day was its ability to run the ball and get key stops on defense early on. Roache lugged the rock 25 times for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Rodenbush ran in a pair of scores.

Defensively, the Wolverines really only allowed a handful of the big plays that had helped Holliston win the last two TVL titles and a Super Bowl a season ago. Holliston scored on Athy's 26-yard run, then added an 85-yard TD pass from Matt Jeye to Zach Elkinson, but stalled twice in the red zone in the final frame.

"We just completely shut them down," said Rodenbush, who had an interception - as did Roache. "They came in here thinking they could run WAR all over us and we shut it down so they tried to pass and we shut that down. They couldn’t do anything. This was the most confident game we've played since I've been here."

Added Mantie, "We gave up two big plays and those were their two scores. Snap after snap after snap they just kept battling. I think we controlled the line of scrimmage pretty well, I think we tackled pretty well for the most part, which is huge because Athy is such a dynamic kid. In the end, it came down to us being able to cover their guys because they were trying to throw the ball. We gave up a little bit at the end there but certainly made the plays when we had to.("



WESTWOOD 42, HOLLISTON 14

HOLLISTON (7-4) 7 0 7 0 - 14
WESTWOOD (8-3) 7 14 14 7 - 42

WW - Brandon Rodenbush 5 run (Connor Cote kick)
HO - Max Athy 26 run (Grant Slattery kick)
WW - Bo Berluti 9 pass from Alex Berluti (Cote kick)
WW - Pierce Dierker 14 pass from Alex Berluti (Cote kick)
WW - Rodenbush 3 run (kick failed)
HO - Zach Elkinson 85 pass from Matt Jeye (Slattery kick)
WW - Daniel Roache 1 run (Alex Berluti rush)
WW - Dierker 30 pass from Alex Berluti (Cote kick)

Among the many great stories on signing day, there is Medway girls' basketball standout Sarah Hope who became the first player in program history to sign a National Letter of Intent for Division 1 women's basketball.

Here's more from the release forwarded by Medway dean Michael Rubin:

Medway girls' basketball star Sarah Hope, a member of the Medway High School Class of 2013, today signed her national letter of intent to play basketball next year at Boston University. In so doing, Sarah becomes one of the only athletes in Medway and Tri-Valley League history to sign a Division I Letter of Intent.

With her parents seated next to her, and more than 200 members of the school community, including students and faculty, watching, Medway athletic director Rob Pearl and head basketball coach Joe Iannone sang the praises of Sarah’s work ethic, attitude, and ability, before Sarah signed her letter.

“Three years ago, when Sarah Hope got here, I saw this girl working out in the gym, taking shots and hitting shots that I had never seen anyone make before,” Mr. Pearl said in his opening remarks. “I realized then that we had a pretty special player, and during the past three years, it’s been a pleasure to be the AD during such a great career.”

Coach Iannone focused on Sarah’s innate drive, willingness to sacrifice, and commitment to her goals.

“Sarah made a decision as to what her goal was and went after that goal relentlessly,” Coach Iannone said. “She stayed organized and had the right priorities, and she learned great lessons along the way, that you can prove to yourself that you can do what you want.”

Coach Iannone, a Boston College alumnus, joked that he had to “cheer the other night when Boston University beat my alma mater.”

Sarah spoke briefly, thanking the school administration and teachers, her teammates, her high school coaches, her AAU coaches, Sam Doner and Dave Bikofski of the Bay State Jaguars, and finally thanking her parents, before sitting at the table in the foyer and signing the letter of intent.

The Medway High School Mustangs open play on Dec. 14.

1. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT YOU GOT OUT OF BARNSTABLE'S UPSET OF EVERETT?

Scott Barboza, ESPN Boston High Schools Editor: Aside from the defense, which was phenomenal by all accounts, the manner in which the Red Raiders were able to pull off the upset was impressive, meaning that the offense was firing on all cylinders for most of the game. In other words, Barnstable can win ugly. When you hear about the offense and all the things the Red Raiders can do on offense, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the fundamentals. They can do all the things that constitute a potentially successful playoff team in that they can run the ball when called upon, get the back stop when required and they don’t turn the ball over. When you have one of the top quarterbacks in the state like Nick Peabody, that’s all you need to win. And, if Hayden Murphy runs the ball as he can and the defense, led by Andrew Ellis, is on, Barnstable is difficult to beat, no matter the conditions.

Brendan Hall, ESPN Boston High Schools Editor: For me, more than anything, it was a throwback statement. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how much Division 1-caliber talent you've stockpiled, how heavy your line is, or how many of your skill players run a 4.5. All that matters is who puts themselves in the best position to win -- period. Barnstable demonstrated that to a T on Friday night.

Of course, this Red Raiders team isn't an underdog. They came into the game at No. 3 in our statewide poll, and I think the general consensus was that this would be a one-score type of affair. Nick Peabody is in a quarterbacking class of his own through the first month of the season, Dylan Morris is beginning to enter Matt Costello territory in terms of production, and the Raiders' linebacking corps is one of the two or three best in the state.

Barnstable coach Chris Whidden dialed up a great defensive gameplan in the pouring rain, playing outside contain on the Crimson Tide's gifted receivers, and getting great push in the trenches with a deceivingly athletic front four that fired quickly off the ball. These guys were not as big, but they certainly were fast, and above all else they hit with a level of abandon replicated by very few teams in the state.

