By Charlie Adams
NEFJ Correspondent
BOSTON – Crosstown rivals came to Boston for Wednesday’s second game.
Plymouth South took down Plymouth North in the 29th Battle of The Rock in overtime behind Timmy Durocher’s dual-threat ability under center, 27-21.
“Great players win you games,” Plymouth South head coach Darren Fruzzetti said. “I’ve got a whole sideline of them, so credit to them. They played their hearts out today.”
South started the game with a long drive, converting on fourth and four in the red zone with Durocher on the ground. He finished the drive, rolling out and delivering a six-yard touchdown pass to Max Cherry. Maxwell Arnold couldn’t connect on the PAT, leaving a 6-0 lead.
“Until now, I wouldn’t say I was a true dual threat,” Durocher said. “I made some passes today that you can chalk me down as a real dual threat.”
North punted on its first drive, but took possession back quickly after Oliver Enokian recovered a loose football for the Eagles, leaving a short field from the South 24-yard line.
Gio Lynch-Ruberio cashed in on the turnover, running in a 17-yard score on third down. The Eagles got out in front with Trey Thatcher’s extra point.
Arnold got back on track in the backfield, breaking off a 59-yard rush in the second quarter. His work went for nothing, as Chase Makris lost the football soon after. Liam Joyce came up with the recovery for North.
Lynch-Ruberio returned to the end zone with a receiving touchdown. Jake Turchinetz found him wide open for a 25-yard score to extend the lead.
The Panthers couldn’t pick up a score to finish the first half, but started strong in the third quarter. Methodically making it to the one-yard line, Durocher pushed across the score on the keeper.
On the two-point conversion, a pair of laterals led to Durocher picking up the reception as Arnold found him to tie the game.
Fourth quarter action started with South driving from midfield. Durocher again finished the drive with his feet on a 15-yard rush with a dive to the pylon.
It continued to be a two-man show, as North went back to Lynch-Ruberio on a 77-yard score. The Eagles had the final chance in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get a score across.
In overtime, Durocher scored from six yards out as South led off. Benjamin Frechette couldn’t hold on to the two-point conversion pass, leaving an opening for North.
“I left it all out on the field,” Durocher said. “Everything I had left in the tank from the last four years, I just had to let it all out on here. I think it showed in a really good way. That overtime, I knew I had some left, and I had to give it my all to be able to punch that ball in.”
A holding penalty pulled back another touchdown for Lynch-Ruberio on North’s first play in overtime. The 10-yard setback sunk the Eagles, with the fourth-down pass being broken up.
“I’m going to think about this moment for the rest of my life,” Durocher said. “Playing at Fenway Park, there’s no other feeling like this.”
With the win, South adds a seventh win to its season and reaches double-digit victories in the Thanksgiving rivalry.
“To be able to celebrate this with them in this venue, it’s so special,” Fruzzetti said. “For the whole town and the community, I’m just really proud of everybody.”
Both teams did Fenway justice, putting on a show with a thrilling game in front of well well-traveled Plymouth community.
“Coming out here and seeing it was a whole different feeling,” Durcoher said. “It was a lot more than I expected, but it’s a surreal experience to just be out here and be on the field with all these guys that I call my brothers.”