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Mansfield 22, Feehan 6

E-mail|Link|Comments (15) Posted by Chris Forsberg, Boston.com Staff December 3, 2008 03:50 PM

BRIDGEWATER -- After a couple of sleepless nights wondering if his football team would ever get a chance to play in the postseason, Mansfield coach Mike Redding took a moment to savor Wednesday's 22-6 triumph over Bishop Feehan that ensures his team will play yet another game when it meets Walpole in Saturday's Division 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

But don't expect Redding to sleep any sounder after a week that saw his Hornets prevail in the courtroom and on the gridiron.

"I haven't slept the past two nights worrying about whether we were going to play this game," said Redding. "Now I'm probably not going to sleep for two nights worrying about Ryan Izzo."

But worrying about how to stop Walpole's star running back is a welcome problem if ensures 40 more minutes of football. The MIAA ruled Monday that Mansfield must forfeit two regular-season games for using an ineligible, fifth-year player and the organization canceled Tuesday's scheduled semifinal before the Hornets earned a temporary injunction in Taunton Superior Court.

With the focus back on the gridiron, Mansfield looked anything but a team riding an emotional roller coaster. The Hornets defense didn't allow Feehan a single first down until the final minutes of the game and completely dominated the defending Division 2 champs.

Check out the video above for postgame reaction from key Mansfield players, including junior running back Shawn Doherty and senior quarterback Jeff Mallett.

For more on the game, check out the game story from Thursday's Globe. To replay our in-game live blog, follow the "full entry" below.

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15 comments so far...

Even though mansfield broke some rules, they are going to crush feehan, sandwich took feehan down to the last two minutes, Feehan is vunerable against a slide and glide runner and their offense is not good, If they do win Izzo will slash their defense for huge yards.

Posted by dan December 3, 08 04:29 PM

CHris

I think in 98 North attleboro and attleboro played on T-day then again the next week in the super bowl

Posted by JM December 3, 08 07:32 PM

what's the weather like? anything inclement?

Posted by Paul O'Boy December 3, 08 08:05 PM

mansfield choked last year... feehan already has their ring

Posted by james fields December 3, 08 08:23 PM

Type your comment here...

Posted by grady December 3, 08 08:29 PM

no one from feehan has trashed mansfield coach and team know how good mansfield is. they are just glad to be playing the game. if they lose they will do so with class as they always have.

Posted by nomad December 3, 08 08:32 PM

Guys the MIAA wouldnt have let NA Big Red play anyway. Blame them.

Posted by J-town December 3, 08 08:39 PM

Mansfield has only themselves to blame for using a player that was not eligible. It does not matter if he played 1 play or 100, or if they won with or without said player. this school knew the rules going in and they made the mistake and as much as the kids loose out, they should not be playing. It is not the MIAA's fault at all for enforcing the rules. It is shameful for this school's staff to have gone to court( and wasting the courts time ) and getting the MIAA ruling delayed, allowing them to play. If there was any justice they would lose tonight, but we live in a world where we can cheat and be rewareded for it.

Posted by David December 3, 08 08:46 PM

Game ova!!!

Posted by DD December 3, 08 08:52 PM

forget about rules. the game is for the kids. im glad they get to play. they shouldnt be punished especially since the school came forward and admitted they had done this unknowingly.

Posted by matt December 3, 08 08:53 PM

Sorry, This is a travesty. I don't know enough to know whether Feehan had a chance against Mansfield anyway, but it is really a shame that the Shamrocks had to play an important game such as this under these circumstances. These kids were ready to play YESTERDAY and were sent home when it became obvious that Mansfield was intent on dragging this out. Shame on Mansfield. I'll bet you deep down inside, this is a hollow, hollow victory for those kids .... if theyr'e honest about it. The school got away with one. Meantime, Feenhan had to get itself all geared up two days in a row while Mansfield went into the game playing with house money.

Posted by stevek December 3, 08 09:52 PM

They used a player for a play or 2 at the end of 2 blowout victories and after realizing that they went to the MIAA themselves, so they did the right thing and the player had absolutley no impact on the outcomes of the games. Its unfortunate but the rest of the kids shouldnt suffer for something this insugnificant and I'm sure the kids from Feehan would have rather played the game and earned their victory rather than winning via forfeit

Posted by PD December 4, 08 07:22 AM

Couple points here:

As I said in a previous post, the MIAA is at fault for not privately discussing this matter with Mansfield before announcing that the game would be cancelled. Feehan got the worst of the emotional rollercoaster that ensued since they were jerked around from being told they were going to the Super Bowl to then not.

Feehan has a great program but not nearly the quantity of skill players to choose from that Mansfield has. It's easy to see looking across the field, as the mere size difference is apparent.

Credit goes to Mansfield. Spoke with Feehans Defensive Tackle after the game, and he said that the Mansfield players were not "trash" talkers or dirty players but instead seemed genuinely thankful to be playing the game.

These teams are closer than the score suggests. I don't think I've ever witnessed two better defensive teams battling it out on a High School gridiron. Very impressive.

TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE call by Feehans Coach Wood to go for it on a 4th and 2 inside his own 40. That was the momentum shift that Mansfield needed. Punt that ball away and go back to your bread and butter, defense. That combined with the 2nd half kickoff return TD, was too much for BF to handle.

Lastly, as a BF fan it is going to be a tough pill to swallow if the MIAA does in fact end up stripping Mansfield of its title and potential super bowl championship after the season. It could very well end up costing another team, BF, Walpole, or NA a shot at a state championship.
My only beef: Mansfield should have reported this issue on Wednesday of last week and dealt with whatever suspension appeal process then. Waiting only ensured that there would be no time for the MIAA to make changes to the schedule and consequently would allow Mansfield to retain their playoff rights.

Posted by George December 4, 08 10:17 AM

Mansfield is not good

Posted by Mansfield is not good December 4, 08 10:21 AM

well if mansfield is'nt good then why did we win...

Posted by hornet December 6, 08 11:56 AM

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Bob Holmes: A Reading resident (Go Rockets!) and Boston College graduate, Holmes is the Boston Globe High School Sports Editor. We remind you now that his weekly picks are often made in jest so everyone just calm down when he picks against Everett for 11 straight weeks.
Mike Carraggi: An Everett native (Go Tide!), Mike attends Eastern Nazarene college and is entering his second year with the Globe. He'll focus on Division 1 this fall, which means he'll spend a lot of time in his hometown, which Forsberg thinks is cool because the Tide have that Fried Dough cart.
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Mike Grossi: A Lexington native (Go Minutemen!), Mike attends Northeastern and has been with the Globe for two months. He'll cover Division 2 and 2A and unsuccessfully lobbied to include Lexington in the preseason Top 20.
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