At the end of the day, it was a pleasant reminder that things haven't gotten soft in the game of football. At the end of the day, the overarching theme remains -- if you come out complacent, someone's going to knock you around.

Adam Kurkjian, ESPN Boston correspondent: Year after year, while Everett always seems to have its share of explosive skill players, the foundation of its success is consistent and dominant line play on both sides of the ball.

The biggest statement Barnstable made Friday night was that it can go toe-to-toe with Everett's front and get the better of the exchange. That is rare, and it speaks to the level of offseason commitment the Red Raiders have made the past few seasons. While Barnstable may have the reputation as a finesse team because of the amount of times it puts the ball in the air, it looks like the Red Raiders shattered that notion last week.

Bruce Lerch, ESPN Boston correspondent: Defense, defense, defense. Staring at Everett's offensive line with 300-pounders across the board is daunting for any opposition but the Raiders didn't seem intimidated at all. In fact, they set the tone and managed to stuff the Tide twice on fourth-down tries from the one-yard line.

All 11 starters, plus the others that rotate in made plays. Jason Frieh and the defensive line held their own Everett's blockers, linebackers Brian Hardy, Andrew Ellis, Terrence Mudie and Robbie Stuart made tackles all over the field. Safeties Ryan Litchman and Kevin Hardy were tremendous in support against the run and corners Tedaro France and Derek Estes won their matchups with Everett's speed merchants at the receiver positions.

John Botelho, Editor-in-Chief, South Shore Sports Journal: Nick Peabody and the offense have been well publicized -- and deservedly so -- all season. Going into the Everett game, they had scored an astounding 145 points in three games. But the biggest statement made while snapping Everett's 28-game win streak was that the Red Raiders' defense is just as good as their powerful offense. Division 1A should be real fun to watch come December.

Everett and Barnstable Round II is already a Super Bowl many people are excitedly calling for, but neither has an easy path to get there. Everett is likely headed for a first-round playoff game with Lincoln-Sudbury, and Barnstable has to worry about beating Bridgewater-Raynham during the regular season just to reach the playoffs.

2. NAME YOUR FIVE BEST WIDE RECEIVERS IN THE STATE

Barboza:
1. Brian Dunlap, Natick – Might not be No. 1 on any other list, but come his senior season, he's going to be right there on the top of all the volume stats list.

2. Jalen Felix, Everett – Seeing, in person, the catch he made during last year’s BC High game at Memorial Stadium is something I’ll likely never forget. It’s the same feeling I had watching Randy Moss make impossible catches.

3. Jakarrie Washington, Everett – One of the best route runners around since those Asprilla and Costello kids were the go-to targets in Everett.

4. Dylan Morris, Barnstable – Hard to argue with Morris’ production thus far this season with his eight touchdown catches.

5. Will Heikkinen, Andover – Spies tell me Xaverian had Heikkinen blanketed with double coverage throughout most of last week’s game. That’s the ultimate compliment paid to a wideout.

Hall:
1. Dylan Morris, Barnstable - You'll be hard-pressed to duplicate his five-catch, 207-yard performance in Week 2, and right now he's on track for 20 touchdown receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving. Bar none, best wideout in the state right now. And to think, some have mused he may be a better baseball player.

2. Jakarrie Washington, Everett - You could rotate this spot with Jalen Felix, who had an explosive performance against Springfield Central, but right now you've got to with Washington based on game-breaking ability. Against Leominster and St. John's Prep, he turned the game on its heels seemingly on a dime with one back-breaking catch or run.

3. Brian Dunlap, Natick - A versatile route-runner, he's got crunch-time knack (see his game-winning catch against Norwood with 10 seconds to go) and makes the most of his touches (17.25 yards per catch, 6 TD).

4. David Harrison, Weymouth - Has seven receiving touchdowns, and in the last two games running a pistol offense at quarterback, has thrown for six. He's just plain productive.

5. Sam Blake, East Longmeadow - Doesn't get a lot of touches in the Spartans' system, but in terms of athleticism I've heard some pretty crazy stories. In his last two games, he has 232 receiving yards and four touchdowns on just seven catches.

Kurkjian:
Tough to say for me because most of the games I have been to have featured mainly run-oriented teams.

That said, looking around the state, Lincoln Collins of BC High needs to be mentioned for his size and improved speed.

Jakarrie Washington of Everett may be the fastest receiver out there right now.

Speaking of guys that can motor, Andover's Cam Farnham has been pure lightning all season as well.

As far as pure production goes, there aren't many who do more on a week-to-week basis than Natick's Brian Dunlap.

If anyone can outdo Dunlap in that department, though, how about Shawsheen receiver Devonn Pratt? One of the top wrestlers in the state, Pratt has 11 touchdown receptions already, including five in a ridiculous, 15-catch, 268-yard performance against Cambridge two weeks ago.

Lerch:
1. Dylan Morris, Barnstable - Seems to have a tremendous mind meld going on with quarterback Nick Peabody. Has eight TD receptions on the season, including two clutch catches in the 13-7, double OT win over Everett.

2. Jalen Felix/Jakarrie Washington, Everett - I'm cheating a little by putting both in, but it's hard to argue against the fact that these speedsters are two of the biggest gamebreakers in Massachusetts.

