In the Division 3 Southwest semifinal Friday, things won't be getting any easy for the Stoughton High football team when Hopkinton comes to town for a 6 p.m. The Black Knights are the No. 2 seed, while the Hillers are seeded third. North Attleboro is traveling to Oliver Ames tonight for a 7 p.m. game in the other semifinal game. The two winners will play in the finals next week.
Hopkinton fell behind to Milton by 22 points last Friday night before rallying for a 26-20 win over the Wildcats, scoring the winning touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game. In the second game of the season, Stoughton defeated Milton, 40-13.
The Black Knights have been battling injures throughout the later half of the season. Fortunately, their depth has come up big them.
What Stoughton is going to have to avoid is making mistakes and taking penalties, which seemed to be magnified in a playoff situation. Those almost proved to be costly in a thrilling 14-7 win over Hingham where the Black Knight stopped the Harbormen on the 1-inch line as time ran out.
"We lucked out in a couple of places," said head coach Greg Burke after the win over Hingham. "The kids just have to pay attention, but that's all right."
Defensively, the Black Knights have been forcing teams to pass, but they have to get more pressure on Hopkinton junior quarterback Pat Ryan.
"We just can't seem to get to the quarterback when we need to be," said Burke. "It's a tough situation when they go spread or no backs."
As they have all season long, though, the Black Knights came up big when they needed to do against Hingham.
"A couple of guys are hurt," said Burke. "That's the way it is. We are doing the best we can. That our seventh win and I'll take that anytime"
Hopktinon head coach Jim Girard relies on a balance attack, led by Ryan and running back Drew Donahue.
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