One year ago, Stoneham High School eliminated Winthrop High School from the 2025 MIAA football playoffs.
But junior running back Dom Farrell and the 2026 Vikings were not about to let the host Spartans end their post-season hopes a second time.
Farrell scored on two long touchdown runs as Winthrop defeated its perennial ball-controlling nemesis from Stoneham, 22-6, in the MIAA Round of 16 last Thursday on the Spartans’ home field.
Farrell, coming off a 3-TD performance versus Salem in the regular season finale, bolted through a gap in the line to score on an 83-yard run on the Vikings’ first play of scrimmage. He later upstaged his own mega-effort with a 96-yard touchdown, using his prime-time speed to outrun the Stoneham secondary to the end zone.
Farrell’s heroics exemplified the Vikings’ edge on both sides of the ball as Winthrop seemed to be in the right spot on defense while holding a run-heavy Stoneham team and its fine back, Dan Staffieri, to a single touchdown. Senior Desmond Cassidy was immense with 16 tackles, nearly sending teammate Dom Spinale to paydirt on a scoop-and-score after forcing a fumble by the Stoneham quarterback.
“It starts on the defensive end, especially with how we played against those guys last year (a 30-20 loss),” said Winthrop head coach Jon Cadigan. “We obviously focused on our defense and we played very well. Offensively, we very explosive and executed what we needed to execute. Dom is a 4.5 (40) kid speed-wise, so when you get him in the open field and you get him on the edge, you’re not going to catch him. He’s an explosive talent on offense.
Words from the No. 1 Star
Dom Farrell said of his performance which reminded some longtime fans of the Chucky Sullivan-Steve Staffier exploits during The Streak and of Anthony Palmer in the early 1990s:
“Honestly, it’s all O-Line and the running backs helping me out with big holes and letting me do my thing – that’s Nate Previte, Stephen Barron. We’re in a hammer look, so it’s a tight end and a wing and they did their job, so I was able to get outside.”
Asked about his Chris Cappuccio-type speed, Farrel credited Winthrop strength coaches Wes Page and Paul Smith.
“I give thanks to Coach Wes and Coach Smith for preseason work in the lab, doing what we have to do make us all faster and better,” said Farrell, who also had another strong effort as the Vikings’ punter.
On beating Stoneham, he added, “It’s amazing. Last year was a rough one. This was a revenge game, and it meant something to all of us.”
Ferrara to Previte play was special
On other nights, the 56-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charlie Ferrara to Nate Previte would get top billing.
Ferrara put the football where only Previte could get it, and after absorbing a hit, Previte kept his feet and then raced to the end zone for six points.
“We had just stopped Stoneham, and I felt like we had momentum and it was a good opportunity for us to go for it right there before the half,” said Cadigan. “Charlie made an excellent throw, Nate made a great catch, and Dom Spinale got just enough of the safety to block him after Nate bounced off a defender. It was a good call by Alex Smith, our offensive coordinator.”