3. Bryan Vieira, Thayer Academy - Eight receptions for 200 yards and a TD in the opener (along with an interception return for a score) and six more catches for 179 yards and three TDs in week two. The top receiver in the ISL.

4. Brian Dunlap, Natick - Just a sophomore, Dunlap continues to team up with QB Troy Flutie to put up big numbers week after week. I may be underrating him because of his age, but all signs point toward Dunlap someday taking over at the top of this list. Maybe sooner rather than later.

5. David Harrison/Tyler O'Brien, Weymouth - It's a cheat day for me in the roundtable as I'm going with a duo once again. The Wildcats receivers have combined to catch 13 TD passes and O'Brien seems to be Harrison's favored target when he switches under center as Weymouth's quarterback.

Botelho:
1. Dylan Morris, Barnstable: This is sort of a chicken and egg thing. Is Nick Peabody such a good quarterback because he has Morris to throw to, or is Morris the beneficiary of a standout QB. I think the answer is Peabody is a tremendous QB and Morris an elite receiver, and the results have indicated that so far.

2. Lincoln Collins, BC High: Collins might not have the gaudy stats some his peers do (he's caught just one TD this year) but he's a D-1 scholarship athlete going to Villanova for a reason. The Eagles have been the victims of bad luck and bad timing this season, dealing with some of the toughest teams in this state - and New Jersey - while figuring out how to replace injured stars like Brendan Craven and Luke Catarius.

3. Brian Dunlap, Natick - Like Morris, Dunlap has a premier QB throwing him the ball. He's pulled in 6 TD from Troy Flutie, and is one of the biggest reasons Natick is scoring more than 30 points per game.

4. Dondre James, Whitman-Hanson - James single-handedly changes game plans of opposing teams, often drawing more than one defender on passing plays. He's spread out defenses all season, allowing QB Tom Sapienza to throw 8 TD already. James' speed and athleticism are clear with one looks at the Panthers on offense, but what he contributes away from the ball might be even more impressive. James has sprung more than one ball carrier this year with a big block.

5. Rory Donovan, Cardinal Spellman - The Cardinals aren't matching their regular season success from the last two years, but Donovan is among the toughest receivers for defenses to match-up with. At 6-5 and with an impressive vertical, not many defenders can go up and get a jump ball against him. He's averaging a touchdown a game right now and could get better as Spellman's line matures this season.

3. WHO IS THE BEST QUARTERBACK FROM A SMALL SCHOOL?

Barboza: Right now, I’m looking at Hopkinton’s Hank Rudden. The Hillers have been off and running in the Tri-Valley League, averaging more than 34 points per game through four weeks. Whether the Hillers can keep it going into the meat of their TVL schedule is another thing, but the 6-foot-1 senior is a dependable pocket presence.

Hall: Hard to argue with the production of Northbridge's Matt Phelan. Head coach Ken LaChapelle (who won his 300th career game last weekend) is famously inclined towards the pass -- and a passing pioneer for this state, really -- but through the first four games of the 2012 Phelan has been arguably better on his feet (41 carries, 448 yards, 12 TD) than through the air (42 of 50, 514 yards, 2 TD). LaChapelle has joked that he would like to once coach a game where he doesn't call a running play, but he tends to yield some freelancing to his quarterbacks when he feels they're up for it. And understand, for LaChapelle to loosen the reigns, you have to be a special player.

Kurkjian: Let's go into the Boston City South Division where Latin Academy junior Kyle Dance is putting together a fantastic season through four games.

To this point, Dance has had a hand in 13 touchdowns (nine passing, four rushing). You want to know how many touchdowns the Dragons have as a team? Fourteen. In other words, Dance is doing it all for this team, and it will be exciting to see how the rest of his season and career develops.

Lerch: Since taking over in week two, Shawsheen's Mike O'Hearn has produced eye-popping numbers and ranks fourth in the state with 11 touchdown passes, including a six-TD performance against Cambridge. With the 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior at the helm, the Rams have put up 98 points in their last two games.

Botelho: Assuming "small" school means any outside of Div 1, 1A, 2 or 2A, the best small school QB might be Dan Eckler at Stoughton. They're a run-first offense with tons of weapons, but he's been the point man for all of their success this year.

Hanover's Ryan Bennett and Middleborough's Troy Rossi both have big arms and ideal QB size and have been fun to watch early on.

Abington's Brandon Cawley has all of the tools to run the offense for the Green Wave. He's tall, has a cannon of an arm and can tuck it and run if need be. Andrew Benson also comes to mind in the South Shore League. After sliding over from RB to QB when the Vikings didn't have an obvious heir apparent to Tim O'Brien, Benson has handled the transition well. He's very athletic and gives EB a similar look on offense they had a year ago.

4. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE?

Barboza: (Disclaimer: None of this argument has to do with St. John’s Prep right now.) Honestly, I’m not trying to make excuses here, and this has happened a couple of times during the last couple seasons, but it’s not as though the teams are playing easy schedules. On the other hand though, I think the rest of the state has caught up with the parochials a little bit. Some inside the Catholic Conference used to scoff at the idea of a Hockomock team (North Attleborough anybody?) hanging with one of those teams. Use this weekend’s Xaverian vs. Duxbury matchup as another proof positive. I think the Hawks will find out that last year’s win by the Dragons at the Hawk Bowl was no fluke. And, while most of the state still cannot match the numbers the Catholics have on their sidelines, there’s plenty of talent to be had.

