The Grafton Gators (10-0, third seed) lived up to their undefeated record last Friday night with a totally dominating performance against the visiting Marblehead Football Magicians (7-3, sixth seed), a team that has been pummeling opponents in its own right the last seven weeks to the tune of 257-44. But in this Elite 8 Division 4 matchup, the Marblehead boys were shut out, 35-0, and as a result their playoff run has come to an end, but not without giving their fans so many great memories this season.
There’s one more great memory still to be experienced, however, when Marblehead heads to Fenway Park to play its annual Thanksgiving Day game against Swampscott on Nov. 27, the day before turkey day, starting at 6:30 p.m.
But getting back to the Round of 8 game, Grafton took a 14-0 lead into the halftime break on two rushing touchdowns by senior captain Finn Gilmore. The Marblehead defense did slow down the home team’s offense in the second quarter, stopping them on downs a couple of times, before senior Cam Quigley ended another drive with an interception.
The offense, however, had trouble moving the ball against the stout Grafton defense, a rare occurrence for this group this year.
Marblehead interim head coach Nick Broughton was impressed by Grafton’s defense. “This was
probably the toughest, (hardest hitting) game that we have had this year,” said Broughton, who is an assistant coach on Jim Rudloff’s staff and was filling in for him, after interim Superintendent John Robidoux banned striking teachers from coaching. (Robidoux reversed that decision shortly after the game.)
“But just being able to play tonight was a victory for these kids,” he added. “But (in the game), Grafton was just too fast on defense. They hit every hole quickly (to stop the running game).”
Broughton credits the team and its resiliency to persevere through a week of upheaval in the school department. They still showed up for daily practice to get ready for the Round of 8 game. “The kids have been through a lot this week, but our senior leaders showed up every day for practice to carry out (Rudloff’s) gameplan with the (underclassmen).”
The veteran Marblehead head coach always comes up with a gameplan the Sunday before the next game, and his players were able to use that to prepare for Grafton after his union went on strike two days later. But in this game, it was more on what Grafton did to remain undefeated and move on to the state semifinals Friday night (Nov. 22) against Scituate (10-0, second seed) than anything the Magicians could come up with to slow them down.
“(Rudloff) made it easy for us to follow his gameplan, but Grafton was tough on defense,” Broughton said.
Simply put, Grafton knew where they had to be at all times.
From the players’ point of view, captain Colt Wales spoke eloquently on the entire week immediately after the game during an interview with the Marblehead Current. “It was definitely difficult to stay focused throughout the week, but I thought we did a good job,” he said. “It was a victory just being able to play this game, and I’m proud that we rallied as a town to make it happen.”
Wales, too, credited Grafton’s fast defense with preventing the Marblehead offense from getting
anything going. Running the ball, he said, has been the key for the Magicians all year long. “But it just didn’t click for us tonight,” he added. “But give Grafton credit, they played (really) well.”
But the upcoming Fenway experience provides a pretty good consolation prize for a team that gave its fans so much to cheer for this fall. “Fenway is going to be a fun one,” Wales said on the Nov. 27 game against Thanksgiving rival Swampscott at America’s most beloved ballpark. It’s slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.
