Published October 17, 2025
Burlington edges Melrose football in Freedom clash
Red Devils prevail 28-21; Melrose hosts Watertown this week
By CORY THOMAS
MELROSE—It was a battle for league bragging rights for the Melrose High boy’s football team, who began their ML Freedom League schedule against undefeated Burlington (4-0) on Friday, October 10 at home at Fred Green Memorial Field and suffered their second loss of the season, 28-21, to remain 3-2. Melrose will host Watertown tonight.
The stakes were high in this division match-up as both teams were looking to secure for top spot at the mid-point of the season. Burlington was able to leave Melrose with their unbeaten season intact thanks to their win.
Burlington started the game on offense, and Melrose defense made the first big play of the game as Parker Siebel recovered a Burlington fumble and Melrose was in business at its own 44-yard line. Siebel and quarterback Jack Feeney carried the ball for runs of four yards apiece, but the drive stalled and Melrose had to punt. Tyler Garipay had a good punt down near the Burlington end zone that CJ Cinella was able to down before the ball went into the end zone for a touchback. Burlington was pinned deep at their own one-yard line. But Melrose was unable to contain Burlington running back Ryan Brooks, who broke through the line and took off on a long 94-yard touchdown run that stunned the partisan Melrose crowd as Burlington took an early 6-0 lead early in the second quarter after a scoreless first quarter.
Melrose started their next drive at their own twenty-five-yard line after Max Lanciani returned the Burlington kick off. Nolan Clark ran for sixteen yards for a Melrose first down to get their drive started but they couldn’t sustain a scoring drive and Garipay had to punt again. Burlington took over inside its own twenty, but quickly flipped the field with a long run out of their wishbone formation that took the ball deep into Melrose territory at the Melrose twenty-six-yard line. From there, Burlington’s dynamic runner Ryan Brooks scored for the second time in the first half to make the score 12-0 after another failed conversion attempt as the game neared halftime.
Melrose took the Burlington kickoff at its own twenty-yard line with 2:30 to go in the second quarter. Max Lanciani started their drive with a run for six yards, followed by a nice pass and catch from Jack Feeney to senior receiver Nick Vassalo, followed by another pass and catch from Feeney to senior receiver Tyler Garipay into Burlington territory as Melrose had their first sustained drive of the night. Feeney ran it for a first down and a gain of twelve to the Burlington thirty-two with 1:27 to go in the second. A Burlington penalty for roughing the passer moved the ball to the Burlington ten-yard line as Melrose was threatening to score right before the half. On fourth down from the ten, Jack Feeney rolled out and found Matthew Beshel for the touchdown catch. Junior Nate Geer added a successful PAT and Melrose trailed 12-7 with 0:28 left in the first half. Burlington’s dangerous offense had the ball with a few seconds remaining in the second quarter, but a Jack Casey interception would close out the half with Burlington leading 12-7.
Melrose received the kickoff to start the second half and Melrose got right to work as Feeney hit Nick Vassalo for a big forty-six yard completion and run to the Burlington thirty-four. From there, Jack Feeney would call his own number as the fleet footed QB ran the ball up the middle and in for a thirty-yard touchdown run to put Melrose ahead. After Nate Geer’s second successful point after kick, Melrose now held a 14-12 lead over Burlington with 8:22 to go in the third quarter. Burlington’s next drive saw them marching into Melrose territory, but they were slowed down by a nice tackle for a loss by Ian McKeown. But the Burlington drive continued deep into Melrose territory until Ryan Brooks ran it in from the seven-yard line for his third touchdown of the night, as the third quarter came to an end with Burlington leading 20-14.
In the fourth quarter, Melrose was driving behind runs from Feeney and Max Hoag. But the drive stalled and Melrose had to go for it on fourth down. Melrose was unable to convert as Burlington came up with a key safety blitz to sack Feeney as he looked to pass. Melrose needed a stop on defense and Jack Casey came up big with a tackle for a loss. But that was quickly followed with another touchdown run for Ryan Brooks from Burlington to increase their lead to 28-14 halfway through the fourth quarter.
A strong Burlington defense and the clock were now working against the Melrose offense, but Feeney and Melrose would continue to battle hard trying to narrow the score. Starting at their own 20, Feeney hit Vassalo for a fourteen-yard gain and then an eight-yard completion to Matty Beshel and the Melrose offense was driving. A Feeney run for fifteen to the Burlington forty-five yard line, then another completion to Beshel continued the drive. Feeney and Vassalo connected again for a first down pass and catch to the Burlington twenty-eight-yard line. An apparent touchdown run by Max Hoag was negated by a Melrose penalty. Now backed up, Feeney tried to find an open man but instead the ball found Burlington’s Ryan Brooks who was all over the field all game long, as Burlington stopped the Melrose drive and took over on offense with 5 minutes to go in the game and Melrose trailing 28-14. Melrose’s defense held Burlington and forced a punt as Melrose got the ball at the Burlington forty-seven yard line. Melrose wasted no time as Jack Feeney hit Nick Vassalo on a 47-yard completion for the touchdown and good PAT by Geer narrowed the score to 28-21.
Melrose attempted an onside kick and after a few tense moments, where it looked like Melrose may have recovered the attempt, the officials ruled that Burlington maintained possession and the Red Devils were able to run out the clock and secure the 28-21 victory over Melrose in an exciting game that saw no quit in either team.
Melrose falls to 3-2 and will look to rebound as they host Watertown on Friday, October 17 on Senior Night.