Hall: With St. John's Prep, nothing. With the rest of the conference (a combined 4-12 heading into this weekend's games), where do you start?

Expectations weren't high on Malden Catholic or Catholic Memorial coming into the season, but the way BC High and Xaverian (preseason Nos. 2 and 3, respectively) have stumbled out of the gates is concerning. Then again, they've endured brutal schedules, and few teams in Massachusetts would come out of September with better than their 1-3 records. Still, the way in which they've lost is not convincing, between BC High getting dominated from scrimmage by North Attleborough and Xaverian laying eggs against Brockton and Andover. Bottom line, BC High and Xaverian so far haven't lived up to the preseason hype.

Something tells me they'll turn it around. BC High will be getting All-State linebacker Luke Catarius (ankle) back this month, and quarterback Brendan Craven (knee) sometime soon, and you can't say enough how much that could change things quickly. Xaverian finally showed signs of life in the second half of the Andover upset, and Mike Brennan has been bringing steady production to what has been an otherwise stale offense.

How quickly does Xaverian turn it around? Jury's out, because the rest of the Hawks' 2012 schedule, in order, goes like this: Duxbury, Everett, Bridgewater-Raynham, St. John's (Shrewsbury), BC High, Catholic Memorial, St. John's Prep. Talk about skating uphill.

Kurkjian: Well, there's not much wrong with St. John's Prep right now, as they've looked outstanding in their three wins and only have one loss to Everett in a game many observers thought could have gone the other way with a few breaks.

As for the rest? BC High has been decimated by injuries, but the Eagles are starting to heal up and it would not be a total shock to see them make a run at the league title once everyone is back.

Xaverian does not have nearly the amount of team speed it usually does and has not looked physical at all on the lines.

Catholic Memorial has, as expected, struggled on offense, and you simply don't improve when graduation takes away as much talent as it did for the Knights.

Malden Catholic is this year what it has been nearly every year, which is the fifth-best team in the league.

Lerch: The coaches won't make excuses but we can. Injuries have absolutely decimated BC High while graduation hit both Xaverian and Catholic Memorial pretty hard. Not to mention that these teams all play among the toughest schedules in the state. That said, St. John's Prep is still a top-three team in Massachusetts and don't think for a second that the aforementioned trio won't put it together by the time league play rolls around. Anyone who counts these teams out when we're not even halfway through the season is making a big mistake.

Botelho: BC High and Xaverian has certainly underachieved, but their schedules have been absolutely brutal. BC is also dealing with a whole mess load of injuries. That said, what looked like the best league in the state before the season needs a turnaround in the second half to avoid an overall disappointing year. If things continue like they are, St. John's Prep will coast to a league title behind Jonathan Thomas and Alex Moore. The Prep, in my mind, is probably the favorite to win the Div. 1 Super Bowl right now (I still love Brockton, but missing Austin Roberts is going to hurt them in a big way).

5. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SHOOTOUTS IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF ISL PLAY. WHICH IS THE BEST OFFENSE?

Barboza: I think this was supposed to be Thayer’s year to shine behind wide receiver Aaron Gilmer and the Tigers haven’t disappointed, putting up 76 points in their two games. But they still have nothing to show for it, losing two close barn-burners against Governor’s and Roxbury Latin. But it’s hard to ignore the defending ISL champions at Governor’s. We’ve extolled about Tate Jozokos’ two-sport excellence for a couple years now, but running back Eli Morrissey has been a true revelation in the early going. Gov’s should face a test this weekend against BB&N, but with 103 points scored in two games, it’s hard to pick against anything short of a repeat performance of 2011.

Hall: If what Duxbury's been doing the last couple of years doesn't tell you enough about the value of lacrosse skill in football, then Governor's senior quarterback Tate Jozokos will. The UNC lacrosse commit led a renaissance last fall, leading the Governors to the ISL championship, and is off to a quality start this season. He is as a true a dual-threat quarterback as you will find in Massachusetts.

Running back Eli Morrissey has been just as productive (5 TDs), and is arguably one of the best backs in the ISL -- not the biggest, but definitely one of the most complete, and a tough runner. Overall, the Governors have averaged 51.5 points per game in their first two contest. Hard to argue with a number like that.

Kurkjian: Tough to say with such a small sample size, but it's hard to go against what Governor's Academy has accomplished in the first two weeks. With 103 points in two games, the Governors are simply running past, over, around and through everyone in their way.

We will see whether or not that continues this weekend as they travel to Cambridge to face an always-tough BB&N squad.

Lerch: When in doubt, I always say go with the team led by the lacrosse guy. Governor's is stacked with talent on offense with quarterback/dynamo/North Carolina lacrosse commit Tate Jozokos leading the charge. Along with standout running back Elijah Morrissey, the duo has combined to score nine rushing TDs in the first two games. Until some team finds a way to slow these two guys down, the Red Dogs will keep piling on the points.

There were very few changes heading into Week 4 of the MIAA boys' soccer Top 20 poll.

Most of the teams, especially those at the top either won or lost close games to higher ranked opponents. Top team Ludlow struggled and dropped a point against West Springfield, but holds onto the top spot over Concord-Carlisle, who took part in their annual Kicks for Cancer event this weekend.

