
The Westborough Rangers run onto the field to open the season. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
WESTBOROUGH – It was Friday the 13th – and the Devils reigned supreme.
In a week-one matchup at Joseph R. Mewhiney Field, the Westborough Rangers – fresh off a 2023 campaign that included a Mid-Wach-B title and the program’s first playoff berth since 2017 – competed against the Burlington Red Devils. In a penalty-filled game that was closer than the final score indicates, the Rangers lost 27-14 and dropped to 0-1 on the season.
“We have a lot of guys playing varsity football for the first time. Although you try to tell them it’s nothing different, it’s a little bit different with the Friday night lights, and it’s 7 p.m. at night. I thought we had some jitters in the first half, but I thought the kids did a good job of gathering themselves and keeping themselves composed,” said Westborough Head Coach Joe Beveridge. “At the end of the day, there were too many penalties to overcome. Too many minor mistakes.”

Thomas Cashman runs through a defender en route to the first-down marker. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
After allowing a touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in the second quarter, Westborough went into halftime down 14-0. Yet, the Rangers emerged re-energized after trotting back onto the field; in the 27 seconds after intermission, Westborough’s offense moved roughly 50 yards down the field in a drive that culminated with a leaping touchdown grab from wideout Brady Chapman.
Chapman’s score made the game 14-7, and after stopping Burlington’s offense, Westborough had the opportunity to get even. That drive, however, would end with an interception, and the Red Devils scored once more to take a two-score lead with 9:29 remaining in the game. In postgame remarks, Beveridge said his team got “behind the chains” too frequently, leading to several third-and-long scenarios that halted any offensive production. Fumbles and penalties were also a problem.

Four Westborough defenders charge toward a Burlington player. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
“We poll the kids every year on the traits they wanted to be identified by. The team chose to be identified as a family that’s disciplined and physically and mentally tough. At the end of the day, I asked them if they lived up to the standards that they wanted to be held by, and they said, ‘No.’ At the end of the day, the family’s united, but we have a lot to work on,” he said.
Though they trailed 21-7 with five minutes remaining, the Rangers kept fighting. Westborough quarterback Andrew Pisciotta scampered into the end zone with 3:14 remaining to bring his team within seven points. After a failed onside kick, the Rangers got the ball back with 35 seconds, needing to drive approximately 70 yards for the chance to tie. A pick-six made the game 27-14.
Westborough will host Sharon High School next Friday at 6:30 p.m. before hitting the road to face Tyngsborough on Sept. 27.