A little English goes long way
With a chance to exact revenge on the team that battered his squad last year, Boston English coach Keith Parker suited up a mere 18 kids and played only 16.
But the Bulldogs would not be denied, edging defending Boston North champion South Boston, 34-28, in double overtime.
“We were shorthanded, had kids playing both ways,’’ said Parker. “But in the end, we got the breaks and we won.’’
English quarterback Martin Kitchens picked up the slack, firing three touchdown passes and airing it out for more than 200 yards. His 15-yard scoring strike to Alex Villenueva with less than a minute left in regulation set the stage for a Villenueva’s 2-point run that tied the score.
In overtime, the Knights’ Alix Durand rumbled in for a go-ahead touchdown that was followed by a 2-point conversion.
Kitchens responded with a touchdown pass to Jason Smith that tipped off the hands of the intended receiver. He then fired a strike to Ricky Monteiro to tie the score.
English elected to play defense to begin the second overtime, a decision that proved to be wise. After stopping the Knights, Melvin Booker ran in the winning touchdown on the first play to give the Bulldogs a gritty win.
“The kids played very hard,’’ said Parker, in his 30th year at the helm. “Now they can have a happy weekend.’’
Bridgewater-Raynham 14, New Bedford 0 - The No. 16 Trojans won’t get any style points for their win over the Whalers, but they were able to improve to 4-0. Mike Connolly scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and Mike Chicoine’s 2-yard dive sealed the victory in the fourth quarter.
Lawrence 34, Chelmsford 29 - Lancers quarterback Nick Elwell threw four TD passes, two to Michael Calzetta - including the winner in the fourth quarter - to outduel the Lions’ Joe Gennaro. Lawrence jumped to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter thanks to two early Elwell touchdown passes but 11th-ranked Chelmsford battled back, evening the score at 21 heading to the fourth quarter on the strength of two of Gennaro’s three touchdown runs. Gennaro finished with 143 yards.
Malden Catholic 30, Peabody 7 - Lancers running back Quinn McDonough tore apart the Tanners with 351 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns.
Braintree 10, Brookline 6 - Christian Fox ran 26 yards for a score and Jason Walsh kicked a 24-yard field goal to boost the Wamps.
Nonleague
Acton-Boxborough 14, Concord-Carlisle 13 - The No. 20 Colonials rebuffed a 2-point conversion try to hang on for the win. Kevin Hughes hauled in a 12-yard TD pass from Dana Duquette for the winning score.
Dartmouth 17, Somerset 15 - Richie Bellizzi kicked a 29-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to give the Indians the upset over the Blue Raiders. The Indians defense got tough in the second half, keeping the contest close enough for Bellizzi to win it. Trailing, 15-14, with 3:30 left, Dartmouth drove from its 21 to inside the Somerset 15 to set up Bellizzi’s kick. Somerset had rallied from a 14-0 hole to go ahead on two short scoring runs by Jason Stear in the third quarter.
Winthrop 16, Lynn Classical 6 - Will Milano ran for a touchdown and kicked a 23-yard field goal as the Vikings took advantage of four Rams fumbles.
King Philip 35, Oliver Ames 7 - Brandon Howard threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score and Mike Cochran hauled in three scoring passes covering 130 yards as the No. 13 Warriors routed the Tigers.
Mansfield 34, Stoughton 12 - Jamel Marshall returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a TD and the No. 14 Hornets rolled past the Black Knights.
Foxborough 24, North Attleboro 22 - Mike Delaney and Luke Soccorso each scored twice as the Warriors upset the No. 15 Red Rocketeers.
Middlesex Reading 34, Melrose 7 - Tino Perrina scored three TDs and the No. 3 Rockets blasted the Red Raiders.
Woburn 28, Stoneham 0 - Zack Thomas scored on two short runs and the Tanners breezed past the Spartans.
Nonleague
Watertown 14, Weston 10 - CJ Logan ran 1 yard for a TD in the third quarter, giving the Red Raiders the win in a battle of unbeatens.
Hull 14, East Bridgewater 7 - Dan Shea saved the day for the Pirates, running for touchdowns of 4 yards in the first quarter and 2 in the fourth to avoid the upset bid by the winless Vikings. Cory McLaughlin ran 36 yards for a score to tie it in the first quarter before Shea answered in the final quarter.
Tri-Valley
Norton 20, Dover-Sherborn 6 - Stephen Gilmore sandwiched two touchdown runs around a Brendan St. Germaine score as the Lancers rolled.
Westwood 46, Ashland 0 - Sean Amaru had scoring runs of 42, 40, and 72 yards in the first half and Jordan MacPherson and Anthony Burden each recorded interceptions in a dominating effort by the Wolverines.
Nonleague
Cohasset 38, Cardinal Spellman 20 - Dana Valentine was Cohasset’s go-to man, running for 166 yards and three TDs and adding four 2-point conversion runs for the Skippers.
East Boston 44, Charlestown 0 - East Boston scored 44 points, but defense and special teams had plenty to do with the win. The Jets scored their first three touchdowns on a punt return and two interception returns and breezed past the Townies. Brandon Amodeo returned one interception 50 yards for a score and later ran 60 yards for a second TD while Mike Lockley ran for a pair of touchdowns.
Madison Park 20, West Roxbury 0 - Chris Philyaw ran for 218 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and Antone Minot added two long touchdown runs as the Cardinals broke open a scoreless game with 20 fourth-quarter points.
Boston South
Latin Academy 20, Dorchester 12 - Justin Miles orchestrated the Wolfpack’s balanced attack, rushing for one touchdown and throwing for another. Peter Berment ran 6 and 13 yards for both of the Bears’ touchdowns.
Commonwealth (Small)
Chelsea 12, Mystic Valley 6 - Felix Torres caught a 42-yard TD pass from David Cortez and picked off a pass for the Red Devils.
