People are buzzing about Ryan Izzo, the 2008 Div. 2 Player of the Year, who moved within 4 points of tying the state scoring record by scoring five touchdowns and adding as many extra points in Walpole’s 41-7 rout of the Rockets.

Izzo has 678 career points and is a TD away from surpassing Austin Prep graduate Nathan Sherr. Despite being on the verge of history, Izzo said he’s more excited about the Rebels’ performance this season.

“[Almost breaking the record] is a great feeling, but the fact that we’re 9-0 right now says more about the team,” said Izzo, who ran for 206 yards on 16 carries. “Obviously the record is there and we know about it, but the team comes first and next week against Natick - this is going to be a showdown.”

Walpole will play host to undefeated Natick (9-0) next Saturday for the Bay State (Herget) playoff berth.

Walpole coach Barry Greener, who said he thinks Natick is the best team in the state, did not want to look too far ahead.

“I’m elated that we played this well today,” Greener said. “I was afraid that we might be looking past it a little bit, looking to Natick. But the kids focused. There was certainly nothing wrong with the effort.”

Izzo broke open a scoreless game in the first quarter after Walpole took over at its 45. Peter Bowes threw a 9-yard pass to Steve Shevory, but two penalties pushed the Rebels back to their 40. Izzo then turned a run up the middle into a 60-yard scoring run. He added the PAT to put the Rebels up, 7-0.

Two minutes into the second quarter, Izzo took off from the 5 and ran 81 yards before being stopped by a defender who was called for a horse collar penalty. That added 7 yards to the play and set up Izzo at Needham’s 7, where he scored from on the next play. Izzo added the extra point to make it 14-0.

Needham fumbled away the ball on the first play of the next possession, with Bowes recovering the fumbled snap at the Rockets’ 39. Four plays later, Izzo scored again, this time from the 4.

Another fumble hurt the Rockets five minutes later, this time on a punt return with Walpole’s Jeff Meaney recovering at Needham’s 13. Izzo carried three straight times, finally taking it from the 2-yard line. His fourth extra point gave Walpole a 28-0 lead.

Needham answered by marching 76 yards in five plays, led by Rockets quarterback Kevin Brennan. Brennan recorded 71 all-purpose yards on the drive, finishing with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Hecker. Kevin Cray added an extra point which closed the gap to 28-7, but Walpole scored on the next possession before halftime when Bowes threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to David Conroy with six seconds left. Another Izzo PAT put the Rebels up 35-7 at the half.

Izzo came out to catch an 84-yard touchdown pass from Bowes to start the third quarter.