Mansfield clinches Hockomock

NORTH ATTLEBORO - If defense wins championships, the Eastern Athletic Conference champion should be wary.

Mansfield halted North Attleboro, 13-7, last night at Community Field to clinch the Hockomock League title and a berth in the Division 2 MIAA playoffs. Mansfield will face the EAC winner.

"You hope by Nov. 7 that you have played well enough to be in it," said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. "It seems like every year we play [North Attleboro], it seems to be for the championship."

Stellar defense won the game for Mansfield (8-1, 7-0). North Attleboro (6-2, 6-1) entered Mansfield territory six times, but came away with only one score.

"Our defense bent but it didn't break," said Redding. "We buckled down once [North Attleboro] got in our end."

North Attleboro turned the ball over five times inside Mansfield territory, twice on interceptions by Jeff Mallett and three times on downs.

Mallett's interceptions came in the final two minutes, with North Attleboro nearing the end zone.

"I just got a good read and I made a break on the ball real quickly," said Mallett.

"Jeff is always around the ball and seems to make plays when we need it," said Redding.

Offensively, the Red Rocketeers moved the ball, but their inability to finish cost them the game.

The game began with the teams trading punches; all the scoring was done in the first quarter. Mansfield scored on its opening drive. On third and 9 from the Mansfield 25, Mallett found JD Chalifoux, who bolted down the sideline for a 71-yard gain. On the next play, Shawn Doherty pounded it in from the 4.

North Attleboro responded with an eight-play, 67-yard drive. The Red Rocketeers moved 29 yards on the ground and 38 yards through the air. Twenty-three of the 38 yards through the air came on a spectacular touchdown catch by Kevin Richman. Joe Kummer lobbed the ball to the back corner of the end zone, where Richman dived to snare it. A Corey Wynn extra point tied the score at 7.

Mansfield scored the winning touchdown on its next possession. Kevon Rogers broke through the line and down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown to give Mansfield a 13-7 lead.

North Attleboro had an opportunity with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Starting at their 36, the Red Rocketeers moved to the Mansfield 41. The Hornets sacked quarterback Steve Rollins on second down, a pass was incomplete on third down, then Mallett knocked the ball away from Richman to preserve Mansfield's victory.