Stoughton High Football Team Wins Division 3 Southwest Title

As Oliver Ames' Derek Cidado's 26-yard field goal sailed just wide right, the Stoughton High football team's magical playoff run survived for another week.
The Black Knights defeated OA, 16-14, to win the Division 3 Southwest title at Muscato Stadium Friday night. Stoughton will play Plymouth South next Friday at 7 p.m. at Brockton High School in the Division 3 state semifinal. The winner will move to play in the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium Dec. 7.
Oliver Ames, the Hockomock League's Davenport Division champions, had defeated Stoughton, 35-6, during the regular season.
 "I'm glad we hung in there," said Stoughton head coach Greg Burke. "This is a treat for the kids and the town and the families who have hung in there with us."
With 1:08 left in the game, the Black Knight sophomore quarterback Jake Gibb made a 25-yard field goal for a 16-14 lead. Earlier in the game, Gibb had missed a field goal attempt.
"Everything was going through my mind," said Gibb. "Before the snap, my holder Jovani Pires, told me to calm down and take deep breaths."
After Gibb's kick went through, the Tigers still had time to get their explosive offense down the field. That's exactly what the talented quarterback Cidado did going from the Tigers' 28 to the Stoughton 11-yard line.
When the Black Knights knocked down a pass, OA was forced to go for the field goal with three seconds left.
"They made their field goal and we didn't make ours," said OA head coach Jim Artz. "That was the difference."
After the field goal was ruled no good, the Black Knights and their fans stormed the field.
"We were lucky at the end, but we deserved to win the game," said Burke. "We have tough kids. We don't have pretty uniforms, but we will slug it out with anyone."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Black Knights scored on the first play of the second quarter, Green went in from 1-yard out. Gibb kicked the extra-point for a 7-0 lead.
The play was set up by a fumble recovery by Stoughton's Patrick Raeke.
Cidado then hit a 45-yard punt to pin the Black Knights on their 1-yard line. OA was able to turn into a score when defensive end Colin Lozzi tackled Pires in the end zone for a safety. cutting the Black Knights' lead to 7-2.
Before the half ended, Cidado found Franklin Holgate for 2-yard touchdown pass and an 8-7 halftime lead.
"When we scored at the end of the half," said Artz. "I thought we had the momentum."
In the third quarter, Cidado threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Andrew Callahan. The two-point play failed, but the Tigers were ahead, 14-7.
Green ran for a 45-yard score in the third quarter to cut the Black Knights' lead to 14-13.