On a chilly October day at Coakley Middle School, the Norwood Mustangs hosted the Walpole Rebels in what was sure to be another great football game to add to the Walpole-Norwood rivalry. The Rebels came into the game a perfect 5-0, while the Mustangs have had a down season with a record of 1-4. Norwood was looking for an upset that would turn their season around and Walpole hoped to add another win for them to stay perfect.
Right off the bat, the high-powered Rebels offense went to work. On their first play on offense, senior running back Kenny Woods busted out a 54 yard run for a Walpole touchdown. Senior kicker Tim Crowley added the extra-point and the score was 7-0. The Rebels defense got the ball back for the offense and senior quarterback Troy Salvatore made a nice pass to junior wide receiver Craig Hanley for a big gain. A few plays later Salvatore found senior tight-end Andrew Mandeville in the end zone for another touchdown. The score was 14-0 Walpole – with Crowley’s extra-point good.
The second quarter saw the Rebels march down the field with a little help from penalties. The Norwood defense became increasingly frustrated and kept receiving penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct, and they even started yelling at each other. All of this helped Walpole move down the field, and eventually a 1 yard Woods touchdown run. Crowley’s kick was good and the scoreboard read Walpole 21, Norwood 0. Something clicked for Norwood because when they got the ball they started a drive. This drive took them all the way to the Rebels goal line. This was when the stingy Rebels D stopped Norwood four consecutive times, forcing a turnover on downs. This would about the end of the first half and the score was 21-0, Walpole leading.
At the start of the second half, the Rebels special teams impressed. The special teams tackled the Norwood kick returner in the end zone for a safety. The Rebels got the ball back with the score of 23-0. Salvatore found a hole in the Norwood defense and exploited it as he ran for 60 yards for yet another touchdown. Since the extra-point was no good the score was 29-0. After the Rebel D shut down the Mustang offense yet again, the Rebel offense got an impressive drive going. The Norwood defense buckled down and made a goal line stand of their own, forcing the Rebels to turnover on downs.
The fourth quarter began with the Walpole offense getting the ball back after the defense didn’t allow the Mustangs to take advantage of their goal line stand. Salvatore fired a nice long-bomb to Hanley for a Rebels touchdown. The score became 35-0 after Crowley missed the extra-point attempt. The Mustangs got the ball back and were finally able to start a respectable drive. The Norwood quarterback, junior Tommy Munro, was impressive as he found his receivers and completed passes with ease. However, the Mustang drive came to a halt as the Rebels defense forced a turnover on downs. For the next series of the plays, Walpole sent their offensive squaud out. Junior quarterback Tom Donnellan capped off this drive with a 20 yard run for the final touchdown of the day. Following the missed extra-point, the score was 41-0, in favor of the Rebels. Time ran out for the Mustang and the final score remained with Walpole 41, Norwood 0.
This win showed the strength of the entire Rebel Football Team, as the offense, defense, and special teams dominated Norwood throughout the game. Even when Norwood started to get things rolling, the Rebels defense shut down the Mustangs and gave the ball back to the powerful Rebels offense. The Mustangs fall to 1-5, while the Rebels improve to 6-0 and are in for a fight next week as they face the 5-1 Needham Rockets next Friday at 7 pm under the lights at Turco Field.
