WALPOLE – Grafton’s playoff run has ended in a familiar fashion.
The third-ranked Grafton football team traveled on Saturday to Walpole High School to face the second-seeded Scituate Sailors in the MIAA Division 4 semifinals. Though Grafton entered with high hopes, the game – a rematch of last year’s semifinal in which Scituate defeated the Gators 20-10 – didn’t quite go the team’s way.
History repeated itself for Grafton, and the team fell to Scituate 14-3.
“I’m very proud of this team and the effort they put forth – they did everything we asked throughout the course of the season and the offseason. Hats off to Scituate – very good team, very well-coached, they play hard, they’re physical, they’re tough,” Grafton Head Coach Chris McMahon told the Community Advocate. “In the end, Scituate made some more plays, and that was the difference in the game.”
Miscues hurt the Gators early. After a 10-minute opening drive, Grafton fumbled inside the red zone. With the game still scoreless, an interception gave Scituate excellent field position, and William Robinson’s 3-yard rushing touchdown gave the Sailors a 7-0 lead.
A Grafton field goal before halftime made it 7-3, but the Sailors effectively limited the Gators’ running attack, and Grafton couldn’t muster any more points during the game. Grayson Foley’s 1-yard touchdown made the score 14-3 Scituate, effectively icing the contest with 3:02 remaining.
After the tough loss, McMahon voiced appreciation for his seniors.
“They meant everything to this program. These guys have been with us for five years, since they were eighth-graders. We’ve been waiting for this team to come through … I’m really proud of them, and they’re all going to go on and do great things,” he said.
