For about two hours on Saturday afternoon talk of forfeits and eligibility issues will be put on hold as Walpole and Mansfield do battle at Gillette Stadium in the MIAA Division 2 Super Bowl.
The two favorites at the beginning of the season have taken much different paths to reach Foxboro. Walpole ran roughshod through the Bay State Conference while Mansfield was perfect in the Hockomock League.
But since the MIAA announced on Monday they would need to forfeit wins to Sharon and Oliver Ames because fifth-year senior Andy Rapp, who appeared in seven plays over those two games, did not have a waiver, the Green Hornets have had to take their game to court to be granted the opportunity for their case to be heard (that will be on Monday) by the MIAA.
“Everyone was so happy to be playing today, so grateful to have a second chance and be playing,” said linebacker Matt Schafer following Mansfield’s 22-6 win on Wednesday.
While Mansfield (11-1, 9-3 in the eyes of the MIAA) could win on the field tomorrow, if they come away a loser in the board room on Monday, the title would be taken away and the champion would be listed as vacated – something that hasn’t happened since North Cambridge Catholic boys basketball in 1999.
If Wednesday’s 22-6 semifinal win over Bishop Feehan is any indication, Mansfield is playing with an us-against-the-world mentality – and doing it quite well. The first string defense did not allow the Shamrocks a first down before coming out midway through the fourth quarter with a 22-0 cushion. While the offense took some time to get going, it faced little resistance in the second half.
The front four in the Mansfield defense is menacing, with the right side of Nevin Cruz and Shawn Kelley able to put tremendous pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Cruz had two of the Green Hornets’ five sacks on Wednesday night.
“Their front line is enormous,” said Walpole coach Danny Villa. “Their front line is one of the best we’ve ever seen this year, both offensive and defensive line.”
The linebackers are an active group. Schafer was outstanding against Bishop Feehan and had the key tackle on a fourth-and-2 play late in the first half that set up the first score of the game. He was the team’s leading tackler during the regular season.
In the secondary, safety Jeff Mallett, who also serves as the quarterback, has very good instincts and had key interceptions in the end zone in wins over King Philip and North Attleboro.
Walpole (12-0) which ran the ball on 19 of its 20 offensive plays in the first half, showed plenty of its top offensive threat in Ryan Izzo and he did not disappoint, rushing for 82 of his 101 yards in the first 20 minutes despite every set of eyes on the Reading defense expecting him to get the ball. Izzo sits at 2,304 yards rushing on the season and 35 total touchdowns.
While the Rebels owned a size advantage at the line of scrimmage on Tuesday, they will not tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how they attempt to confuse the Mansfield defense.
Where the Rebels will have an edge size-wise is out wide with Leo Ajemian (6-foot-3) and T.J. Kelliher (6-2) towering over the Mansfield corners –Rodney Chance and Kevon Rogers are 5-10 while Doug Cockcroft is 5-8. If the line can give Sonny Mastromatteo (1,161 yards, 15 TDs) time to throw, there should be opportunities in the passing game. Plus, it should up some holes for Izzo, and that’s not such a bad thing for Rebels fans.
“We’re going to have to be as balanced as we have been all year in order to keep up with this Mansfield offense,” said Walpole coach Danny Villa.
Even though Mallett is a capable passer, throwing for 672 and seven touchdowns, the Green Hornets are a run-dominated group out of a Wing-T formation with Shawn Doherty, fullback Greg DiPietrantonio and Rogers at wing. Doherty has rushed for 1,061 of the trios 2,117 yards this year.
Despite starting slowly on Wednesday, the offense held the ball for 26:15 of the 40-minute game. They run behind a line that averages 228 pounds, preferring to run behind strong side linemen Sean Vinciguerra and Shawn Collins.
“(Reading and Mansfield) both ran a version of the Wing-T, and we played Wellesley and Milton both ran the Wing-T too,” said defensive end/tight end Chris Cameron. “We’ve had some experience against the Wing-T, we just have to make tackles.”
Mallett’s targets out wide are J.D. Chalifoux and Rogers while Andrew Kelley at 6-5 makes for a big target at tight end.
With the quarters just 10 minutes long, protecting the football is of utmost importance, best evidenced on Tuesday as Walpole and Reading only had the ball for two series in the first half.
“Possessions become so critical,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. We went to the Walpole/Reading game and we couldn’t believe how fast the first half went. You have to value every possession and not turn it over.”
The eight in the box will certainly be in a tough spot on Saturday, but if they can dig in like they have in other big games, the Rebels will have more than a chance to win their seventh Super Bowl title, and prevent what could be a messy situation on Monday off the field.
