Scrimmages

(Editor's note: Mansfield football player Mike McPherson checks in with his second entry following Friday night's Hockomock Jamboree in Franklin. Click here to check out video from the event)...

It felt great to be back on the field under the lights on a Friday night. Even though it was only a preseason scrimmage, everything felt like it was a Friday night in early November. It was the Hockomock Jamboree in Franklin and we were playing Foxboro. Everyone returning from last year had been waiting for this ever since the crushing Thanksgiving Day defeat last year that took us out of the playoff picture.

At 8 p.m., both sides were ready to go and we started off with the ball. We were prepared for a solid Foxboro team, but we may have underestimated just how good they really were.

Our first two possessions ended in three-and-outs. They were able to move the ball well, as our defense continued to look streaky, making key stops at some points and allowing them to get key first downs at other times.'

We seemed to get all our emotions out in the first quarter and when the second came we were ready to go, we marched down the field and Mike Morrill managed to punch in a long run for a touchdown. Then we handed the game over to the second team to get them some important game experience. The final score was Mansfield 14, Foxboro 3.

I was pleased with my performance, but there are still several things I have to work on. The jamboree showed us that no matter what we thought of Foxboro, they are not rebuilding. Thanksgiving morning is going to be a battle and we are gonna do everything we can to not have a repeat of last year. Overall, it was a decent night and we know to get where we want to be a lot of work will have to be put forth.

After a long night of hard-hitting football there's nothing better then getting up at 8 a.m the next day to go to Milford for a scrimmage. We were not nearly as energetic as we were the night before and it showed at times. Milford is always a very tough team and it is a good team to scrimmage to become a more physical team. Our offense looked better then the night before and our overall defense improved. The highlight of the day was when hard-working nose guard Scotty Caljouw intercepted a screen and used some dazzling moves and remarkable speed to run it back for the touchdown.

Our first game is Saturday against Holy Cross of New York. They run a shotgun spread offense and have several good skill position players, which should be a good test for our defense. The week after that we fly out to Ohio to play a very good St. Edwards team. These two games should prepare us for a tough Hockomock League schedule.