Jason Douglas (Class II)
From left to right: Braylen Jenkins (Class II), Nate Pichardo (Class II), Will Owens (Class III), Carson Hayden (Class II) before Friday's game
In the final game of Friday Night Lights (FNL), Nobles Varsity Football lost in a hard-fought match against Rivers (17–13).
Following last year’s game against Rivers, which was one of Varsity Football’s two losses all season, FNL brought an exciting chance for revenge.
Captain Mac Bianchi (Class I) said, “We’re super excited to get out and play in front of a big crowd, but we’re not going to let that affect our game plan at all or let the lights get too bright.”
Bianchi and fellow captain Ryan Murphy (Class I) mentioned before the game that Rivers’ strengths were at running back and quarterback. Just three minutes into the game, this proved to be true with Rivers ripping off a long run and then a shorter touchdown run from their small, elusive running back Jalen Morris.
“We trust in our coach’s game plan to stop their key players, and we’ve been working all week on reading keys,” Murphy said.
The Nobles defense was able to contain the run and tackle well following the first drive.
The Dawgs’ offense then settled in on their second drive, marching down the field with a strong running game. Jonah Bazinet (Class III) punched in the short touchdown to tie the score at 7-7, getting the student section hyped up.
Head Coach Jim O’Leary employed a run-heavy offense throughout the game, often setting up in the unusual formation of three backs lined up behind the quarterback. The team also frequently switched between quarterbacks (QB) Naeem Logan (Class II) and Shane Barry (Class II), catching the defense off guard with different looks.
After stops by both sides, Nobles broke it open midway through the second quarter with a deep touchdown pass from Logan to Nate Pichardo (Class II). Pichardo had an electric game on both sides of the ball, getting his first of two interceptions on the next drive in the red zone. The clock soon expired on the first half, and the Dawgs carried a 13-7 lead into the locker room.
Following the halftime Braveheart run, Pichardo jumped up high at the start of the second half to secure a highlight reel interception. However, Nobles got stopped on fourth down in their own territory, giving Rivers an advantageous field position. The Redwings scored on a short QB sneak by Carl Monks, followed by a successful fake point after touchdown (PAT) attempt to make it a 15-13 game with Rivers ahead.
After Rivers’ impressive response, the game was a defensive battle. Staying in the game has been a hallmark of this year’s team under O’Leary, as they had tight comeback wins in their first two games against Middlesex and Governor’s.
“We didn’t get too low in both games that we were down,” Bianchi said. “We just stuck with our game plan and dialed it back in.”
The Bulldog defense continued to battle and stepped up on the goal-line with huge third and fourth-down stops.
With under two minutes left in regulation, the Nobles offense found itself inside its own 10-yard line. Unfortunately, they were not able to get a big drive going, and an intentional grounding from the end zone led to a safety, securing the 17-13 win for Rivers.
Although the ending was disappointing, the Dawgs played a very strong game against a tough opponent and made for an exciting conclusion to a great night of sports. They will look to get back on track next Friday, October 10th, in a night game at Berkshire School, and against Brooks at home on Saturday, October 18th.