Vikings Football Fall Just Short to Medway, 10-8

The Winthrop High football team held a high-scoring Medway team to a single touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as the Vikings fell to the Mustangs, 10-8, last Friday night in Medway.

Medway (2-1), one of the stronger teams in the division, had averaged 31 points per game in its two previous encounters against Holliston and Medfield.

When Winthrop senior Anthony Indrisano rushed for a 15-yard touchdown and junior quarterback Robert Noonan scored on a two-point conversion, the Vikings took an 8-7 lead into halftime and a victory in a defensive battle appeared to be well within their grasp.

After a terrific goal-line stand at the 1-yard line by the Winthrop defense with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Medway elected to go for the field goal and the Mustangs were successful, taking a 10-8 lead.

Winthrop had scoring opportunities throughout the game, but as head coach Jon Cadigan said candidly afterwards, “We just didn’t get it done offensively.”

Cadigan said the Vikings’ offense was also hampered by penalties in the second half. “We were just pretty sloppy offensively, which was disappointing because I think we had a chance, especially getting the ball to start the second half with a lead (8-7) and a lot of momentum to create a little separation between us and Medway,” said Cadigan.

The coach was pleased with how his defense contained Medway running back Matt Childs, who is regarded as one of the better players on the South Shore.

“I felt good about holding him in check all game,” said Cadigan. “It’s a testament to the defense that when it was an 8-7 game and Medfield had a fourth-down on our 1-yard line after we had just stopped them three times at the 1, they elected to kick a field goal.”

Jurovich Earns Top Defensive Player Award

Winthrop senior lineman Pete Jurovich earned the Vikings’ Black Shirt defensive player of the game award for his stellar performance against Medway.

Seniors Ian Harris, Mikey Chaves, and Joe Hayes and sophomore Ryan Harris also played well on defense for the Vikings, according to Coach Cadigan. “We played well enough to win defensively,” said Cadigan.

Martin was Vikes’ Leading Rusher

Senior running back Cam Martin was the Vikings’ leading rusher with 10 carries for 46 yards. Junior Welvis Acosta had nine carries for 39 yards. Anthony Indrisano, who started at fullback in place of talented sophomore Evan Rockefeller (who was out with an injury) had four carries for 26 yards and one touchdown.

“Anthony’s touchdown run was pretty good,” said Cadigan. “He found a little bit of crease, got hit by a Medway player, and kind of carried a guy into the end zone.”

Another Difficult Test Versus Danvers High

After playing two of the tougher opponents (Stoneham and Medway sandwiched around a 23-21 victory over Austin Prep) in the division, the Vikings will now face one of the strongest teams in the Northeastern Conference when they travel to Dr. Deering Stadium to face upstart Danvers. The Falcons are 2-1 with a wins over Tewksbury (35-14) and Haverhill (28-0). Danvers lost to powerful Reading, 14-10, in its last game.

“This game is a great challenge,” said Cadigan. “Coach [Ryan] Nolan does a great job up there in Danvers. I’m excited. The last two seasons, we lost by a point both years. I expect another one of those tight-knit games. They’ve beaten some pretty good teams, so we’re excited for the challenge. It should be a good game.”

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