WOBURN – After spotting Woburn a 21-0 lead, the Wilmington High football team came just short of pulling off a tremendous comeback win, falling 27-19 in a non-league season opener played at Connolly Memorial Field.
“We played awesome in the second half,” said Wilmington head coach Craig Turner. “And I am really proud of the kids. I told them all month long how big and physical they were and I thought at the end of the game that we wore them down and they were dragging. I’m just really proud of the kids and how they played.”
Woburn’s Brian Ferreira couldn’t be stopped early on, scoring his team’s first two touchdowns on runs of 74 and 34 yards, as part of his 183-yard performance. Teammate Brett Tuzzolo made it 19-0 with 7:53 left in the second quarter before Derek Baccari added the conversion rush.
Down 21-0, Wilmington got going with a 3-yard TD run by Marcello Misuraca and John Germano booted the PAT and the first half closed out at 21-7.
The Wildcats’ defense came up with several big stops early in the third quarter which led to Germano scoring on a 74-yard punt return coming with 10:51 left in the game. The rush conversion failed and the ‘Cats trailed 21-13.
Woburn followed with a three-and-out, and after a short punt return, the ‘Cats offense had the ball on the Woburn 25 with 7:51 left. Seven plays later, facing fourth-and-goal from the six, senior Gavin Erickson scored on a reverse trap, but the conversion rush failed.
Trailing 21-19 with three minutes left, Wilmington tried the onside kick but Woburn recovered and eventually scored the game’s last TD with 44 seconds.
Erickson finished the night with 84 rushing yards and two catches for 22 yards.
Wilmington will travel to Greater Lowell Tech next Friday.