Hopkinton vs Ashland Game Notes
by: Steve Watson
Hear the game on 101.3 MyFM radio or their website http://www.myfm1013.com/ on Friday September 28th!!!
HOPKINTON HILLERS (2-1) VS ASHLAND CLOCKERS (3-0)
7:00PM—HOPKINTON HIGH SCHOOL
Overall H/R PF PA Streak
Hopkinton 2-1 1-1 Home 55 34 W-1
Ashland 3-0 1-0 Road 49 34 W-3
2018 Schedule/Results
Hopkinton Ashland
Fri 9/07 Wayland W 20-0 Fri 9/07 Medway W 21-20
Fri 9/14 Needham L 7-28 Fri 9/14 Sharon W 14-7
Sat 9/22 @ Norwood W 28-6 Fri 9/21 @ Medfield W 14-7
Fri 9/28 Ashland Fri 9/28 @ Hopkinton
Fri 10/05 @ Holliston Fri 10/05 Norwood
Fri 10/12 Medfield Fri 10/12 Westwood
Fri 10/19 @ Westwood Fri 10/19 @ Holliston
Oct 26-27 TBD Oct 26-27 TBD
Nov 02-03 TBD Nov 02-03 TBD
Nov 09-10 TBD Nov 09-10 TBD
Thu 11/22 @ Ashland Thu 11/22 Hopkinton
Friday Night Rivalry
Hopkinton & Ashland meet for the 95th time on the gridiron this evening. They have met every Thanksgiving since 1923, with the exception of 1940. This is the first ever meeting in the modern-day “regular season” between the two schools.
Hopkinton has 51 wins in the series, Ashland has 38 and there have been 5 ties.
Power Ratings
-Hopkinton is in 3rd in the D4 South Power Ratings with a 9.87 rating, behind North Quincy (13.00) & Dighton-Rehoboth (10.67).
-Ashland is in 1st in the D6 South Power Ratings with a 15.33 rating. Fellow TVL member Dedham is in 2nd with a 14.67 rating.
Off To The Polls
The Milford Daily News’ Football Poll has both of these teams in the Top 10. Hopkinton is ranked #3 while Ashland is ranked #6.
34 is wild
Both teams have allowed exactly 34 points each this season.
Extra Rest
Ashland comes into this game with a one day rest advantage, as they played last Friday night in Medfield while Hopkinton played on Saturday afternoon in Norwood.
Welcome to the TVL
Norwood played their first ever in-division TVL game on Saturday against Hopkinton. The Hillers game them a rude welcome to the league, beating them
28-6.
Series Notes
-Hopkinton has won 15 of the last 17 meetings going back to 2001
-Ashland hasn’t won at Hopkinton since 11/22/07, or 3963 days ago
-Ashland snapped an 8 game losing streak (2008-2015) with a win in 2016
-Hopkinton has won the last 5 games in the series played in Hopkinton
-The home team has won three straight meetings
-4 of the last 5 meeting have been decided by 4 points or less
-Hopkinton’s last 4 wins in the series are all by 4 points or less
-Ashland has outscored Hopkinton 103-89 since 2013, but is just 1-4 against the Hillers in that time span
-The winning team has scored an odd amount of points in each of the last 4 meetings and in 7 of the last 9
-After scoring 68 points combined in 2015, these two teams combined for just 65 points combined in the 2016 & 2017 meetings
-There hasn’t been a shutout by either side in the series since 2001 (Hopkinton)
-Ashland hasn’t shutout Hopkinton since 1994
-Since 1979, Ashland has won just 7 meetings (1983, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2007 & 2016)
-3 of Ashland’s last 7 wins in the series (1983, 1994 & 2016) have occurred on the same date: November 24th
-Hopkinton is 31-7-1 in the series since 1979
Series History since 2004
11/25/04 @ Ashland Hopkinton 34-7
11/24/05 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 21-8
11/23/06 @ Ashland Hopkinton 20-13
11/22/07 @ Hopkinton Ashland 34-26
11/27/08 @ Ashland Hopkinton 22-14
11/26/09 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 35-7
11/25/10 @ Ashland Hopkinton 41-14
11/24/11 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 48-20
11/22/12 @ Ashland Hopkinton 41-12
11/28/13 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 22-21
11/27/14 @ Ashland Hopkinton 9-7
11/26/15 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 35-33
11/24/16 @ Ashland Ashland 35-12
11/23/17 @ Hopkinton Hopkinton 11-7
Last time they met: November 23, 2017
These two teams met last Thanksgiving, like they do every year. Hopkinton defended their home turf with an 11-7 win, their first win over Ashland since 2015. Ashland staged a 17 play drive and had the ball on the Hopkinton 3 yard-line with 1:02 remaining in regulation, but the Hillers made a goal-line stand to seal the victory. Connor Hebert recorded two safeties in the victory for the Hillers. Ashland’s Jackson Hornung connected with Nathan Sickles for a 96 yard TD pass for the Clockers lone score.
“The Music Comes First”
The Hopkinton High School band will perform the National Anthem prior to this evening’s game.
A Look At the Hillers
Hopkinton is off to a 2-1 start thus far, beating Wayland and Norwood while losing to Needham. Luke D’Aloia had big performances in both wins, hauling in 6 receptions for 119 yards against Wayland and 5 receptions for 100 yards last week at Norwood. Ryan Kelleher has been stellar as the QB of the Hopkinton offense, setting the school record for passing TDs in the season opener.
LOUUUUUUUUUU
Hopkinton’s Senior Captain Luke D’Aloia is the nephew of current WEEI personality and former Red Sox utility player Lou Merloni.
Star Of The Week
Hopkinton QB Ryan Kelleher was named one of the Boston Herald’s Stars Of The Week last week. Kelleher completed 17 of 21 passes for 271 yards & 2 TD’s in Hopkinton’s win over Norwood.
Alumni Update
Ryan Kelleher’s brother Jake is the starting QB for the Salve Regina Seahawks. He is 44 of 104 for 577 yards with 7 TD & 4 INT. Salve Regina is 2-2 so far in 2018.
Clocking The Clockers
After playing in the TVL Small Division for many years, the Clockers are now in the TVL Large and enter Week 4 at 3-0. Nathan Sickles hauled in two TDs from two different QBs in last week’s win over Medfield, as Jackson Hornung & Dom Cavanaugh split time.
Not The Only Ones
Hopkinton & Ashland aren’t the only Thanksgiving rivals meeting during the regular season this year. Holliston & Westwood met up last week, as did Medway and Millis. In addition to this rivalry game tonight, Bellingham plays Norton.
Super Bowl Droughts
-Hopkinton hasn’t appeared in a Super Bowl since 1993 (beat W. Bridgewater 42-6)
-Ashland hasn’t appeared in a Super Bowl since 1995 (beat Trinity Catholic 30-12)
Up Next
-Hopkinton travels to Holliston next Friday night at 7pm.
-Ashland returns home next Friday night to host Norwood at 7pm.
TVL Trivia Question
What was Hopkinton High School’s mascot before they became the Hillers?
Marathoners
Stonethrowers
Warriors
Panthers
Trivia Answer: Check TVL Sports platforms on Friday night!
