Melrose falls, 7-3, in 63rd Annual Thanksgiving game
By JENNIFER GENTILE
WAKEFIELD — It was a game that lived up to expectations on Thursday, Nov. 21 when Melrose and Wakefield suited up for the 63rd Annual Thanksgiving game at Landrigan Field in Wakefield, the 113th meeting between the two teams in a rivalry that dates back to 1901.
It was expected to be a tight game against two defensive minded teams and while predictions didn’t disappoint, the score did and Melrose lost the trophy for the third straight year to an upstart Warrior team by a score of 7-3.
It came down to the final play of the game: a 4th-and-goal situation on the Wakefield 5-yard line, with Melrose forced to attempt a touchdown win (down four) with 24 seconds left in the game. Melrose QB Connor Brophy tried to connect with receiver Ben Cassavoy but was picked off in the end zone by Wakefield’s Myles Sanchez to win the contest. Melrose had started their last drive with 1:49 left on the clock.
Melrose finishes a strong 2023 season campaign at 7-4. Melrose coach Tim Morris sits at 199 wins and must wait until Sept. 2024 to earn a 200-career win milestone. Melrose leads the overall series, 62-44-7.
After the game coach Morris acknowledged that red-zone stalls, and turnovers, caught up to Melrose. “We know Wakefield would be tough on defense. Our defense was tough too and we did move the ball well but I think the turnovers were the story of the game.”
It was Wakefield defense that was the starring role and they did what no other team had against Melrose in 2023 and that was limiting the team to just three points, and stuffing an otherwise excellent Connor Brophy, Melrose’s fleet-footed quarterback. Wakefield defense forced three turnovers and held Melrose scoreless in every drive but their first one, when Melrose scored a field goal right away, courtesy of Brophy. In that possession, Melrose returned the ball to the Wakefield 40-yard line to start the drive, but an excellent defensive stand at the 5-yard line by the Warriors forced a field goal and essentially set the tone for the morning.
Wakefield missed their first attempt on a field goal but soon after scored on a Steven Woish 3-yard touchdown with four minutes left in the second quarter. The teams went into halftime with a 7-3 score in Wakefield’s favor and the defensive units gnashed at each other in the second half. Melrose’s next best chance of scoring came off an impressive break out run from junior Nick Hitchman into Wakefield territory, followed by his pass from Brophy for a 25-yard gain that put Melrose on the 18 yard line. Warrior defense gave Brophy little to throw at and the drive stalled after a 4th and 9 play.
Melrose got the ball back with five minutes left in the game on its own 31-yard line. A 13-yard run from Max Lanciani and 10-yard run for Hitchman brought Melrose to the Wakefield 22-yard line. Brophy then connected with junior Marco Albanese for 12 yards, setting up 1st-and-goal for Melrose with 1:49 left in the game.
But Wakefield defense clamped down on Melrose, despite a 3-yard run from Brophy and a 4-yard run from senior captain Ben Cassavoy to put Melrose on the 4-yard line on third down. Marco Albanese was tripped up by Myles Sanchez (111 yds, 28 carries), lost a yard, and Melrose launched the final play of the game that resulted in the end zone pickoff.
Disappointing for Melrose, and their 13 seniors, but a respectable showing for both teams. Had Melrose won, they would have a slice of the Freedom League title along with Stoneham. A lot of that had to do with some of Melrose’s senior starters.
Says Morris, “Connor [Brophy] was great for us all year and he has tons of potential to take his game to the next level whether its football or basketball. And Ben, our senior captain, he was a great leader and held the fort as our main blocker.”
No doubt that losing Nico Ciulli and Sam Madden early in the season injury hurt Melrose overall. “Nico did a lot of work for us and so did Sam,” reflects Morris. “Losing them made us change things up.”
There remains a sense of optimism as Melrose returns many playmakers next season, including Marco Albanese, Nick Hitchman, Sam Madden, Keegan Moloney, Tyler Garipay, Max Lanciani and quarterback Jack Feeney, among others.
“We usually play a senior heavy team and this season we utilized a lot of underclassmen by necessity. And they really stepped up for us,” says Morris.
No doubt this group will be the foundation of a team who should be perhaps even stronger in 2024 in an always-unpredictable Middlesex Freedom League.
“The Freedom League is always tough, and next year I expect more of the same,” says Morris. “You just look programs like Stoneham and Wakefield who are good every year. Burlington is back. Wilmington was young but made playoffs. The league will have some parity for sure.”
This was Wakefield’s 43rd win overall in the history of the rivalry in the 113th meeting between the two. They finish their season 8-3 yet did not see a spot in playoffs, similar to Melrose. That probably won’t be the case in 2024.
Melrose says goodbye to seniors Paul Nault, Connor Brophy, Kyle Homberg, capt. Nico Chiulli, Kimani Reid, capt. Ben Cassavoy, Sam Noel, Will Ryan, Jake Skane, Andrew Marciano, Marley Hamilton, Paul Squatrito and Nick Bjork.
Box Score
Wakefield vs. Melrose Box Score
1st 2nd 3rd 4th T
Melrose 3 0 0 0 3
Wakefield 0 7 0 0 7
1st Quarter
Melrose — Connor Brophy 30-yard field goal
2nd Quarter
Wakefield — Steven Woish 3-yard run (Mark Letchford PAT)
Wakefield Rushing
Myles Sanchez — 29 carries, 116 yards
Steven Woish — 7 carries, 28 yards, 1TD
Jaden Fullerton — 7 carries, 19 yards
Matt Beaver — 3 carries, 8 yards
Wakefield Passing
Matt Beaver — 3-for-8, 10 yards
Wakefield Receiving
Declan O’Callahan — 1 catch, 8 yards
Steven Woish — 1 catch, 5 yards
Myles Sanchez — 1 catch, -3 yards
Wakefield Defense
Myles Sanchez — TFL, INT
Jackson Fitzpatrick — TFL, Fumble recovery
Matt Beaver — Fumble recovery
Steven Woish — TFL
Declan O’Callahan — TFL