Update post publication:
Melrose defeats Watertown 42-8 on Senior Night (Oct. 20)
Published October 20, 2023
Offense coming up empty in last two starts
By JENNIFER GENTILE
THE MELROSE High football team suffered a loss to Burlington but the league title remains a toss up and Melrose, like many ML Freedom teams, remains 4-2. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)
MELROSE—The Melrose High football team has dropped two in a row after falling to Burlington at home last week at Fred Green Field by a score of 26-7, but they remain a strong 4-2 on the season as they host Watertown this evening.
Battling with some injuries, Melrose has only scored 19 points in their last two games against Winchester and Burlington, whose 27 points represents the biggest offensive numbers scored against Melrose this season. However, much of that came from the standout play of Burlington’s Joe Poland, who scored nearly all of the Red Devil’s 282 rushing yards.
Melrose took a quick lead against Burlington (4-2) with their first touchdown coming off a Ben Cassavoy 44-yard touchdown run. Max Lanciani caught a beautiful pass from Melrose quarterback Connor Brophy, but Red Devil defense would thwart a scoring opportunity on that drive. Burlington would expand on their 12-7 lead with two Joe Poland touchdowns and Melrose’s best efforts late in the game came on Jack Feeney passes to Nick Hitchman but Burlington red zone defense stymied Melrose’s best chances of end zone action.
The Red Devils (4-2, 2-1) came in as advertised, having also previously beaten reigning Super Bowl champ Wakefield this season, 21-0, a reflection of the brevity of the ML Freedom League where many teams are 4-2 and 2-1 in league play. More will be determined whether Melrose will thrive in a postseason with key games coming up against Watertown (1-5) and Wilmington (4-2) in the next two weeks. And of course, the Thanksgiving game against Wakefield.
While the Middlesex Freedom League looks assured as a toss up, the MIAA Power Rankings are ruthless and both Melrose and the Warriors face standings of #18 and #19, with just the top 16 moving on to playoffs at the end of the season. That means every game counts and Melrose will look to get quickly back in the win column when Watertown (1-5) comes to town tonight for a 7:00 p.m. tilt. Stay tuned.