WRENTHAM – Early on in Friday night’s quarterfinal game, it looked like the No.4  seed King Philip might be primed for an upset at home against fifth-seeded Melrose Red Raiders in an MIAA D3 quarterfinal.

But, thanks to a second-half surge, the Warriors prevailed with a 31-21 victory on Friday night, securing them a spot in the MIAA Division 3 semifinals.

The win leaves King Philip as one of the final four teams remaining in Division 3. Next week, the Warriors will face a familiar challenge against fellow Hockomock League rival Mansfield, the top seed, which secured a dominant 31-0 victory over Milton on Friday night.

Reflecting on the upcoming matchup and the win, King Philip head coach Anthony Vizakis shared his thoughts after the game.

“I think we’re excited. We’re looking forward to Mansfield and it’s going to be a tough game. We’re going to enjoy this one first.”

Melrose gave King Philip all they could handle through a tightly contested first half. The visitors caught a break late in the second quarter when a questionable defensive pass-interference penalty went against King Philip on a play where Melrose also came away with the football. Escaping what would have been a turnover during a second-and-22 situation deep in Warriors territory, Melrose capitalized immediately on the next play. Quarterback Nathan Greer connected with Cian Sullivan on a 12-yard touchdown pass, sending Melrose into halftime with a 21-14 lead.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically right after the break. The Warriors came out of the locker room swinging when Owen Hurwitz fielded the second-half kickoff and raced 88 yards for a touchdown, tying the game in just 17 seconds. Vizakis noted that the lightning-fast score energized a squad that was already eager to make adjustments.

“You could see in the guys’ faces. We’re a second-half team. They were fired up and ready. It showed on the kickoff return right away. I think that fired some kids up,” Vizakis said.

Following the score, the King Philip defense forced a quick three-and-out, and the offense wasted no time taking advantage. On a crucial third down, quarterback Brody Zolak found Ethan O’Connell wide open on a wheel route, resulting in a 48-yard touchdown that put the Warriors back on top. It marked O’Connell’s second score of the night, following a 44-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter that had previously tied the game at 7-7.

Zolak delivered an impressive performance through the air all night, having earlier tied the game at 14-14 in the second quarter by connecting with trusted receiver Patrick Terio on a 75-yard touchdown strike. Vizakis credited Zolak’s preparation during the week for his elevated play and growth as a passer within the team’s traditionally run-heavy system.

“He had his best week of practice this week. He’s focused, locked-in. I think he’s feeling way more comfortable throwing the ball. His command of the offense, he’s feeling more comfortable and the offensive line is doing a good job. He showed up tonight,” Vizakis said.

For his part, Zolak says that he is doing his job to help the team win. He gave credit to his coaches and receivers.

“It is just me executing the plays. I give full credit to the receivers and the coaches making the right calls and then making amazing catches.”

In the fourth quarter, King Philip relied on its trademark style, putting together a methodical, clock-draining drive that exhausted Melrose’s remaining time and chances. The lengthy possession culminated in a 35-yard field goal by Nate Crowley, stretching the lead to two possessions at 31-21 with 6:07 remaining. Melrose failed to threaten the red zone down the stretch, and any lingering hopes were dashed when Hurwitz broke up a pass on fourth-and-long with under three minutes left to seal the win.

Praising the resilience of his squad after the slow start, Vizakis concluded,

“Proud of the defense, how resilient they were. They never gave up. Never quit. Really happy how we turned it around a little bit. We had made some corrections at halftime and it showed.”

Now the Warriors will get another shot at a familiar foe in long time rival Mansfield. The two programs know each other well. It should be another tough, physical game between the two Hockomock League schools.