Attleboro Football Improves to 3-0 With Win Over Franklin

With six and a half minutes left int he first half of Friday night's Hockomock League match up between Attleboro and Franklin, runningback Chris Roche put the Panthers on the board with a 6-yard touchdown run.

The score made it 14-6 and put Franklin within one touchdown of the Blue Bombardiers

The ensuing point after, though, was blocked, allowing for Attleboro's Pat Dunn to recover the loose ball and take it 90-yards down the field to earn two points for Big Blue.

It was that kind of night for the Blue Bombardiers, who beat Franklin, 37-20 to improve to 3-0. Franklin dropped to 1-2.

"It was a critical moment for us. We tell our kids to finish every play and it shows and when you look at what that meant early in the game, it was a very big play" coach Mike Strachan said.

Five different people scored touchdowns for Attleboro in what Strachan called a  "team win."

"I think it was a great team effort for us," he said. "A lot of different players stepped up. Granted, we’re still looking to make improvements but that’s a good win for us."

Attleboro jumped ahead early thanks to the arm of quarterback Tim Walsh and the hands of his receiving corp. A 46 yard reception on the opening drive to receiver Brenden Massey set up a 2 yard touchdown pass to receiver Luke Morrison. The point from Mike Cannata (who was perfect Friday night) gave Big Blue an early 7-0 lead.

Massey got in the endzone himself with a 14-yard reception to start the second quarter. After Franklin's score and Attleboro's two-point steal, Attleboro found the endzone again in the first half when runningback David Duquette scored on an 8 yard run. Big Blue took a 23-6 lead into the half.

After Franklin opened the second half with a 64-yard drive ending with a Nick Zucco 1 yard quarterback sneak, Attleboro countered with its own 80 yard drive ending with a Tom Burns 11 yard touchdown run.

"We thought it was very important to come back and answer it and we did and our kids made some very big plays in that drive," Strachan said.

Burns' 11 yard touchdown run was among the biggest of the plays in the drive. The senior runningback broke three tackles on his way to the endzone. His score was part of a career night that included three interceptions.

"He’s a great leader for us," Strachan said of Burns. "Huge plays. The picks were at very critical moments in the game. The touchdown – he broke three tackles to get in."

After another Zucco quarterback sneak to add to Franklin's point total, Attleboro put the game away when runningback Damon Belin outran the Panthers' defense for 43 yard on his way to the endzone.

Still undefeated, Attleboro will host powerhouse Mansfield next week at Tozier-Cassidy Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m.