By Dante Iafrate
NEFJ Correspondent
TEWKSBURY – For the first time since 2021, Tewksbury finally took down rival Billerica on Friday night.
The Redmen didn’t just win, they made a statement.
Behind a monster performance from running back Emeka Olu – who scored three touchdowns – Tewksbury rolled to a dominant 35-0 victory.
The Redmen improved to 5-0 (4-0 in league play) and handed Billerica (3-2) its second loss of the season.
“We attacked the week,” Olu said after the game. “Monday, we grinded. Last year, they killed us, but we came in with heart and confidence this time. That’s all we talked about, having heart.”
Right from the opening kickoff, the Redmen set the tone. Quarterback Will Harrison marched his team downfield with short passes and QB runs before hitting Johnny Sullivan for a 14-yard touchdown strike midway through the first quarter. The PAT was blocked, but the early score gave Tewksbury all the momentum needed.
A fumble recovery on Billerica’s opening drive only fueled that energy.
Two drives later, Olu bullied his way into the end zone from a yard out, and Sullivan added a two-point conversion to make it 14-0.
Olu, a senior, was patient yet powerful all night, turning small gaps into explosive plays. His second touchdown came late in the second quarter, a seven-yard run that capped off another relentless drive. By halftime, the Redmen led 21-0, and Billerica’s offense had no answers.
Head coach Brian Aylward credited the team’s preparation and mental toughness for the turnaround.
“Those second-down stops, keeping them behind the sticks…even if it’s just a yard, those are wins,” he said. “You can’t simulate that kind of energy, but these kids have been through tough losses.
“They’ve lived it, and now they’re learning how to win from it. They’ve worked hard. They deserve it.”
The dominance continued in the second half. Harrison found Sullivan again for a big 29-yard gain to set up Olu’s third score, a 33-yard sprint that put the game completely out of reach. Moments later, Nicky Desisto ripped off a 51-yard touchdown run to make it 35-0, triggering the MIAA’s running clock rule for the rest of the fourth quarter.
“My coach always talks about body language. Last year, I’d get down on myself after mistakes, but he pushed me to keep my head up,” Old said. “We worked drills all summer, picking my feet up, running through guys and I just trusted the work.”
Tewksbury looked every bit the contender they’ve been projected to be while hammering a rival and this one felt a little extra special.
“It’s been a while since we beat them,” Olu added while smiling. “But, we earned this one.”
