A strong performance by the defensive line led the Stoughton High football team to a 26-3 win Sharon Friday night in the annual homecoming game.
"We have to get to the passer and we're blitzing more," said Burke. "The kids went after it. I changed to a couple guys with some speed (and) I took some time off the other guys to give them some breathers.
"They take a series off and then they are ready to go."
Stoughton's Frank Girolamo, Dominic Evangelista. Brian Nyguen, Pat Raeke, Andrew Frank and Joey Wilder, who was crowned homecoming king at halftime, pressured Sharon quarterback Sean O'Neil the entire game.
The win improved the Black Knights to 5-1 on the year going into next Friday's showdown at Foxborough. If Stoughton beats the Warriors, they will finish in second place in the Hockomock League's Davenport Division, earning a spot in the postseason. There is also a possibility that their ranking will be high enough to qualify them.
"We're not even talking playoffs," said Burke. "We're talking Foxborough."
Sharon jumped out a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by Adrian Longo at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. The rest of the scoring belonged to the Black Knights.
In the second quarter, Stoughton took a 6-3 lead on a 15-yard run by Joe Girolamo. Then after forcing the Eagles to punt, the Black Knights were able to get on the scoreboard again. Senior Lennox Green took it in from a yard out. Sophomore Jake Gibb kicked the extra-point for a 13-3 lead. The touchdown was set up on a 34-yard pass from Gibb to senior Kevin McDonald down the roght sideline.
Girolamo then scored his second touchdown of the night, bouncing through the Sharon defense for a nine-yard score. Gibb kicked his second extra-point for a 20-3 lead.
On Sharon's next offensive series, Stoughton's Patrick Raeke recoverd a Sharon fumble to set up a three-yard run by Jovani Pires. The extra-point was blocked, accounting for the final margin of victory.
"We're 5-1," said Burke. "We played our worst game two weeks ago (against Oliver Ames, their only loss). In the back of our minds, we're not going to let that happen again."
What the Black Knights aren't happy about is playing without senior running back-defensive back Malachi Baugh. who was hurt in the Canton game last week. Burke said Baugh underwent surgery on his broken leg.
"We really miss him and we can't replace him," said Burke. "This game ball is going to our friend, Malachi. He was operated on today. He had a bad, bad leg. Hopefully, we can make him feel a little better."
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