Thanksgiving Day Football: Stoughton High Football Team Wants Trophy Back

After the Stoughton High football team lost to Plymouth South in the Division 3 semifinals at Brockton High Friday night, the question was how would the Black Knights bounce back against Canton in the Thanksgiving Day at Canton. It will be a 10 a.m. start.

"We haven't had a lot of rest," said Stoughton head coach Greg Burke of his 9-2 team after the Plymouth South game. "We'll take one day off and get back at it."

Wednesday, Burke said the Black Knights were ready to go for this morning's game after a grueling four game playoff run. "We had our best day of practice (Tuesday)," he said. "We want to get our trophy back."

Stoughton has two big reasons for wanting to get a win today.

First, there's the matter of adding a little more history to their historic season. If the Black Knights win, they will become the first Stoughton football team to win 10 games in a season.

Second, there's a little matter of revenge from last year's game where the Bulldogs won 28-26, in overtime.

After the first game between the two schools, Burke predicted that the Bulldogs would be a better team by the end of the season and that's turning out to be turn.

The Bulldogs fell behind to Dedham, 21-7, before bouncing back for a 28-21 lead, improving to 3-7 on the season. Getting a win over Stoughton would be a great way to finish their season.

In their first meeting this year, Canton jumped out to a 7-0 lead before losing, 40-13. The game was closely for the Black Knights as Malachi Baugh was lost for the season with a broken leg. Baugh had two touchdowns against the Bulldogs.

1. WHEN STOUGHTON HAS THE BALL-If you don't stop Lennox Green, you aren't going to beat the Black Knights. Green is a touchdown machine for the Black Knights. Fullback Joe Girolamo also hurt the Bulldogs in the first meeting between the two schools. Sophomore Jake Gibbs saw action at quarterback against Canton before earning the starting spot as the season went along. Gibbs is a very effective passer and has two good receivers in Kevin MacDonald and Brian Crimmins, who emerged as a pass catcher during the playoffs.

2. WHEN CANTON HAS THE BALL-Stoughton is going to have to keep quarterback Brian Hagan in checking, while running the option. Running backs Matt Bagley and Kevin Wing are very effective running the ball. "Canton is tough," said Burke after the first meeting of the season. "Their offense is brutal and it's impossible to stop when it gets going. You have to hope they put the ball on the ground." It's difficult to pass the ball against the Black Knights with Jovani Pires roaming around from his safety spot. He had a finger-tip interception against Plymouth South.

3. MAKING HISTORY- In their 89th meeting, this is the first time, the Black Knights and Bulldogs have met twice in the season. This happened because of the new playoff system. Teams play teams in their division and then play again if they are Thanksgiving Day rivals. That has been one of the criticisms of the new system, but the Stoughton players said after their game, they were looking forward to playing the Bulldogs. Stoughton has already played Oliver Ames twice during the same season.

4. COACH BOHANE TO THE SIDELINE, PLEASE-Canton High head coach Dave Bohane walked the first meeting between the two schools from the bleachers are suffering an Achilles heel injury, while teaching volleyball in gym. Bohane scouted the Stoughton-Oliver Ames playoff game from field level.

5: AREN'T YOU AN ALL-STAR?-There will be five Hockomock League Davenport Division all-stars in the game. On the Stoughton side are Baugh, Green, Pat Raeke and Joe Wilder, while Bagley is the Bulldogs' representative. For the entire team, go to hockomockleague.com.