| WINTHROP -- Mansfield has come up with big plays all season.
Against a gutsy Winthrop defense yesterday, Mansfield struggled, but
Omari Walker came up with the biggest play of the season to turn the
game around.
With 10 seconds remaining in the first half and Mansfield trailing,
12-7, Walker showed why he is one of the top backs in the state. On
fourth and 3 from its own 2, Winthrop punted. Walker picked up the ball
at the Winthrop 44, bolted down the right side, cut inside and sprinted
into the end zone for the touchdown as time expired, giving Mansfield a
13-12 lead at intermission.
Backed by Walker's two touchdowns, Mansfield, ranked fourth in the
Globe's Top 20 poll, defeated Winthrop, 20-12, capping a storybook
season with the Division 3B Super Bowl title in front of 4,000 fans.
"I was supposed to get the ball and take a knee," said Walker. "When I
got the ball and I saw all the room, I had to take off. I figured the
worst thing that could happen is I could get yelled at."
Walker, who finished his high school career with 1,297 yards rushing and
29 touchdowns, didn't have a spectacular day (79 yards on 18 carries),
but came through with key first downs and big plays when Mansfield
needed them.
"With Omari, you always have to give him the green light," said
Mansfield coach Mike Redding. "He has the ablilty to take control of the
game. He didn't throw up the numbers he usually does today, but he made
some pretty big plays."
Winthrop running back Anthony Palmer was impressive. The junior rushed
for 96 yards and scored two touchdowns. More importantly he sparked his
team, bouncing off defenders to gain the extra yard.
Midway through the second quarter, Palmer was hit at the line of
scrimmage, bounced off another defender and went 58 yards for a
touchdown, giving Winthrop a 12-7 lead.
Defense won this game. Mansfield (11-0), the Hockomock League champion,
romped past every team it faced. Its closest game was a 27-9 verdict
over Stoughton. Northeastern Conference champion Winthrop (9-2) played
tough defense, shutting down Mansfield in the first half. Mansfield
played solid defense as well, especially in the second half, forcing
three turnovers.
"We never saw a defense this tough," said Walker. "We were all serious
in the locker room at halftime. We had to change some things because
they were picking us up so well."
With 4:24 remaining and Mansfield leading, 13-12, Jamie Sullivan knocked
the ball loose from Winthrop quarterback Mike Mason and Eric Schleman
recovered at the Winthrop 34. Six plays later, Tony Forte ran it in from
4 yards out. Sullivan's kick gave Mansfield a 20-12 lead.
"We stressed defense in practice all week," said Redding. "We knew we
could score, and we had to stop them. Defense and special teams is the
reason we won."
On ninth play of Winthrop's first possession, Mason (79 yards, 1 TD, 3
interceptions) connected with Palmer for a 31-yard touchdown.
Mansfield answered early in the second quarter when Walker ran in from 2
yards. Sullivan's kick made it 7-6.
"They came up with the big plays, especially on special teams," said
Winthrop coach Tony Fucillo. "Walker's touchdown at the end of the half
really turned the game around." |
