(Photo /Dakota Antelman)
Region – This year’s Fall II high school sports season, anticipated with curiosity and some apprehension, kicked off last week at long last.
Teams started play in pods, sequestered from familiar opponents and, in some cases instead, traveled long distances for debut games.
Some teams got off on the right foot. Others stumbled. Still others entered into midseason form, battling to razor thin margins of victory or defeat.
GRAFTON
Volleyball – March 17
GRAFTON – 3, BARTLETT – 0
Volleyball – March 18
GRAFTON – 3, BARTLETT – 2
Their second game in as many days, Bartlett seized momentum early against Grafton, winning this matchup’s first set. Grafton came back, though, winning sets two and three. Bartlett hung on with a victory in set four to force a fifth set. At that point, though, Grafton ran away with the victory.
“Nothing given. Always Earned,” Grafton Athletic Director Kevin Anderson Tweeted after the result.
#GoGraftonGo Volleyball Grabs Hard-Fought Battle With @bartlett_sports! Nothing Given. Always Earned. pic.twitter.com/3nQB5zEyQC
— Grafton Athletics (@GraftonAD) March 18, 2021
Football – March 19
GRAFTON – 8, NASHOBA – 13
ALGONQUIN
Volleyball – March 16
ALGONQUIN – 3, SHEPHERD HILL – 1
Volleyball – March 18
ALGONQUIN – 3, SHEPHERD HILL – 1
Football – March 19
ALGONQUIN – 20, DOHERTY – 33
On the road against Doherty, Algonquin initially overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit to take a 20-14 lead at the end of the third quarter. An explosive performance in this game’s final frame, though, gave Doherty the win.
SHREWSBURY
Volleyball – March 16
SHREWSBURY – 3, NASHOBA – 1
Volleyball – March 18
SHREWSBURY – 3, NASHOBA – 1
Seeking to avoid a sweep at the hands of Shrewsbury High, Nashoba salvaged a victory in set two of its second recent game with the Colonials following a set one Shrewsbury win. Shrewsbury quickly overcame, though, winning sets three and four to dispatch Nashoba.
Football – March 19
SHREWSBURY – 14, WACHUSETT – 19
WESTBOROUGH
Volleyball – March 16
WESTBOROUGH – 3, MARLBOROUGH – 0
Volleyball – March 18
WESTBOROUGH – 3, MARLBOROUGH – 0
Football – March 19
WESTBOROUGH – 7, TANTASQUA – 21,
Traveling roughly 35 miles south to Fiskdale, the Westborough Rangers football team had one of the longest road trips of the week in the region. Despite a fourth quarter touchdown and comeback effort, the team lost to the Tantasqua Warriors.
