by Nick Farrar

Worcester- Going into the October 17th Friday game against Doherty High School was a little different for the Rangers. Senior captain Rob O’Connor the Rangers star fullback and linebacker was forced to sit out with a concussion. To start in his place for the 1 and 4 Rangers was 2nd string sophomore, Sam Nichols at fullback who had 76 yards on 13 carries and filling in at linebacker was junior Tucker Brady. Despite the loss of his backfield mate quarterback Brian Gove could not have performed better for the Rangers, accumulating two rushing touchdowns and over 150 yards throwing.

From the outset Westborough controlled the game. The Rangers elected to receive and came out on the offensive with a mission. On the first play from scrimmiage newly anonted fullback Sam Nichols bulled his way to ten yards. Good start for the struggling Rangers who have had trouble generating offense this season. Eager to break down the Doherty defense offensive coordinator Jan Gebo called a risky pass play. Brian Gove rolled out looking for an open receiver but with none insight and daylight ahead Gove tucked the ball away and ran the ball for 60 yards to score the first touchdown of the game. With the 7-0 lead and a defense that has been battle tested the Rangers were feeling pretty good.

Then the Doherty offense came onto the field lead by quarterback Yawin Smallwood and a potent backfield. Doherty marched down the field against the Westborough defense with little difficulty and quarterback Smallwood punched it in with a scamper for the touchdown and that was the end of the first quarter. As the game waged on through the second quarter of play both teams suffered injury, most notably WHS quarterback Brian Gove, but both sustained there offensive outbursts, trading scores till the half.

At half time the score was the Westborough Rangers 13 and the Doherty Highlanders 18. The Rangers, having recieved the opening kick, sent out Andy Basque to pin Doherty in there own end. The Doherty offense came back onto the field and unleashed there talented backfield and aerial assualt on the Ranger defense, which seemed to also have found life at half time and kept Westborough in the game. When the Ranges needed turnovers the defense got the Rangers turnovers, what turnovers?.

The Ranger defense could not hold off the Highlanders forever and yielded yet another touchdown and trailed 24-13 with little time to play. Still not willing to give up the offense came back onto the field. The Rangers couldnt muster any sort of offense and turned the ball over at their own 15 yard line, giving the home team postion to score and put the game seemily out of reach. Doherty decided to take the safe course of action and tried to run down the clock. The Rangers defense having non of it came up big when it was most needed. Sophomore defensive lineman Robby Groskoff forced a fumble to give the Rangers offense one more try.

Coaches Gebo and Mark Ellis knew time was against them. With steller execution the Rangers marched all the way down to Diherty’s 15 yard line with just 46 seconds to spare. On 4 down and 13 yards to go the Rangers needed a first down to keep there hopes alive. The play came from the sideline and hobbling Brian Gove went into his cadence. Gove snapped the ball and frantically scanned the field for an open receiver as the time ticked away. The Doherty defense had all the receivers closely covered. With the pocket closing around him, Gove saw an opening and fired. As the ball tipped off of junior runningback Kyle Bancroft’s fingers the Ranger’s hope for their second victory of the season was dashed. The final score was Doherty High School 24 and the Westborough Rangers 13.