North Attleboro dodges bullet

Not all great games are wins

Thanks to 92Grad for the suggestion.
Saturday November 2, 1991
Mansfield:- It came down to one play. After 39:58 of hard hitting blocks and tackles, great defense, and outstanding offense, Mansfield and North settled the outcome of the game on the last play from the two yard line. Steve Martelli intercepted a pass from Alex Aleman , intended for Steve Moore in the right corner of the end-zone, preserving a 12-7 victory before 3,000 fans at Memorial Park.
North missed two conversion attempts and netted just 22 yard rushing in the second half. The Rocketeers also netted just one first down and did not complete a pass. Mansfield, behind the strong-armed courage of Aleman, the pass-catching of Steve Moore, and second half power running of Brian DeGirolamo closed to within two yards of handing North its second straight setback.
"They had their shot and we hung on," said coach Ray Beaupre. "We had our linebackers coming, you just wonder whether DeGirolamo is going to bull it."
Don't think that Mansfield coach Mike Redding didn't consider it. "Either way, it's a long two yards," said Redding. "The inside play to DeGirolamo had been working, but we figured the linebackers would be tight. Than if the linebackers blitz, you can't run the counter. Alix had three options and Martilli made a great play. We made some great plays the whole second half and Alex, at crunch time, he rises and gets us back in it."
With 71 yards and three minutes to travel, Mansfield began its third attempt at overcoming North. Aleman moved the Hornets in a hurry, completing a 14-yard pass to Moore on first down and a six-yarder to Moore on third down which set up DeGirolamo's drive-alive fourth down and inches rush of six yards to the North 41 for a first down.
With no time outs remaining, Alix completed a 12 yard pass to tight end Karl Boettger over the middle to the North 29 and a Rocketeer personal foul penalty advanced the ball into scoring position.
With 15 yards and 1:16 remaining. Alix again was asked to convert a fourth down play which he did. DeGirolamo bulling off a couple of would-be tacklers for two yards to the North two yard line for another first down. Alix spiked the ball to stop the clock with single digits remaining, to set up the final play

MansfieldNorth Attleboro
First downs1512
Total yards221144
Rushing yds9448
Passing yds129100
Sacks1-21-4
Att-Comp-int27-10-317-6-2
Punts-avg4-26.53-35
Penalties-yds7-793-35

Scoring

First quarter
NA:- Fied 1 yard run(kick failed),7:52
Second quarter
NA:- Fied 1 yard run(pass failed),6:41
Third quarter
Man:- DeGirolamo 1 yard run(Sullivan kick)7:51

Mansfield individual stats

Rushing: Forte 7-15, DeGirolamo 15-43, Carpenter 11-39, Aleman 2-(-3).
Passing: Aleman 27-10-3--129
Receiving: Moore 5-57, Boettger 3-50, DeGirolamo 1-8, Forte 1-14.

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