by Kevin McCaskill Jr.
11/5/23 * 3:18 PM
(WEST SPRINGFIELD) - The West Springfield Terriers hosted North Attleborough HS last Friday for an MIAA Division 3 Playoff game. The Terriers were ranked 8th after going 7-0 in the regular season and winning the PVIAC Suburban South Division; North Attleborough was ranked 9th after finishing the season 3-5.
West Springfield won the toss and chose to kickoff. North Attleborough had the first possession but the West Side defense forced a fourth down and stopped North Attleborough.
West Side’s first offensive possession ended with a TD by WR/QB Johnny Gingeruha. He lined up @ QB, took the snap and powered through the middle for the score. Starting QB Nate Stone found WR Brandon Paquette in the endzone for the 2-pt conversion. The Terriers were up 8-0.
(Johnny Gingeruha scores 1st TD of the game)
North Attleborough responded with a lengthy drive into West Side territory. When they were in the redzone, RB Ryan Bannon got in the endzone on a run straight up the middle. Starting QB Chase Frisoli found Corey Rofino for the 2-pt conversion. The game was tied @ 8.
(Ryan Bannon scores for North Attleborough)
The West Side offense stalled and North Attleborough got the ball back. They started to call more runs for Frisoli. The West Side defenders were having a hard time stopping him. North Attleborough got into the redzone again. This time Frisoli cashed in for the TD with 37 seconds left in the half. The extra point kick was good.
(Chase Frisoli runs for TD to take the lead)
North Attleborough led 15-8 at halftime. They found success with the QB run and they utilized that advantage in the second half.
Both offenses stalled in the 3rd quarter; neither team scored a point. West Side was keeping the North Attleborough run game in check; the North Attleborough defense was defending the pass very well. Stone threw a pass that was intercepted by Francis Strachan.
(INT by Francis Strachan)
In the 4th quarter, the teams traded possessions with no scores. West Side finally broke the scoring drought with another run TD by Gingeruha. Once again, he took the snap @ QB and powered into the endzone. The Terriers were down 15-14. They decided to go for two. Stone was in @ QB. He threw a pass to Paquette that fell incomplete. The Terriers were down one but there was 2:39 left in the game.
(Gingeruha scores another TD)
(2-pt conversion no good)
On North Attleborough’s next possession, they attempted to run out the clock. Frisoli knelt twice. West Side took their last time timeout. Instead of kneeling again and punting, North Attleborough dialed up a QB Draw and Frisoli took it to the house for a 66 yard TD. The EP kick was good. They led 22-14.
West Side had 35 seconds left to try and tie the game with a TD and a 2-pt conversion. They made a couple plays down the field but Stone threw another INT that ended the game.
North Attleborough beat West Side 22-14.
After the game, North Attleborough HC Mike Strachan said,
“It’s been a grind for us. We had an up and down season. We fought through some adversity. We knew that West Springfield was a really good football team…we knew we had to play our best game”.
On Chase Frisoli:
“He is our leader. He is a Junior Captain. He has done a lot for us; he is dynamic like on that last run [66 yard TD]”.
North Attleborough moves on to play the #1 seed Milford on Friday @ Milford.