Surprise: Wareham airs it out
NEW BEDFORD -- Wareham advanced to the Division 2A Super Bowl yesterday by defeating Hingham, 34-20, using what got them there: power running and a tough defense.
Despite being down at halftime, 13-12, the Vikings came roaring back to score 21 second-half points, allowing the Harbormen 32 total yards in the final two quarters. Senior captain Darryl Foote led the way with 71 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Surprisingly, for a team that ran the ball to win all season, it was a 69-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Mike Laperriere to Foote that put Wareham up 26-13.
Wareham struck first with Laperriere's keeper at the 1-yard line. Hingham came back with a 5-yard run from Tim Wood. The teams traded touchdowns again in the second quarter. Laperriere punched in the second of two 1-yard runs in the first half and Hingham running back Chris Constantine had a 70-yard score. The senior quarterback finished with 156 passing yards. Wareham only had 69 rushing yards at halftime, well below its average.
Wareham had trouble stopping Constantine in the first half. He carried the ball seven times for 107 yards, including his 70-yarder. An important play was Mike Franklin sacking senior Hingham quarterback Ryan Lally to end the half. The Harbormen were knocking on Wareham's door at the 11-yard line but Franklin's sack stopped them.
After making halftime changes to bring a safety to help against Constantine, the Vikings dominated the third quarter, limiting Hingham's offense to minus-4 yards of offense. The Wareham three-headed rushing attack of Laperriere, Foote and Keith Patterson wore down the defense in the fourth quarter and helped seal the victory.
Foote, who has worked all the way back from tearing his MCL in a game against Bishop Stang in last year's playoffs, said he was excited about the win and making the big play to help put Hingham away.
"I had a couple steps on the guy covering me and Mike put the ball right there for me," he said. "I can't describe the feeling I had walking into the end zone, knowing that it was a huge score for our team."
Laperriere hadn't thrown the ball much in recent games but came out in the second half and picked apart the Hingham secondary.
"On the long pass [to Foote] I saw there was one-on-one coverage and Darryl is a playmaker so I knew he was going to make the catch," he said.
Wareham coach Dan Nault knew Hingham would give his team all they could handle.
"The key to the game was the fact that we were able to score 34 points against a good defense and we made some big adjustments at halftime," he said.
"Our power running helped us eat a lot of the clock in the second half and obviously that play-action [69-yard] pass gave us some momentum," he said. "These kids have worked hard all year and they're finally being rewarded. Give credit to Hingham too, they are a very good team and I am happy with the way we played tonight." 