The big move of the week was Dover-Sherborn, dropping four spots after a loss to the surprise package of the Tri-Valley League, Holliston. Sharon dropped from No. 20 into the Last 10 Out, after a defeat to No. 13 Oliver Ames, and was replaced by Archbishop Williams. Archies has started the season 9-0-0 and deserves consideration in the Top 20 teams in the state.

The game of the week may be in CMass. On Tuesday, No. 6 Algonquin takes on a Nashoba team that is right on the edge of being ranked.

MEDFIELD, Mass. –- Medfield lacrosse’s attacking mentality boils down to two letters: I and O. That’s short for what the Warriors like to call “Instant Offense.”

But in Medfield’s first performance this season against Tri-Valley League rival Dover-Sherborn, the Warriors’ offense was anything but, sputtering in a 7-5 loss.

With their second crack at the No. 5 Raiders on Friday, with the league title up for grabs, the Warriors lived up to their creed. Medfield translated a nearly instant 6-2 first-quarter lead into a 14-7 romp.

“We pick it up and we try to run to the sideline and get it out of the sticks as quickly as possible,” senior attack Calvin Given said, “and [we] try to make the extra pass to find that man on the weak side where he can just get that layup.”

Medfield (13-3) amassed their early lead thanks in no small part to their ability to win ground balls in the first quarter. The Warriors hustled and scooped their way to a 9-3 ground ball advantage in the period.

“That’s something we focused on in practice all week,” senior attack Chris Diana said. “It showed in the first quarter. We got off to a good start and we just kept the momentum from there.”

Twice in the first quarter, Diana was a beneficiary to the Warriors hustle play, turning ground balls into transition and two of his team-high four goals on the evening. Given also celebrated Senior Night with a hat trick of his own.

The Raiders (15-3) didn’t go quietly, however.

D-S whittled down Medfield’s lead to two goals late in the third quarter, after a three-goal run to open the second half. Raiders senior attack Jared Spence led the comeback charge with two of his four goals.

Yet, Medfield was able to close the deal, scoring the final five goals on the night.

“This game, we valued the ball a lot more,” Given said. “When we’d dodge, we didn’t force anything. We pulled it out if nothing was open. We were just always working it around, looking for that extra pass. “

Perhaps a little restraint can result in something instant.

X MARKS THE SPOT
Aside from the Warriors’ crisper offensive showing, Medfield also prospered with the recent return of one of its most skilled players to the lineup.

Although he was held without a goal on Friday, senior attack Connor Roddy’s presence was felt, particularly with his three assists. But even without the ball, the ESPN Boston Preseason All-Stater demands the defense’s attention.

After missing several weeks due to injury, it should come as no surprise that the Warriors’ offensive resurgence has coincided with Roddy’s return.

“He sees the field very well and he makes the right passes,” Diana said of Roddy.

A BETTER SITUATION
The Warriors backed into the postseason last year, after seeing their record TVL winning streak go up in smoke with back-to-back losses to both D-S and Hopkinton.

Maybe this year Medfield will enter with momentum.

In any event, as seemingly is the case every year in the lacrosse hotbed, the second season remains the most important season for the Warriors, who look for a third straight Division 2 state title.

“I think we’re in a good spot, as compared to last year,” Given said. “Last year, we lost this game and the previous game against Hopkinton, which are two TVL games and a huge deal to us."

CANTON, Mass. – The playoffs must seem a birthright to all Westwood hockey players through the years.

The Wolverines, yet again, have qualified for the MIAA tournament this season. That means any player who has slipped a spoked “W” sweater over their head during the last 30 years has played a postseason game. Westwood’s 30-year playoff streak is the longest such streak in Massachusetts hockey. During that span, the Wolverines have racked up 19 Tri-Valley League championships and four state championships (1985, ’91, ’92 and 2002).

Even though the postseason has come as sure as the turning of the calendar, it hasn’t all been easy for the Wolverines.

This year’s model graduated 17 players from the team of one year ago, including ESPN Boston All-State “Best of the Rest” selection goaltender Chris Treon.

“There were some question marks coming into this season, definitely,” Westwood head coach Mike Welby said Monday, after the Wolverines’ 2-2 tie with Holliston at the Canton Metropolis.

But the streak alone has become a motivating factor for its inheritors.

“The streak can be a big cloud over our heads sometimes,” Wolverines senior captain and defenseman Shane Maher said. “My brother played and every game he texts me asking me how we did. Our focus this year was just getting there, getting the points we needed to qualify.

“Now, that weight’s off our shoulders, so we can concentrate on going on to the playoffs.”

Like any other high school hockey program, Westwood has no means of grabbing players from beyond its realm. It’s part of what makes the Wolverines’ accomplishment that much more astounding. Oftentimes, the town’s brightest hockey stars end up at private or prep schools, or they go the junior route.

What has fueled the Wolverines, year after year, is a sense of pride shared by its players: Pride in team, pride in living up to lofty expectations, pride in those that have come before them.

“It’s a big tradition to live up to,” said senior captain Brendan Dalton, who leads the Wolverines with 22 goals and 29 points in 17 games. “This year, with 30 years on the line, it was a big motivating factor.”

In many instances, Westwood’s players can trace their connection to the program through their families, as their coach does.

Mike Welby was the third of four brothers to don Westwood sweaters.

