6th, 7th Grade Flyers Remain Undefeated; 8th Grade Falls to 2-2

For the first time this year, Flyer football was under the lights. Fans were treated to three great games between two longtime rivals: Framingham and Walpole. The 6th and 7th grade teams remained undefeated with victories while the 8th grade team, decimated by injuries, gave Walpole all they could handle but ultimately fell to 2-2 on the season.

The 6th grade team defeated Walpole by a final score of 32-18. The Flyers set the tone early in the first quarter with Shane Ayotte breaking off an 85 yard touchdown run to make the score 6-0. The Walpole offense was stifled by the Flyer defensive front as a unit. The stonewalling defense caused the Rebels to turn the ball over on downs on their own 33 yard line which led to Jonathan Beverly throwing a 13 yard touchdown pass to make the score 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Walpole opened the second quarter with good ball movement despite the sudden oncoming of Christian Moldenado who wreaked havoc on the Rebel offense. A misdirection run play set the Rebels up on the 35 yard line and they complete a 35 yard pass to cut the Flyers’ lead in half. Ayotte would bust loose for another huge run, this time for 87 yards. After the extra point, Framingham led 20-6. The Flyers would later receive the ball on downs with three minutes left in the half, but the Walpole defense came up with a 55 yard interception return to make the score 20-12 at the half.

The Flyers opened the second half with Beverly completing a pass to Andrew Keane but Walpole recovered a botched snap at midfield. The Flyer defense would rally and force the Rebels to turn the ball over on downs once again. On 3rd down and 18 yards to go, Beverly completed a pass to Tramiris Anthony for 53 yards to the 1 yard line. Not wasting the opportunity, the offense pounded the ball in to extend their lead to 26-12 with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Walpole would not quit, however, as they crept back into the game with a late fourth quarter score to pull within eight points of the lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Framingham would receive the ball and marched downfield, highlighted by a play action pass completed from Beverly to Moldenado on 4th down to bring the Flyers to the Walpole 20 yard line. Ayotte would do the honors once again to seal the victory for the Flyers, 32-18.

The B team’s electrifying offense propelled the Flyers to a 40-6 win over the hosting Rebels. Walpole scored on the very first possession of the game, but Evan Sleight hooked up with David Reyes and later Benjamin Burgess for a touchdown to make the score 8-6 after one quarter of play.

While the first quarter implied that the game would be down to the wire, the flyers started to pull ahead in the 2nd quarter. The defense caused Walpole to turn the ball over on downs which led to a Derek Spindler rush touchdown to make the score 14-6. Sleight would recover a fumble off a strip to give the Flyers the ball once again. Hard running from Khalid Alford set up a 10 yard touchdown pass from Sleight to Reyes and at the half, the Flyers led the rebels 20-6.

The Flyers opened the third quarter threatening once again, but a fumble in the end zone led to a Walpole touchback. Once again the defense would cause Walpole to lose the ball on downs and this time Sleight would score with his legs on a 52 yard touchdown to make the score 26-6. The Flyers didn’t have to wait for the next offensive possession to score as Mitchell Tor scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 34-6.

The defense would strike once more in the fourth quarter as Bobby Manion intercepted a Walpole pass. Matthew Noah capitalized on the opportunity with a 60 yard run to the 5 yard line. After a 15 yard penalty, Noah would punch the ball in from 20 yards out to cap the scoring for the day. Thomas Clark sealed the game for the Flyers with a fumble recovery. Final score 40-6 Framingham.

Unfortunately, the 8th grade Flyers dropped their game against Walpole 32-0. Plagued by injuries, the Flyers were missing several players. Walpole would complete their scoring in the first half only, scoring once on a pass, twice on runs, and once on an interception return touchdown. The Flyers appeared to get something going on offense in the second quarter as quarterback Nick Paget completed passed to Dedrick Meuse and Jake Brockway, but the drive stalled out and Walpole would score their final touchdown despite Robert Billsten’s impressive tackle in the Walpole backfield.

In the entire second half, the Flyers did not allow a touchdown but could not score to catch up with the Rebels. However, note that the boys played tough against the face of adversity, as many players stepped up to fill the roles of injured players.

Next week, the Flyers are once again on the road. The 6th and 7th grade teams will stake their undefeated records against Wayland while the 8th grade team will look to get back on track. Make sure to come out and support the boys!

Go Flyers!