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Hopkinton 34, Medway 28 Decina, A One Man Show for Hillers!
Above, quarterback Mike Decina with a keeper on the way to a 34-28 victory over Medway at home. By: Lou Ottaviani
September
23, 2011 —
Typically when it rains during a football game, it
can play havoc for both teams on the field. Mother
Nature was determined to pester both The way the game was playing out, it didn’t take long for the fans to figure out that whichever team ended up possessing control of the ball on the last series would be the victors, and it stood true last night. Most fans know that when rain and football mix, it’s not a good sign for things to happen on the offensive side. However, for the defensive side, the players are chomping at the bit because this is where the “game changing plays” take place. There is one exception with this thought process though, nobody told Hopkinton or Medway that this is what was supposed to happen, especially under these conditions. Both offenses from each team must not have received their memo because the game turned out to be an entertaining Mike Decina (Hopkinton) and Ryan Bukis (Medway) offensive one-man show. And entertain us, they did! For Decina, the fleet footed Hiller quarterback with an arm to match his speed, combined for a total of 316 of Hopkinton’s 333 total offensive yards (rushing for 164 yards on 30 carries, and passing for 152 yards completing 9 of 19 passes). Oh, did I mention that he also scored 32 of Hopkinton’s 34 points on the night (5 TDs and 1 PAT rush). Medway’s Bukis, a bruising running back muscled his way to earn 107 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored 21 of the Mustang’s 28 points, while rushing for 3 TDs, himself. True to statistics when playing in foul weather conditions, defensive teams make things happen. Despite the high scoring under the rainy weather, the Hiller defense proved to be a deciding factor in their team’s impressive 34 – 28 victory, having three of their plays turn into three scores for their offensive unit. This was demonstrated on several occasions throughout the night, starting with Medway’s first drive, when Hopkinton’s James Goncalves intercepted a Pat Sheehan pass on the Hopkinton 22-yard line which set up the Hillers first score of the game just three plays later. Barrett Hanlon added the extra PAT kick to give the Hillers a 7-0 lead. Hopkinton’s Jack Lampert made a nice interception on Sheehan which stopped a Medway drive with 1:59 left in the half, which put the Hillers in position to score just five plays later as time ran out to the half, giving Hopkinton a 20 – 14 halftime lead going into the locker room. In the second half, it was the Mustangs deciding to sway the momentum their way, scoring on their first two drives and taking the lead for the first time in the game, 28 – 20. Hopkinton responded on their second drive, getting good field position on the Medway 35. A quick 12 yard run by Ryan Bohlin, capped by a 35 yard completion from Decina to Barrett Hanlon brought the ball to the Hiller 15 yard line and three plays later Hopkinton tied the game 28 – 28 with Decina scoring both the touchdown and rushing for the PAT points, with 3:50 left in the third quarter. On the Mustang’s next possession, starting at their own 22 yard line, Medway was moving the ball controlling the next four plus minutes. However, Hiller defensive linebacker, Adam O’Neill broke through Medway’s offensive line on a fourth down pass attempt and came up with a big sack bringing down Pat Sheehan. Medway’s defense forced Hopkinton to three plays and a punt and take over possession in good field possession, at the Hiller 45 yard line with just over four minutes in the game. Once again, the Hopkinton defense stepped it up when junior Keaton Britt pounced on a Medway fumble to set up Hopkinton’s final score. For Britt this was his second fumble recovery in the game. Hopkinton’s offense took advantage by driving 73 yards on 7 plays for the go-ahead score 34 – 28. The PAT pass was incomplete. With just 2:14 left in the game, Medway was looking to rely on the big pass play and tried three long pass plays which were all incomplete. On fourth down, Mustang quarterback Pat Sheehan gave it one last try to complete a pass for a first down, but Hopkinton’s defense had other things on their mind. Hopkinton’s Mark Lockert and Jake Lehman saw to it that no pass was going to be made as both defensive linemen sacked the Mustang quarterback to give their Hiller offense the ball with 1:38 left in the game. Hopkinton’s Decina took several knees to let the time run out and grab a well earned victory. Conversely, it was Medway’s defense that caused some key turnovers for the Hiller offense as well. In the first quarter, Eric Steffens intercepted a Decina pass and later in the second quarter, recovered a Hopkinton fumble in the backfield and rumbled 21 yards to the Hopkinton 2 yard line. On the ensuing rush, Bukis scored to tie the game, 14 – 14. With the win, the Hillers move to 3 – 0 (1 – 0, TVL) and will face up with non-league opponent Weston High School next Friday (9/30) at home. Be sure to put this 7 PM match up on your calendar. In their first three games of the season, this high performing Hiller offensive squad has scored 100 points (34, 32, and 34). Keep it going Hillers!!! 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q FINAL MEDWAY 7 7 14 0 28 HOPKINTON 7 13 8 6 34
SCORING School Player Run/Pass/FG/INT/ YDG Time QTR H Mike Decina Run 17 yds. 4:56 1 Barrett Hanlon PAT kick – Good M Ryan Bukis Run 42 yds. 3:44 1 Jack McNamara PAT kick – Good H Mike Decina Run 1 yd. 9:19 2 Barrett Hanlon PAT kick – Good M Ryan Bukis Run 2 yds. 6:24 2 Jack McNamara PAT kick – Good H Mike Decina Run 2 yds. 0:00 2 PAT kick – Failed M Tyler Cummings Pass from Pat Sheehan 32 yds. 8:31 3 Jack McNamara PAT kick – Good M Ryan Bukis Run 16 yds. 6:25 3 Jack McNamara PAT kick – Good H Mike Decina Run 8 yds. 3:50 3 Mike Decina PAT rush – Good 1 yd. H Mike Decina Run 2 yds. 2:14 4 PAT pass – Failed
STATS - Leading Rushers Team Player Carries Yardage Hopkinton Mike Decina 30 164 Medway Ryan Bukis 11 107 STATS–PassingLeader Team Player Comp/Attempts Yardage Hopkinton Mike Decina 9/19 152 |
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"The News Starts Here!"
teams with a constant downpour of “on and off”
showers throughout the Hopkinton Hillers / Medway
Mustangs contest last evening at David Hughes Field
in Hopkinton. Typically when inclement weather
occurs, the outcome for most games results in a low
scoring event, but don’t tell that to either the
Hillers or the Mustangs, as both teams combined for
a total of 62 points.