Three Teams Are In, Two More Could Be: Week 8 HS Football Results

The regular season is over, and at least three teams have qualified for the MIAA football playoffs with two more waiting to find out.

Old Rochester and Apponequet have both made it, as well as GNB Voc-Tech. New Bedford and Dartmouth await the verdict based on the state power rankings at Sunday’s MIAA meeting.

Speaking of the Whalers (3-4, 1-0) they put themselves in prime position to finish the year as Big 3 championships with 21-19 upset win over Brockton. If New Bedford defeats winless Durfee on Thanksgiving Day, they’ll be Big 3 champs for the first time since 2010. The Whalers made a goal-line stand on what would have been the game-tying 2-point conversion with 25 seconds left and then held off the Boxers once again after they recovered an onside kick for the win. Kevin Nunes caught two passes for 47 yards, but they were both touchdown grabs. Hector Diaz (12 carries, 38 yards) ran for a score as well. Chandler Debrosse was 3-of-10 for 71 yards with the two scoring tosses, while Brendan Costa completed his one pass attempt for 33 yards.

GNB Voc-Tech punched their ticket to the Division 5 state playoffs for the first time ever, defeating Bourne 35-14 to win the South Coast Conference’s “B” tier. Quarterback Nick Richard scored on a pair of 1-yard rushes and also threw two touchdowns to Matt Hill, finishing 4-of-5 for 107 yards. Domitri Woodbury scored on a 75 yard run, and Sean Aldrich (69 yards) and Tim Labbe (58 yards) also ran well for the Bears (4-3, 4-2 SCC).

Old Rochester defeated Seekonk, 31-14. Darien Dumond scored twice, on a 46 yard catch from Nolan Bergeron (5-of-8, 108 yards, three TD passes), and on a 19-yard run. He finished with 12 carries for 85 yards. Hayden Bergeron had 17 carries for 78 yards, and also caught a 14-yard score from his twin brother. He had a 32-yard field goal as well. Alex Aruri also caught a 21-yard score for the Bulldogs (7-0, 6-0 SCC).

Apponequet was all over Wareham, 46-16, despite resting their starters through much of the second half in anticipation of the playoffs. Westin Cohen had five carries for 87 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. Matt Michael had 53 yards on two carries (including a 45 yard scoring run) and a TD catch from Cam Costa (6-of-8, 113 yards) for 27 yards. Troy Nanfelt caught a touchdown, and ran 47 yards for another for the Lakers (6-1, 6-0 SCC). The Vikings (1-7, 1-5 SCC) got 95 yards on the ground from Stephen Florindo, including a 56-yard scoring scamper. Nate Moore rushed for 84 yards with a touchdown.

Dighton-Rehoboth scored four times in the first six minutes of the game to defeat Fairhaven, 35-6. Kevin Albano had the only score for the Blue Devils (3-4), coming on a 17-yard catch from Cam Charette (9-of-15, 52 yards) in the second quarter. Kross Negalha led the rushing attack for Fairhaven, carrying the ball nine times for 78 yards.

Dartmouth lost 41-6 to Barnstable, but still could qualify for the playoffs. Jack McCabe had 35 yards to lead the Indians (3-4, 0-2 OCL), while quarterback Blaine Almeida was 6-of-18. Tim Smith caught two passes for 47 yards.

Three unanswered second-quarter touchdowns powered Somerset-Berkley to a 25-6 win over Bishop Stang. The Raiders possessed the ball for the entire first quarter and most of the second, keeping it out of the hands of Matt Golden (0-of-2). Jared Zaniewski’s 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was all the Spartans (4-3, 2-2 EAC) could manage.

Cole Bernier’s 14-yard catch on the final play of the game—dragging three defenders with him toward the end zone—gave Old Colony a 20-14 win over Holbrook. It was set up by a Lance Labonte interception just moments before. Bernier (nine catches, 172 yards) also caught a TD pass in the second quarter, and quarterback Jake Pringle (16-of-30, 242 yards and five carries, 36 yards) added an 18-yard touchdown run as well for the Cougars (3-4, 2-4 Mayflower Small).