Even before the season starts, the Town of Walpole knows that one of the most important days of the fall sports season is whatever day the Walpole Rebels are scheduled to play their annual rival: the Natick Redhawks.  Before the playoff structure changed, this battle between Natick and Walpole not only decided the Herget Champion but also decided who actually made the playoffs.  After the playoff structure changed to allow more than one team from the Herget into the playoffs, the clashes between these two teams have remained memorable.  In last year’s epic shootout, the game ended in a 56-55 overtime win for Natick.  This year, the hype was compounded by the fact that both teams were 6-0, both teams were ranked in ESPN’s top 10, and both teams were the only contenders for the Herget crown. With all the anticipation preceding the game, the game did not disappoint.

In a suspenseful night game at Turco Field on October 24, the Towns of Walpole and Natick packed the stands as the Rebels’ biggest home crowd of the season. Notching their first Herget crown since 2011 (when they last beat Natick), Walpole took the lead with four seconds left on a field goal to beat Natick by a score of 17-14.

Even though offense was projected to run rampant after last year’s ridiculous 111 point total, defense and special teams were the real stars of the game. Both teams traded possessions early, until Natick wide receiver and Harvard commit Brian Dunlap broke through Walpole’s defense on a 79-yard sweep and was only brought down at the 1-yard line. On the very next play, Dunlap finished what he started with another sweep, putting Natick up 7-0 early.

Natick’s defense shut down Walpole’s offense for the entire first half, but the Rebel’s special teams got a breakthrough in the form of a punt-return touchdown from senior Captain Andrew Papirio. The senior Captain took a punt at Natick’s 37-yard line, and took it down the right sideline all the way to the end zone. Fellow senior and captain Jack Lavanchy kicked the PAT, and the teams were deadlocked 7-7 at halftime.

Starting the second half with possession, Walpole still could not produce any points. Natick took over the ball at their own 24, and went 76 yards in fifteen plays to score, with Dunlap catching a 5-yard touchdown to cap off the drive. Going into the fourth quarter, the teams traded possessions again, and Walpole got the ball with 8:38 left in the game on their own 21. With the offense unable to score a single point so far in the game, things looked grim for the Rebels.

Working the ball down the field on an 11-play, 79-yard drive, junior quarterback Tyler Berkland capped off the drive with a 1 yard keeper on 4th and goal to even the scores.

The defense then held Natick’s high-powered offense from taking the lead back and forced a punt.

Enter Papirio.

Already with a punt return touchdown in the first half, he picked up the bouncing punt and sprinted 51 yards down the field into the red zone. 

Unable to replicate their game-tying drive and with 9 seconds left to play, Lavanchy set up for a 28 yard field goal to win the game. Cool as ever, the captain lined up the kick and stuck it between the uprights, putting Walpole in the lead for the first time all game.

With the score at 17-14, Natick had just one play to go 80 yards and steal the win from Walpole. They were unable to get a single yard, with senior Xavier Andujar sacking the quarterback as time expired.

For the first time since 2011, Walpole beat Natick and won sole possession of the Herget division. 

Lavanchy was the star of the game, but there were many players who made huge impact on Walpole’s side. Junior running back Steve Cuqua had 171 yards on 29 carries, while Berkland went 11 for 17 with 94 yards, and the equalizing touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, junior defensive end Nate Porack had three sacks for a front 7 that essentially shut down a formidable Natick offense, while Papirio and Lavanchy split coverage on Dunlap in the secondary, holding the star receiver to just five targets in the whole game.

For postseason play, #1 seed Walpole faces #8 Bishop Feehan at Turco Field on Halloween night in the D3 tournament opener.