The varsity football team (0-3) lost to the Ashland Clockers (3-0) with a score of 31-0 on Friday, Sept. 22, in its second annual homecoming game. Wayland started off strong, driving into the red zone multiple times, but they were unable to come away with any points.
Wayland’s defense was able to keep Ashland’s ‘run game’ in check during the early stages of the game with the help of some turnovers. But, Ashland’s ‘jumbo package’—an offensive formation that adds extra blocking power by substituting extra tight ends and running backs for wide receivers—proved to be too much for the young Wayland defense in the second half.
Before the game, head coach Scott Parseghian felt optimistic, despite the team’s 0-2 start to the season. “We could easily be sitting 2-0,” Parseghian said. “Against [Holliston], we dropped a touchdown and got a touchdown called back. And then in Hopkinton we turned the ball over five times. You can’t do that and expect to win a football game.”
First quarter:
Wayland won the opening coin toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff. This gave the Warriors a chance to set the tone of the game early, which is exactly what they did. Junior quarterback Mikey Johansson got off to a hot start, completing passes to senior captain Dylan Engelhardt and junior Christian Montoya-Wantuil. Johansson also avoided the rush multiple times by escaping the pocket and picking up positive gains.
Wayland then faced a 3rd & 15 because of a high snap, but Johansson found junior captain Aidan Curry on back to back plays, putting the offense inside the ten yard line. The drive stalled at this point, and after three ineffective plays and a false start penalty, Wayland was stuck on the fifteen yard line for fourth and goal. Parseghian was forced to settle for a field goal, but Engelhardt’s 32-yard attempt doinked off the left goalpost. With 3:50 to go in the opening quarter, Ashland started their first possession at their own 21-yard line and immediately started showing their offensive skills, as Ashland senior captain Kevin Ozulumba ran for back to back first downs. Just as the momentum started to shift Ashland’s way, Ozulumba fumbled and Engelhardt recovered it, giving Wayland the ball back near the logo as the quarter came to an end.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 0-0.
Second quarter:
Wayland’s second drive started at their own 39 yard line. After a couple of first downs, Wayland got inside of Ashland’s 30, but then faced a 4th & 15, where Johansson continued his success on the ground by scrambling for 17 yards and a new set of downs.
Wayland converted in another pressure situation with a completion to Curry on 4th & 10 to get the ball inside the five yard line, but a 1st & goal holding set Wayland back, and eventually led to a second field goal attempt for Engelhardt. This time, his 32-yard attempt fell just short of the goalpost, leaving Wayland with no reward after their second eight minute drive.
Ashland then took over, facing an early third & long, where Ashland senior quarterback Ben Atherton completed his first pass to receiver Nick Boomer, which kept the drive alive. Ashland tried to keep it in the air, but sophomore Giovanni Sailsman grabbed an interception to set Wayland up in Ashland territory at the 34-yard line, with just 2:05 left in the first half. This time, however, Wayland went three and out, losing yardage and leading to Wayland’s first punt of the game with 1:12 remaining in the half.
With little time remaining, Ashland seemed like they’d run the clock out, but then Atherton completed a deep play action pass to senior receiver Hugo Rossi for a 32-yard gain, putting them in Wayland territory for the first time. Ashland tried a deep pass to the endzone, which was unsuccessful, leaving just enough time for senior kicker Aaron Wolf, who drilled a 37-yarder to give the Clockers a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.
At halftime, the score was still 3-0, Ashland.
Third quarter:
Since Wayland elected to receive at the beginning of the game, Ashland started with the ball in the second half. Now in the lead for the first time, the Clockers decided to utilize their war package, where the entire team clusters around the backfield and on the line of scrimmage. Atherton repeatedly handed the ball off to Ozulumba, Lambert or Ezra Hatchett, putting different guys in motion to constantly overwhelm the young Wayland defensive line and secondary. Wayland tried to respond by placing an extra (fifth) defensive linemen over the ball, but Ashland methodically worked its way down the field and into the redzone before Ozulumba ran it in from the two yard line for the game’s first touchdown, giving Ashland a 10-0 lead, with 7:22 remaining in the quarter.
The Warriors started their next drive strong, picking up a couple of first downs, but the drive stalled around Wayland’s 40 yard line. After a false start, negative run play and Ashland’s only sack of the game, the Warriors were forced to punt with 2:04 remaining. The punt looked like it was going to be good for Wayland, but a late hit out of bounds penalty on Wayland negated half of the yardage which provided Ashland with excellent field position in Wayland territory. Ashland began running the ball with little to no resistance, as the heavy Clocker line pushed back the tired Warriors until Ozulumba punched in a 4-yard touchdown run with under a minute to go for his second touchdown of the game. Aaron Wolf’s point after touchdown (PAT) made it 17-0, Clockers. Wayland went three and out and punted for the third straight drive as the third quarter came to an end.
The third quarter score ended 17-0.
Fourth quarter:
Now sitting with a three score lead, the Clockers remained in full run mode. Ashland pushed the ball downfield, and Lambert broke away for a 23-yard touchdown run to extend Ashland’s lead to 24. Wayland got one first down before the drive stalled out, and they had to punt it back to Ashland yet again with about nine minutes remaining in the game.
Ashland started to chew the clock, putting in some – but not all – of their backups. However, the tired Wayland defense surrendered one last touchdown, as backup junior quarterback Owen Wolthram scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown, putting the icing on the cake for Ashland, making it 31-0 with just two minutes left.
Wayland ran a couple more offensive plays, bleeding the clock out and ending the homecoming game. This young team fought hard, but senior-heavy Ashland proved to be too much for them.
The final score was 31-0, Wayland ending with a loss.
The Warriors’ next game is on Friday, Sept. 26, an away game against the Westford Academy Ghosts.