The Wolverines tradition runs though the current locker room as well.

Several of Westwood’s players, Jim Conway Jr., Chris Ruggiero Jr. and Jack Swartz, are sons of former Wolverines.

“The ones with fathers I don’t know, my brothers probably played with them,” Welby said.

It makes for a tight-knit community, one that centers around the rink. It also means there’s a net of support when times get tough.

Last week, Chris Ruggiero Jr.’s father died suddenly. He was 40. One of the most decorated players in Westwood history, Chris Sr. was an all-star with the Wolverines before going on to play at UMass-Boston.

He was buried in Westwood on Monday.

Tuesday marked Chris Jr.’s return to the ice. Following the game, he walked from Westwood’s locker room into the Metropolis lobby. He walked through the double doors with hockey bag weighing heavily on his shoulder. Chris Jr. was met by a welcome party of family and friends. Gathered in a semicircle, they were clapping for him, most of them Wolverine veterans.

The Tri-Valley League Large division has released its All-Star team:

Note: Any conference all-star submissions may be sent to co-editors Scott Barboza (sbarboza@espnboston.com) or Brendan Hall (bhall@espnboston.com).

Most Valuable Player: Dan Barone, Holliston

Offesnive Player of th Year: Mike Decina, Hopkinton

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Hulme, Hopkinton

Lineman of the Year: Jake Batteresby, Holliston

Coach of the Year: Jim Girard, Hopkinton

OFFENSE
Dan Barone, QB, Holliston
Mike DeCina, QB, Hopkinton
Jake Frechette, RB, Holliston
Brandon Rodenbush, RB, Westwood
James Goncalves, FB, Hopkinton
Dave Dubin, TE, Hollistion
Bo Berluti, WR, Westwood
Barrett Hanlon, WR, Hopkinton
Alex Hulme, WR, Hopkinton
T.J. Valente, Medfield
Jake Batteresby, OL, Holliston
Rob Donovan, OL, Holliston
Derek Dumouchel, OL, Medway
Connor Farrell, OL, Hopkinton
Connor Flanagan, OL, Medway
Jake Lehman, OL, Hopkinton
Greg Rose, OL, Medfield

DEFENSE
Ife Adebayo, DL, Medfield
Mark Lockett, DL, Hopkinton
Derek St. Hill, DL, Westwood
Nicky Antonellis, DE, Westwood
Adam O'Neil, DE, Hopkinton
Chris Walsh, DE, Medway
Max Athy, LB, Holliston
Ryan Bohlin, LB, Hopkinton
Ryan Bukis, LB, Medway
Andrew Fiumedora, LB, Westwood
Matt Cannon, DB, Westwood
Brody Ciarcello, DB, Holliston
Glenn Donovan, DB, Westwood
Jack Ryan, DB, Hopkinton

SPECIAL TEAMS
All Purporse
Greg Amato, Medway
Alex Opiela, Medfield
Glenn Parsons

KickerJack McNamara, Medway

PunterKeaton Britt, Hopkinton

HOLLISTON, Mass. -- There isn’t a single positional unit on No. 24 Holliston that lacks speed.

From the skill position players to the linemen, every Panther can run like one, and at the end of the day, there isn’t a team in the Tri-Valley League that can catch up.

Millis/Hopedale found that out the hard way Friday night as the smaller but speedier Panthers ran them ragged in a 35-13 TVL crossover win.

Jake Frechette (154 yards rushing, two TDs) eclipsed 3,120 yards to break Matt Bellomo’s school record and senior quarterback, running back, kicker, kick and punt returner and just plain playmaker Dan Barone compiled 283 all-purpose yards and a pair of scores in the victory.

It was Barone’s special teams play that helped the Panthers pull away from what looked to be an even game going into the half. Jimmy Perkins (114 yards rushing) punched in a 1-yard touchdown to pull the Mohawks to within 14-13 but the extra point was blocked by Holliston’s Brody Ciarcello. Barone then applied the big blow with an 82-yard kickoff return with 46 seconds left in the half.

M/H never recovered, as the Mohawks were held to three first downs the entire second half. Max Athey and Frechette, who set the new school record with a 27-yard carry in the third quarter, punched in second-half touchdowns to complete the scoring.

ALL GROWN UP
When Frechette was a freshman, he was pretty fast, but also pretty skinny. Still, Holliston coach Todd Kiley knew he had a special back and now the senior has the strength to match his quickness, carrying defenders for extra yardage at the second level.

“I am so proud of him,” Kiley said. “I remember the first day he stepped on the field as a varsity player, a little freshman and probably, in most cases, shouldn’t be playing because of his size. And freshmen as a whole shouldn’t be playing. He just fought the battle that year and he’s continued year after year.”

After the game, the understated Frechette talked about replacing Bellomo, who went on to play at Holy Cross, in the record books.

“I was in eighth grade [when Bellomo was a senior]. I remember watching him running up and down the field. ... It’s a good accomplishment, but it’s a team award. I couldn’t have done it by myself. The coaches work their tails off week in and week out putting us in the best position to win and they’re a big part of why this happened.”

“It’s well-deserved,” Barone said. “[Frechette has] been working his tail off for four years now so I think he deserves all the praise and all the accolades that he’s going to get. A job well done, well-deserved for him.”

