MILTON – In the battle of the Wildcats, Weymouth used a ground and pound game on both sides of the ball to come away with a comeback victory over a tough Milton squad.
Weymouth used three running backs yet again, with Amahri Gomes leading the pack with 160 yards and two scores as the Wildcats took down Milton 28-21 for the second straight year after losing 12 straight to the Bay State Conference opponent.
“Just a resilient group,” said coach Mike Donovan about being able to rally. “So proud of them. So proud of the effort they put this week in practice.”
Down 14-12, Weymouth (5-0) came away with a Nate Bessette interception and then took the ball 12 plays that ate up nearly seven minutes off the clock as Gomes rushed it in from three yards out. The two-point pass from Brendan Flynn to Tyler Munchbach made it a 20-14 lead late in the third.
After a Milton punt to start the fourth, Weymouth took nearly eight minutes off the clock that again ended in a three-yard rushing score for Gomes.
“The nice thing with our team is it’s whoever’s number is called,” Donovan said about the approach with the rotating running backs. “It’s whatever we are seeing out there. Give it to that kid based on what we are seeing. I’m so proud of him. He played like a senior tonight.”
Milton (4-1) struck back two plays later as senior captain Ronan Sammon caught a 66-yard strike from senior captain Patrick Collins to make it a 28-21 hole, but Weymouth was able to power through on its next drive to run out the final 3:14.
“The offensive line did a tremendous job tonight,” Donovan said. “Our backs ran so hard and it wasn’t always pretty, but the kids played so hard.”
To open the contest, Weymouth marched down the field with a 12-play, 73-yard drive that was capped by a nine-yard rushing score for senior Tyler Munchbach. The PAT was blocked as Weymouth led 6-0 midway through the first.
Milton struck back after a turnover on downs around midfield on the next Weymouth possession and needed just five plays to find paydirt as senior captain Patrick Collins kept it for a 10-yard rushing score to go up 7-6.
Patrick Collins got in again after another turnover on downs for Weymouth as he rushed it in from 22 yards out to go up 14-6 with 2:16 left in the first half.
Weymouth did not go quietly as two plays later senior Kevin Mackin hit senior Tim Mills for a 66-yard score to trail Milton 14-12 at the half.
“When given the opportunity to throw, Kevin (Mackin) has ice in his veins,” Donovan said about the throw to get Weymouth back into the contest before the half.
Weymouth will be at Brockton on Friday, while Milton will play at Wachusett on Friday when coach Steve Dembowski will try again for win No. 200.
