Post publication updates:
Melrose earns No. 11 seed in Div. 3 State Tournament and will play No. 6 Masconomet on the road in the Round of 16 on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 pm
Follow all the latest state tournament updates here.
Melrose falls to Stoneham 12-7 (Oct. 31)
Published October 31, 2025
Football win at Wilmington builds a case for playoffs
By CORY THOMAS
WILMINGTON—The Melrose High varsity football team faced a crucial test last Friday on the road against Wilmington and passed with aces in a decisive 21-14 win over a strong Wildcat team to improve to 5-2 on the year. Currently Power Ranked #11 in Div. 3, Melrose is well positioned for a Div. 3 playoff run, but will likely seal the deal if they beat Stoneham (5-2) this Friday evening when they host the Spartans at 7:00 p.m.
Stoneham, who is Power Ranked #7 in Div. 6, just escaped a close one with a 8-6 win over Wakefield last week.
Melrose battled a highly-ranked Wildcat (5-1, No. 5 in D6) team last Friday. This game had major implications in the Middlesex Freedom Division standings and in the jockeying for position in the upcoming state tournament. As the leaves turn color and the temperatures begin to dip, wins are vital to improve your chances in the state playoffs and Hall of Fame Melrose Head Coach Tim Morris has his team in Red & White playing solid complimentary football. Melrose used a balanced attack on offense and a stout defense to slow down the high-flying Wildcats, good for a 21-14 victory.
Melrose got the ball first and their offense started slow due to a penalty that negated a long run by Max Hoag. Undeterred, Melrose got the offense in gear thanks to a quick strike from quarterback Jack Feeney to fellow senior receiver Nick Vassallo for a big gain of 31 yards out to their own forty-eight yard line. Max Hoag followed that up with a twelve-yard rush to the Wilmington forty and Melrose was in business to the dismay of the large home crowd in Wilmington. Sophomore Max Hoag was not done and took the next handoff for another rush of twelve yards to the Wilmington twenty-eight. That was quickly followed by a pass from Feeney to Hoag, who carried the ball to the Wilmington one-yard line. A QB sneak into the end zone by Jack Feeney had Melrose on the board. Junior Nate Geer added the extra point kick and Melrose was ahead 7-0 in the first quarter.
Wilmington responded in the second quarter despite the defensive efforts from Melrose’s Jack Casey, Tyler Garipay and Nate Geer, who all had several tackles on Wilmington’s opening drive. The Wildcats were inside the Melrose five and Melrose’s defense was looking for a goal line stand. Ian McKeown had a big tackle for no gain on third and goal. Wilmington was able to punch it into the end zone on fourth and goal and a good point after attempt evened the score at 7-7 with 9:29 to go in the second quarter.
Melrose’s Cian Sullivan returned the ensuing kick off to the forty-yard line, setting Melrose up with good field position. A run by Hoag and a couple of Feeney rushes had Melrose in a fourth down situation and Feeney ran it for a first down to the Wilmington forty-six. Feeney followed that up with a run around the left end for twenty-five yards down to the Wilmington twenty-one and the Melrose offense was on the move again. But the drive stalled and Melrose could not convert a fourth down try deep in Wilmington’s side of the field, Wilmington ball at their own thirteen with 4:36 to go before halftime. Jack Casey led the defense with a big stop forcing Wilmington into a third and long situation. Wilmington’s pass fell incomplete and the Wildcats were forced to punt. A strong Melrose rush almost blocked the punt, but the punter got it away and the punt was caught by Tyler Garipay and returned to the Melrose forty-seven with 2:48 to go in the half. Feeney ran for a first down to the Wilmington forty-three. Max Lanciani ran for seven and CJ Cinella with a nice, five-yard run as Melrose was driving deep into Wilmington territory. Feeney ran for another first down and Max Hoag hoofed it for five yards down to the thirteen yard line with 0:30 seconds to go. Feeney rushed for another first down to the seven, twenty-four seconds to go in the second quarter. Feeney threw a ball right on the money to tight end Jack Casey in the back of the end zone for a huge Melrose touchdown just seconds before the half. Geer added another successful point after and Melrose took all the momentum into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
Wilmington started the third quarter from its own 24. Matthew Zarella had a nice tackle to limit a Wilmington gain. As the Wilmington drive made it to its forty-eight, Melrose’s Jack Casey made a big tackle for no gain followed by another strong tackle by Ian McKeown. As Wilmington was driving, Jack Casey had a big pass break up to set up a third and nine try for Wilmington. They were able to convert for the first down all the way down to the Melrose five, with 4:21 to go.
A 4th and goal touchdown by Wilmington made it a 14-14 game. On the ensuing kick off, Cian Sullivan broke off a long kick return to the Wilmington fifteen as Melrose regained the field position and momentum. Feeney had a first down run to the one and then topped it off for the touchdown run to make it 21-14, following a good PAT from Geer with 1:28 left in the third quarter.
Wilmington got the ball on its own twenty and tried to mount a drive. On the third down, Melrose got a nice pass break up by senior Brayden Pesce to force the Wilmington punt. Now in the fourth quarter with 11:42 left in the game, Melrose took over on offense. Max Lanciani ran to the forty-eight after an eight yard rush, followed by a first down run for Feeney to the Wilmington forty-four. Melrose had 3rd & long and they set up a well-called screen pass to Hoag who ran it for a first down gain of eighteen. Melrose had the ball at the thirty-three of Wilmington 7:41 left in game. A Feeney pass to Matty Beshel got them down to the thirteen on Wilmington, but the drive stalled and Melrose would attempt a field goal that just missed and Wilmington took over at their own thirteen with 4:15 to go in game. The Wildcats marched quickly to their own forty-four, when Jack Casey had a big tackle to slow Wilmington down. Ian Mckeown also had a tackle for a loss and on third down Wilmington converted to the fifty.
As Wilmington was driving to try and tie the score, Melrose got a big break up by Tyler Garipay on third down and then on 4th down the Wilmington pass was picked off by Melrose’s Nate Geer to seal the important road victory for Melrose.
With the win, Melrose now has made a big statement that they are ready for playoffs. And a victory over the Spartans this Friday evening, Halloween, will seal the deal. Game time at home starts at 7:00 p.m.
Melrose hopes to spook Spartans tonight at home finale