By Robert Chiarito
The Old Rochester Regional High School Bulldog Football Team has been forced to play in some pretty bad conditions this season. For all of the rain that has chased the Bulldogs around the South Coast this year, they have almost always managed to find the silver lining in each cloud. This past Friday, November 14, ORR dug deep within against the Wareham High School Vikings, clawing their way back from the edge of a disappointing end to their season and regaining control of their post-season destiny as they head into the season's final game against Apponequet on Thanksgiving Day.
The Bulldogs fought their way back from a 15-point half time deficit to win 23-22 in the game's waning seconds, setting up a winner takes all showdown at Apponequet High School on Thanksgiving morning for the South Coast Conference Crown and a berth in the State MIAA Tournament. Heading into the final game of the season the Bulldogs are 7-3 overall with a record of 6-1 in the SCC. They will be facing an undefeated Lakers team who sport an overall mark of 10-0 with a record of 7-0 in conference play. An ORR win would give the Bulldogs the crown by virtue of having the same conference record with the tie-breaker being the win in a head-to-head meeting.
Friday night's game was an uphill struggle for the Bulldogs for much of the first half. The rain-soaked and fog-shrouded field of play made yardage tough to come by and footing treacherous at times. The Vikings run-oriented offense only managed to complete three passes during the game, but two of the passes resulted in long touchdowns as the Bulldogs crowded the line of scrimmage leaving the secondary vulnerable to the long strike.
ORR running back Travis Lowery scored the first touchdown of the night as he took a short pass from quarterback Bryan Teefy and raced past the Wareham defenders for a 45-yard score. It was all Wareham for the rest of the half as they scored 22 unanswered points including a spectacular, juggling 53-yard finger tip catch for a touch down by receiver E.J. Bennett with less than a minute remaining before the break.
The Bulldogs began their comeback as Lowery broke away for a 50-yard scoring run in the opening seconds of the second half. Lowery pounded the ball between the tackles throughout the evening piling up 128 yards on 28 carries.
The Vikings seemed to have the game in hand for the remainder of the half until the Bulldogs mounted a comeback sparked by Richie Meunier's 48-yard return of a punt for a touchdown with two and a half minutes remaining in the game. The Bulldogs then recovered the onside kick and began their game winning drive from the Wareham 45-yard line. Bryan Teefy completed a 33-yard strike to Zach Choquette as ORR advanced inside the ten-yard line for a first and goal situation with 1:19 remaining in the game.
The Viking defense held their ground forcing ORR to try to seal the win with a field goal. Snapper Sam Asci shot off a perfect snap to holder Alex Goodman and Choquette nailed the kick straight and true through the center of the uprights with 12 seconds remaining in the contest to give Old Rochester its first Cranberry Bowl win since the 2002 season.
The Bulldogs have a bye this week giving Coach Henry Quinlan and his team two weeks to prepare for their winner-takes-all showdown with Apponequet. The traditional Thanksgiving Day game is set for a 10:00 am kick off.
Mattapoisett Recreation
Irish Step Dance will take place on Mondays from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in the Center School Gymnasium during the school year. The class is open enrollment. Please sign up the first time you attend.
The second session for Tammy's Tumbler's Afterschool Gymnastics Program is fast approaching. For more information, please contact Tammy McKane at 508-996-3399.
For more information about any Mattapoisett Recreation program, please contact Gretchen MacDonald at ddgmac@aol.com or 508-758-4100.
Marion Recreation
The Marion Recreation Commission is offering Yoga Classes on Tuesday mornings at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street. The class will be held from 9:00 am to 10:15 am. Each session is eight classes and costs $65. The drop-in fee is $12. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat. For more details, please contact instructor Tim Donohue at 508-748-2025 or e-mail tidon3@comcast.net.
Marion Public Skating
Marion Recreation Family Time Ice Skating will be held for the 2008-2009 season at the Tabor Academy Ice Rink from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on the following days:
Sunday, December 7; Sunday, December 14; Sunday, December 21; Sunday, December 28; Tuesday, December 30; Sunday, January 11; Sunday, January 18; Sunday, January 25; Sunday, February 1; Sunday, February 8; Sunday, February 15; Thursday, February 19; Sunday, February 22; and Sunday, March 1.
The cost is $3 per person. Skate at your own risk! The schedule is subject to change. Hats, gloves and skates are always required for anyone who is on the ice. Helmets are also required for inexperienced skaters and children under six.
Please cooperate with the skate guards. Failure to comply with their requests will result in being asked to leave the rink.
Please send ideas, comments and suggestions to: Sports, c/o The Wanderer, P.O. Box 102, Mattapoisett, MA 02739, e-mail releases to news@wanderer.com, or fax, 24-hours-a-day, to 508-758-4845.