BRAINTREE – In a game that featured just four pass attempts, Weymouth controlled the tempo with 427 yards on the ground and not a single pass attempt to secure a 42-0 victory over rival Braintree.
This ended a five-game losing streak dating back to last season for the Wildcats. Head coach Mike Donovan credited a great effort in practice.
“The kids had a great week of practice,” Donovan said about taking down Braintree. “They worked really hard all week. We know it’s never easy coming here. … It’s always an emotional game on both sides. I’m so proud of our kids. The way they played, how hard they worked during the week and how they finished the game tonight.”
After forcing Braintree (0-1) to punt on the opening drive, Weymouth (1-0) amassed 298 yards on the ground on 29 runs to build a 28-0 lead at the half.
“All those guys had a great summer,” Donovan said about the deep running back room that runs up to six deep. “They all worked really hard in the offseason. They got bigger. They got stronger. They know the type of football we want to play and they’re working really hard at it. All those guys have to keep getting better too.”
Junior Brandon Daley notched the first scores from five and 22 yards out to make it 14-0 after one as he carried the ball 11 times for 82 yards and two scores in the first half.
In the second quarter, senior captain Tyler Munchbach dove for a 15-yard score with 8:29 left before adding a nine-yard rushing score on a pitch to make it 28-0 with 51 ticks left in the first half.
“It was great,” said Munchbach about running behind an offensive line that returned just senior Rafi Alcantara from a season ago. “It’s just like from last year. We kept the same momentum that we had last year.”
The defense also stepped up for the Wildcats as they got sacks from sophomore Dominic Brancaccio and junior Tyler Hogan in the first to go along with a turnover on downs and an interception from junior Nate Bessette. The starters finished with just 50 yards allowed.
Daley added a third touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter from 13 yards out as he finished with 13 carries for 98 yards and three scores. Munchbach added seven carries for 92 yards and a pair of scores.
The final tally for Weymouth came on a two-yard run late in the third as senior Jackson Frasca found paydirt.
Weymouth will stay on the road and play at Whitman-Hanson next Friday at 7 p.m. The Wamps will look to get interim coach Jon Green his first win Friday at home against Quincy at 6 p.m. after coach Lee Carlson resigned before the season due to personal reasons.
