High School Football on WMRC and streaming on wmrcdailynews.com
2016 Week 6, Game 6 Preview:
Who: Bellingham (4-1, 2-1 TVL-Small) @ Hopkinton (1-4, 0-2 TVL-Large)
Where: Hopkinton High School Field (Turf)
When: October 14th at 7 p.m. (Live on WMRC and streaming at www.wmrcdailynews.com)
Broadcast: The Pregame show begins at 6:50 on WMRC 1490AM and streaming online at www.wmrcdailynews.com. Tom Nappi and Jared Aldie once again have your call.
Head Coaches: Dan Haddad (2nd season, 7-9 at Bellingham), Jim Girard (7th season, 43-29 at Hopkinton)
Team Captains:
Bellingham – Zach Levy, Parker Silva and Jake Mangano
Hopkinton – Tim McGrath, Isaac Stilwell and Jimmy Adams
2015 Records:
Bellingham 3-8 (0-5 TVL-Small, Last place)
Hopkinton 6-5 (2-2 TVL-Large, 3rd place, D3 Playoffs)
2015 Meeting:
10/16/15 – Hopkinton 42, Bellingham 21 (at Bellingham)
The Blackhawks were up 21-7 before Hopkinton exploded for 39 straight points. One the biggest plays of the game came with the score knotted up at 21 when Sam Lehman took the second half kick-off 74 yards. Jack Vaccari had over 100 yards receiving for the Hillers. Zack Levy played well once again for Bellingham with two touchdowns including a Kick-off return for a score to open the game.
Rivalry History: Hopkinton has won 7 of the last 10 meetings with Bellingham including the last four straight showdowns (2015, 2012, 2011 and 2010). These two teams did not play one another in 2014 or 2013. The Blackhawks last win came in 2009 by a final 22-13 in Bellingham. The last win at Hopkinton for Bellingham came in 2006 (28-21).
Bellingham Blackhawks:
Despite a 3-8 record in 2015 and a losing record every year since 2007 the Blackhawks entered the 2016 with fairly high expectations and they have lived up to those expectations so far with a 4-1 record. Currently Bellingham is tied for 2nd place with Norton in the TVL-Small while trailing Ashland and Millis-Hopedale in the standings who are both undefeated in league play. Millis-Hopedale beat the Blackhawks 42-12 in week 3 but a match-up still looms with Ashland next week in Bellingham which could decide the League crown if Ashland is victorious over the Mohawks this Friday. Bellingham has won their last 2 games including a tough fought 8-7 win at Medway last week. QB John Reed connected with Jake Prophet for a 32 yard TD and then converted the 2 point conversion to give the Blackhawks a one point victory. The Mustangs lone score came on the opening drive of the game but the Bellingham defense would hold serve after that thanks to great play from Parker Silva, Josh Jones and Dan Umegbo. Running back Zach Levy, who rushed for well over 1,000 yards and nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards has scored 11 touchdowns already this season and tied for second place for all of Division 3A players with 78 points. Reed has been solid at QB so far and the defense has given just 14 points in the last two weeks.
Hopkinton Hillers:
The Hillers went 6-5 last season and qualified for the D3 playoffs before losing to Duxbury in the Southwest Sectional Quarterfinals. Coach Girard lost twenty seniors from last year’s squad and the team has struggled at times to replace that leadership so far in 2016. They have lost three straight with their lone victory coming at Medway 26-11 on September 16th. Last week though the Hillers had the lead in the first half against perennial TVL power Holliston 18-14 at Kamitian Field. The Hillers weren’t able to hold on in the second half though as the Panthers came up with 37 points more to rally for the victory. Connor Herbert had 67 yard INT return for a score and QB Jimmy Adams threw a pair of TDs in defeat for the Hillers. Hopkinton hopes their young offensive line will continue to improve in front of Adams and they can replicate their 1st half performance versus Holliston last week for a full game this week. The Hillers defense will also have to adjust to a more run oriented attack from their opponent this Friday then they saw last Friday from a true duel threat team like Holliston.
Bellingham 2016 Schedule: (All Kick-off at 7pm unless noted)
9/10/16 – Bellingham 42, BMR/Hopedale 25 – BMR HS Field
9/16/16 – Bellingham 32, Bishop-Stang 20 – Bishop-Stang HS Field
9/23/16 – Millis/Hopedale 42, Bellingham 12 – Millis HS Field
9/30/16 – Bellingham 16, Dover-Sherborn 7 – Bellingham HS Field
10/7/16 – Bellingham 8, Medway 7 – Medway HS Field
10/14/16 – Bellingham at Hopkinton – Hopkinton HS Field
10/21/16 – Ashland at Bellingham – Bellingham HS Field
10/28/16 – TBA
11/4/16 – TBA
11/11/16 – TBA
11/24/16 – Norton at Bellingham – Bellingham HS Field
Bellingham 2015 Results (3-8):
9/11 Bellingham 27, St. Mary’s 14 – Manning Bowl
9/18 Medway 33, Bellingham 31 – Bellingham HS Field
9/25 Millis/Hopedale 52, Bellingham 42 – Bellingham HS Field
10/2 Dover-Sherborn 27, Bellingham 8 – D-S HS Field
10/9 Norton 14, Bellingham 0 – Bellingham HS Field
10/16 Hopkinton 46, Bellingham 21 – Bellingham HS Field
10/23 Ashland 42, Bellingham 13 – Ashland HS Field
10/30 Bellingham 14, Dedham 11 – Bellingham HS Field
11/6 Seekonk 48, Bellingham 27 – Seekonk HS Field
11/13 Bellingham 45, Bourne 20 – Bellingham HS Field
11/26 Norton 45, Bellingham 6 – Norton HS Field
Hopkinton 2016 Schedule: (All Kick-off at 7pm unless noted)
9/9/16 – Wayland 16, Hopkinton 14 – Medway HS Field (Neutral Site)
9/16/16 – Hopkinton 26, Medway 11 – Medway HS Field
9/23/16 – Westwood 45, Hopkinton 20 – Flahive Field
9/30/16 – Norton 35, Hopkinton 16 – Hopkinton HS Field
10/7/16 – Holliston 51, Hopkinton 32 – Kamitian Field
10/14/16 – Bellingham at Hopkinton – Hopkinton HS Field
10/21/16 – Medfield at Hopkinton – Hopkinton HS Field
10/28/16 – TBA
11/4/16 – TBA
11/11/16 – TBA
11/24/16 – Hopkinton at Ashland – Ashland HS Field
Hopkinton 2015 Results:
9/11/15 – Wayland 12, Hopkinton 0– Wayland HS Field
9/18/15 – Hopkinton 35, Norton 14 – Norton HS Field
9/25/15 – Westwood 22, Hopkinton 20 – Hopkinton HS Field
10/2/15 – Hopkinton 28, Medway 0 – Medway HS Field
10/9/15 – Holliston 35, Hopkinton 14 – Hopkinton HS Field
10/16/15 – Hopkinton 46, Bellingham 21 – Bellingham HS Field
10/24/15 – Hopkinton 28, Medfield 0 – Medfield HS Field
10/30/15 – Duxbury 28, Hopkinton 14 – Duxbury HS Field (D3 Quarter Finals)
11/6/15 – Hopkinton 16, Norwood 13 – Hopkinton HS Field
11/13/15 – Walpole 24, Hopkinton 6 – Walpole HS Field
11/26/15 – Hopkinton 35, Ashland 33 – Hopkinton HS Field
