Sturbridge 7-27-07 (Page 1) - Stonebridge Press and Villager ...

16 STURBRIDGE VILLAGER • Friday, October 31, 2008
SPORTS
Tantasqua tops North to remain undefeated
BY DAVID JOHNSON
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
STURBRIDGE — There was plenty
to celebrate Friday night as the
seniors on the Tantasqua football
team were honored before the
game in a touching ceremony.
There was plenty to celebrate four
quarters later as Tantasqua's undefeated
season rolled on with a 34-28
victory over Worcester North.
On a cool night at the
Reservation, both teams’ offensives
were expected to move the ball well
— and they certainly did. It was
Tantasqua's defense that eventually
won the game, though, with a
great goal line stand in the fourth
quarter.
On the Warriors’ first possession,
they were able to put a strong
drive together with some nice runs
and a couple of first down catches
by Brandon Forcier, who caught
four balls for 74 yards on the night.
Keith Rosseel capped off the drive
with a 10-yard touchdown run,
with the extra point making it 7-0
Tantasqua.
On Tantasqua's second drive,
Rosseel, who had 17 carries for 124
yards and two touchdowns, and
hard running Colby Bilodeau
(eight carries for 76 yards and two
touchdowns) led the way. Rosseel's
39-yard scamper put the Warriors
up 13-0 after the point after failed.
Things looked bleak for the
Bears as quarterback Corey
Lavalle scored from 1 yard out on
Tantasqua’s third possession. But,
the North High Bears were not
about to go quietly, as they put
together a couple of long scoring
drives of 70 and 65 yards, capped
off by a 63-yard touchdown run by
Kevin Portee. Later in the second
quarter, North was able to tie the
score at 20-20 on a 44-yard run by
Portee.
Tantasqua's biggest break came
at the end of the first half as North
was punting from its own 15-yard
line. A bad snap led to Tantasqua
taking over on North's 5-yard line
with 30 seconds left in the half.
Tantasqua was able to capitalize on
North's misfortune. A 5-yard touchdown
pass to Greg Caswell and the
extra point made the score 28-20.
Caswell made three well-timed
catches for 36 yards on the night.
On their first possession of the
second half, North High came right
back as Derryck Walker took a
fumble and ran 55 yards for a
touchdown, tying the score at 28.
Tantasqua didn't sit back,
though, on their first possession of
the second half. Starting at their
own 35, they marched 65 yards,
capped off by a 7-yard touchdown
run by Lavalle. The score was set
up by a great block from running
back Forcier, who led the way
around the left end. Tantasqua had
the lead now, 34-28, as the point
after failed.
With just over seven minutes left,
the Bears' offense was ready to
make a move. At their own 43, a flea
flicker was completed to the
Tantasqua 17-yard line. It was a
tough play for the Tantasqua
defense, who at the time kept
North's running game in check.
North made it all the way down to
the Tantasqua 6-yard line, where
the Tantasqua defense stepped up.
They stopped North on four consecutive
plays as the defensive line
penetrated into North's back field
and blew up any play they called.
Tim Poissant led the way with a
couple of big stops. Tantasqua was
able to run out the clock and preserve
the win.
After the game, Tantasqua
Assistant Coach John Bilodeau
said the Warriors stopped North's
running game that had gained
momentum in the first half.
"We bulked up the front line by
adding another player,” he said.
"But the defensive line was just
more physical than theirs in the
second half. It was certainly a battle
out their all evening long."
Tantasqua’s record is 7-0, while
North falls to 4-4.
Tantasqua and Worcester North battles on the field Friday night.
Turn To MORE PHOTOS NEXT PAGE, page A17
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