SUPER-SIZED
Millis/Hopedale may be in the TVL Small, but there is nothing tiny about the players in the trenches for Dale Olmstead’s squad. The offensive line includes a right side of sophomore guard Jon Baker (6-3, 290) and junior tackle Adam Tyks (6-1, 240) that was able to get good push for Perkins, a tough and elusive senior who got plenty of yards after contact. Baker, a 4.0 student whose older brother David plays at Williams, has already attracted the attention of some Division I coaches. Even if he doesn’t end up at that level, Olmstead said “it won’t be for a lack of work ethic,” as the mauler, who also plays nose guard, is one of the most committed players on the team in terms of his offseason strength and conditioning work according to his coach. One way or another, the future looks bright for both Baker and the Mohawks program as a whole, which can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Bellingham next week.

Millis/Hopedale (7-1) 0 13 0 0 - 13
Holliston (6-1) 7 14 7 7 - 35

1st quarter
H - Dan Barone 11 run (Barone kick)

2nd quarter
H - Jake Frechette 5 run (Barone kick)
M - Ian Strom 9 pass from Bay Tangney (Tyler Angel kick)
M - Jimmy Perkins 1 run (kick blocked)
H - Barone 82 kickoff return (Barone kick)

3rd quarter
H - Max Athey 3 run (Barone kick)

4th quarter
H - Frechette 1 run (Barone kick)

HOPKINTON, Mass. -- Holliston quarterback Dan Barone admitted, with a big smile on his face, to being a little tired following last night's Tri-Valley League Large showdown with Hopkinton.

He had good reason to be both tired and smiling. The 5-10, 170-pound senior was a workhorse for the Panthers, ripping off 217 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries as Holliston blanked the Hillers, 20-0, Friday night at David Hughes Stadium.

Both defenses really dug in and it took until nearly halftime for the game's first points to be scored. After a Hopkinton (6-1 overall, 1-1 TVL) punt set the Panthers (5-1, 2-0) up at the Hillers 48, Barone carried four times in six plays and ultimately scored from the 1 with 2:08 left in the half.

Late in third quarter, the Panthers needed just four plays to go 80 yards as Barone broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown run, taking a pitch, looking inside first, then cutting back to the outside to make it a 14-0 Panther lead with 54 seconds left in the frame.

"I just saw a cutback lane," Barone described. "I kind of ran up the right side and a seam opened up on the left so I kind of cut it back and had some great backside blocks and I was able to get free down the sideline and tried my best to get into the end zone."

Holliston was able to stall a Hillers drive when Charlie Moore recovered a fumble at his own 43. The normally fast-paced Panthers settled in for a 12-play march that took 6:28 off the clock, ending with a five-yard touchdown run by Max Athy that left just 2:28 on the game clock.

"He’s the heart and soul of our team," said Holliston coach Todd Kiley in praise of Barone. "We have a lot of good players but I think he’s the kid everyone looks to. When the going gets tough, he’s the guy we want with the ball in his hands. As well as Jake Frechette too. It’s a 1-2 punch, you could really pick either one of them."

POWER FOOTBALL FOR HOLLISTON?
Kiley noted early in the game that the Hopkinton defense was very focused on limiting breakaway chances for his speedy Panthers. Rather than play into it, Kiley opted to shift his offensive scheme from their regular spread to what he calls the 'WAR' set. Barone would shift from quarterback to wingback, with sophomore Steven Hennessy under center.

Out of this set, Holliston looked to pound the ball with Barone, Frechette (11-61 rushing), Athy (7-39, TD) and freshman Joe Bellomo (4-29). Hennessy would either make a short, inside pitch to one of the backs, or fake the pitch and send his runners through the middle with traps and inside handoffs.

"We’ve always been a team, we like to think at least, that we’re a team that takes what the defense gives us," Kiley explained. "We felt they were doing a nice job against our spread. They were mixing it up so we decided to go into what we call our 'WAR' set and pound the football."

"You could tell they were defending our edge," Kiley continued. "They wanted to shut down our speed and our perimeter play and we felt there were some seams in there. They still did a nice job defending it but we started getting 6-7 yards a pop because they were defending the perimeter so much, we felt like we could take advantage of off-tackle."

BEND BUT DON'T BREAK ON 'D'
The way both defenses started the game, it looked like the winner would be a matter of which team would be the first to finally break through with a big offensive play. Barrett Hanlon finished with a game high eight tackles and an interception for Hopkinton, while teammates Alex Hulme and James Goncalves (sack) each had seven.

The Hillers also came up with a huge goal-line stop on Holliston's opening drive of the fourth quarter. The Panthers led, 14-0, and drove from their own 31 down the Hopkinton 3, but Hulme led a host of defenders in a charge to stop Barone at the 1.

Holliston did it on the interior, led by linemen Moore and Jon Schofield with six tackles apiece. Frechette added five stops and an interception in his own end zone.

Additionally, the Panthers defense allowed the Hillers to get on their side of the field just four times in eight possessions. The first ended on Frechette's interception in the end zone; the second and third stalled at the 40 and 43 yard lines respectively; and the final bid ended on the Panthers 29 in the final seconds.

"I think that's our first shutout of the year and to get it against a team like this, Hopkinton’s a great team, is definitely great our defense," Barone said. "We played with a lot of heart. The coaches set a goal for us in that, if we tackled well in this game, they thought we were going to come out with a victory and I think that definitely showed tonight."

