NEFJ CorrespondentGRAFTON — In a playoff matchup featuring two D4 powers with a Final Four appearance on the line, Grafton’s defense came to play en route to a 17-6 win.
In what was a defensive struggle for most of the night, No. 6 Grafton was able to flex its defensive muscle on its way to a sound victory over No. 14 Marblehead.
Grafton took the lead late in the first quarter and never lost it as its defense gave up one first-half touchdown before putting the clamps on Marblehead’s offensive attack.
Coach Chris McMahon spoke to the defensive performance and alluded to the fact that it was a week-long effort to get ready for Friday night’s challenge.
“All week long our kids worked, we made some adjustments as the week went along in practice and it showed up today,” McMahon said. “The biggest thing from the week of practice was our scout team, our scout team was phenomenal all week and that was the key to our victory I think.”
While the defense was the was the star of the show, junior running back Finn Gilmore provided all the offense his team needed to secure the win.
After a well-sustained drive in the first quarter, Gilmore was able to punch it in from a yard out for the first score with 2:19 left in the opening frame.
Marblehead responded right back on the following drive with a touchdown, which ended up being the Magicians’ only points of the night — a 10-yard strike to Andy Palmer with 9:33 left in the first half to bring them within one after a missed point-after try.
The second half began with three consecutive three and outs, followed by a turnover on downs. However, the very next play following Marblehead’s turnover on downs, Gilmore cashed in for his second touchdown of the night, with an explosive, 81-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-6 with 4:46 in the third quarter.
When talking about the victory and his big night, Gilmore was very complimentary of the team around him.
“Everybody stepped up. Nobody out here had a bad game. Everybody played their hearts out. I relied on everybody,” Gilmore said. “It’s just a brotherhood on this team. We play for each other.”
The Gators extended their lead to 11 with a 25-yard field goal with 1:24 left in the third quarter to cap off their 17-6 win and turn their focus to a Scituate team that conjures up bad memories for the Gators.
Gilmore alluded to the fact Scituate sent the Gators home two years ago and no one on that team has forgotten that feeling.
“My freshman year we lost to Scituate in the semis,” Gilmore said. “Crushed us, we pushed our way back all the way to Gillette. Now we are back, we are back in the Final Four, we’re pushing back and we are getting some revenge on Scituate.”
Gilmore and the Gators will get their shot to resurrect those demons next weekend in the Final Four.