By: Steve Watson
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
MEDWAY MUSTANGS VS MILLIS MOHAWKS
7:00PM—MEDWAY HIGH SCHOOL
Overall H/R PF PA Streak
Millis 2-1 2-0 Road 72 45 W-2
Medway 1-2 0-1 Home 39 81 W-1
2017 Schedule/Results
Millis Medway
Fri 9/08 Holliston L 7-24 Fri 9/08 Norton L 19-27
Fri 9/15 @ Norton W 41-21 Fri 9/15 @ Hopkinton L 0-42
Sat 9/23 @ Dedham W 24-0 Fri 9/22 @ Bellingham W 20-12
Thu 9/28 @ Medway 7pm Thu 9/28 Millis 7pm
Fri 10/06 @ Bellingham 7pm Fri 10/06 @ Dover-Sherborn 6pm
Fri 10/13 Dover-Sherborn 7pm Fri 10/13 Ashland 7pm
Fri 10/20 Ashland 7pm Fri 10/20 Dedham 7pm
Weeks 8-10 MIAA Playoffs Weeks 8-10 MIAA Playoffs
Thu 11/23 Medway 10am Thu 11/23 @ Millis 10am
How their opponents fared in Week 3
Millis: Holliston W 41-7 @ Westwood
Norton L 10-55 vs Medfield
Medway W 20-12 @ Bellingham
Medway: Norton L 10-55 vs Medfield
Hopkinton W 14-0 @ Bishop Feehan
Millis W 24-0 @ Dedham
Thursday Night Football
No, schools aren’t trying to create a Thursday Night Football package of their own. Many area schools observe Jewish holidays and one of them is Yom Kippur, which is this Saturday. The holiday begins Friday at sundown, meaning that many teams who normally play under the Friday Night Lights will play Thursday this week. The decision is up to the host school. There is no rule/mandate saying that teams cannot play on a religious holiday such as in this case.
Precedent
There is precedent for playing on a Thursday night prior to Yom Kippur. The holiday fell on a Saturday in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. It will not occur on a Saturday again until 2024.
No Rest For The Weary
Typically teams have 6 days off between games. Not this week. Medway last played on Friday night, so they’ll enter this game on 5 days rest and Millis played on Saturday, so they’ll come in on just 4 days rest.
Recent Series History
11/25/04 @ Medway Medway 30-6
11/24/05 @ Millis Medway 14-7
11/23/06 @ Medway Medway 34-0
11/22/07 @ Millis Medway 9-6
11/27/08 @ Medway Medway 42-20
11/26/09 @ Millis Medway 49-33
11/25/10 @ Medway Medway 49-14
11/24/11 @ Millis Millis 20-14
11/22/12 @ Medway Medway 34-14
11/28/13 @ Millis Millis 14-13
11/27/14 @ Medway Millis 41-28
11/26/15 @ Millis Millis 35-7
09/30/16 @ Millis Millis 36-6
11/24/16 @ Medway Medway 28-0
Series Notes
-The two teams have played annually on Thanksgiving since 1924
-Last year was the first time they met in the modern-day “regular season”
-Medway’s last 3 wins in the series have come at home (2010, 2012 & 2016)
Last time they met, Part 1: November 24, 2016 (Thanksgiving Day)
Medway won the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Mohawks with a 28-0 shutout. Millis rested most (if not all) of their key players for that game in preparation for their Super Bowl match-up vs Maynard the following weekend. Medway linebacker Garret Marcinkiewicz had an interception which he returned 60 yards (no TD though) and Derek Pintsopoulos ran for 40 yards and 2 TDs.
Last time they met, Part 2: September 30, 2016
The two teams met for the first time in the modern day “regular season”. The Mohawks rolled to a 36-6 win en route to a Super Bowl Championship season.
Scouting the Mohawks
Millis kicked off their Super Bowl defense against powerhouse Holliston and lost, 24-7. They’ve rebounded with two straight wins since then, topping Norton 41-21 and Dedham 24-0 to run their record to 2-1. Millis scored all their points in the first half. Kurt Hopkins rushed for 145 yards on 18 carries to go along with 3 TDs.
Super Bowl Champions
Millis won the Division 6 Super Bowl last season over Maynard, 30-18. The game was played at Worcester State University last December 3rd and was the first Super Bowl Championship for Millis since 1999 and their fourth overall. They also won Super Bowls in 1980 & 1994.
Meeting the Mustangs
Medway got their first win of 2017 on Friday night with a 20-12 win at Bellingham. Their record stands at 1-2. They fell to Norton in Week 1 at home by a 27-19 final & got shutout in Hopkinton in Week 2, 42-0. The Mustangs allowed Bellingham to return the opening kickoff 75 yards for a TD to begin the game but only allowed one defensive TD in an outstanding defensive effort that got them a W.
Up Next
Both teams play next Friday night, October 6th. Millis travels to Bellingham and Medway travels to Dover-Sherborn. Both games kick off at 7pm.