Added Kiley, "Our defense played well. They moved the ball on us but we kind of took on the bend-don’t-break. [Frechette's] interception was huge. That’s just a senior, a four-year starter for us, making a play when it counts. He’s a kid that’s a warrior. When the going gets tough, thats when he gets better too."

HILLERS MISSING THEIR STAR
Starting quarterback Mike Decina missed last night's showdown due to a bout with mononucleosis, although he was able to stand on the sidelines with his teammates. He expected to possibly miss the next two games. Junior Hank Rudden took over under center and finished with 97 yards on 11-of-25 passing.

Decina's absence was not why Hopkinton lost this game, but he was greatly missed for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the loss of his incredible athletic ability and experience simply cannot be overcome, especially in such a huge game such as this one. Second, the Hillers were forced to add new wrinkles to the gameplan to compensate, alternating from a Rudden-led spread offense to a 'Wildcat' scheme that featured Hulme running the ball (87 yards).

Kiley, an offensive guru who knows a thing or two about coaching great quarterbacks, had nothing but praise for Rudden afterward.

"You gotta give them credit, they battled tonight, he said. "That was a tough football team. They were down a couple of kids but they don’t quit. The backup QB came in and threw the ball nicely, had a lot of composure. That’s a well coached football team and we’re very happy to get out of here with a win."

HOLLISTON 20, HOPKINTON 0
Holliston (5-1) 0 7 7 6 - 20
Hopkinton (6-1) 0 0 0 0 - 0

HOLL - Dan Barone 1 run (Barone kick)
HOLL - Barone 60 run (Barone kick)
HOLL - Max Athy 5 run (kick failed)

TAUNTON, Mass. -- It all happened in the second inning.

Case, the defending Division 3 South softball champions, ran out to a 4-0 a lead over Avon in their sectional title game Friday at Taunton High.

Then, in the bottom of the second and leading 4-2, the Cardinals lost their ace Shannon Orton after a collision with a runner while making the final out of the inning.

In came Case first baseman Danielle Medeiros.

She’d thrown all of 11 innings all season, spelling Orton. But the left-hander didn’t miss a beat, hanging five scoreless innings on the Panthers to lead the Cardinals (18-6) to their second straight sectional title with a 5-2 victory.

“I usually don’t break under pressure like that, but I was scared,” Medeiros said of her emotions entering the circle.

While nerves might have temporarily taken a hold of Medeiros, she was on point, striking out six while allowing just one hit while taking the win.

“That’s a senior captain coming up and showing what she’s made of,” Case head coach Norm Beauchemin said. “She did a great job. She only had 11 innings this season, so to come on the mound in a situation like this, she did unbelievable. She showed some character.”

Medeiros entered the game with a 4-0 lead thanks to a four-run second inning.

Orton led off the inning with a triple and later came around to score on a passed ball. Cardinals lead-off hitter Allison Santerre provided the big hit of the frame, with a bases-clearing, three-run double to right.

Case added an insurance run in the fourth inning with Danielle Robillard’s RBI single.

Orton ran into some trouble in the first inning and fell behind 2-0 when Avon (19-5) snuck across an unearned run on an outfield throwing error and Stephanie Lynch’s fielder’s choice for an RBI.

However, the junior pitcher left the game after the fateful second. Orton snared a pop-up off the bat of Avon’s Alexandra Burns to end the inning, but collided with Burns while she was running down the first-base line. After suffering a concussion while playing basketball in January, she was taken out of the game as a precaution.

“She feels fine and I think she’ll be cleared for next week,” Beauchemin said of Orton’s condition.

Case will face off against the North sectional champion on Tuesday at Taunton with a 5 p.m. start time.

“After this year, I’m not playing anymore, so I want us to go far this year,” Medeiros said of her Cardinal teammates, who fell to eventual state champion St. Mary’s in last year’s state semifinal. “This is a good way to keep going.”

HOPKINTON MOVES ON
Thursday’s Division 2 semifinal between Hopkinton and Fairhaven, which was suspended in the top of the fifth inning, was finished earlier in the afternoon at Taunton.

The Hillers held true to where they’d left off (with a 5-0 lead) in taking a 5-0 win over the Blue Devils to advance to the sectional final.

The Tri-Valley League champions will face the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between Abington and Coyle-Cassidy.

Hopkinton (21-2) received a boost from junior left fielder Nicole Mellor, who drove in three of its five runs. Pitcher Michelle Cooprider also added an RBI single.

Cooprider was masterful in the circle and started the contest with seven straight strikeouts against the Blue Devils (18-5).

More amazingly, she only required the minimum 18 pitches in striking out the side in both the first and second innings.

Oh, how things have changed in the Tri-Valley League boys' lacrosse landscape.

First, No. 24 Hopkinton dealt No. 10 Medfield its first league loss in 119 games to start the week. Then, Thursday night, No. 9 Dover-Sherborn became the first team not named Medfield to claim the TVL crown.

The Raiders (15-2, 11-1 TVL) beat Medfield, 7-5, in Dover to earn their first league title in the TVL's 11-year history and dealt the Warriors (11-6, 9-2) their second straight TVL loss. Billy Polk spearheaded the Raider offense, scoring a hat trick.

In the teams' first meeting, Medfield beat D-S, 8-5, on April 29.