By Tom O’Brien
NEFJ Correspondent
HINGHAM – With a spot in the Division 4 Super Bowl on the line, Scituate hung on to beat rival Duxbury 34-21 on Friday night in another epic clash between the two, punching its ticket back to Gillette Stadium.
“It was an absolute battle. Duxbury played great tonight. They played physical and made plays,” said Scituate head coach Herb Devine.
Scituate junior running back Greyson Foley put the dagger into any hopes for Duxbury as he picked off the Dragons’ senior quarterback Brady Rhinesmith and then ran it in on 4th-&-2 from four-yards out with a minute left.
“Couldn’t have done it with everyone else. They locked me up pretty good. Everyone stepped up and it all lined up how it needed to be,” said Foley.
The Dragons fumbled the kickoff and Scituate kneeled out the clock to end the game.
“I think that was the biggest team win of the year. I don’t think you can’t name one person that didn’t contribute,” said Scituate sophomore receiver Tyler Stelljes.
Scituate opened the game with a scoring drive when Grayson Foley took it in from three-yards out to go up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
Duxbury responded with an opening drive of its own and senior running back Ian McNeil took it in from 16-yards out to even the score at seven late in the first.
After trading fruitless possessions, Duxbury blocked the Sailors punt and set up a Dragons score when senior wide receiver Cole Barberia ran it in from 13-yards out to take the lead back.
Scituate came out swinging on its next drive as senior quarterback Jonny Donovan hit sophomore receiver Tyler Stelljes for a 48-yard touchdown pass to tie the game back up.
“It was a great throw by Jonny and catch by Tyler, who dropped one earlier,” said Devine. “It was nice to see him come back and make some huge plays. Love to see a kid play the next play.”
Duxbury faked a punt and failed to convert. That set up another score on a double pass, as Donovan passed back to Stelljes and hit senior receiver Miller Shea for a 61-yard score to take the lead with just over a minute left in the half.
“I think once we got that play call I was gonna hack it up either way,” said Stelljes.
“The defense called it out” added Donovan.
Duxbury wouldn’t go down without a fight though, as Rhinesmith hit senior wide receiver Jack Carney for a 39-yard TD to end the half tied at 21 apiece.
Duxbury opened the half with a strong drive, converting a 3rd-&-18. On the next pla,y McNeil fumbled the ball and Foley recovered for the Sailors.
Both teams came up empty on their next possessions, but it didn’t take long for the Sailors to strike again as Donovan hit Stelljes for the second time. This was a 91-yard jolt to put Scituate back in the lead 28-21 heading to the fourth quarter.
“We saw them in man coverage and of course we were gone take a shot,” said Donovan.
“They were perfect balls back shoulder, hit me in stride and hit me in the right place,” added Stelljes.
Scituate (10-1) advances to Gillette to face Tewksbury. Duxbury falls to 7-4 and will host Hingham on Thanksgiving.
“I’m so proud of the team. We kept hanging around and we found a way to make enough plays to win the football game,” Devine added. “I can’t believe we’re going back to Gillette.
“I’m very excited.”
