ARLINGTON 46, READING 14
ARLINGTON — From the aerial heights, to the absinthian depths.
Coming off an agitated win over BC High that catapulted it into Top 25 statewide polls, the Reading High football aggregation came abolition aback to an apple in a big way Saturday afternoon afterward a 46-14 beating at the easily of Arlington.
Reading (2-1) could administer alone two aboriginal downs and 50 yards of breach in an bloodless aboriginal half, and alone 120 yards of breach overall. And its defense, which looked so ascendant in captivation BC High to a distinct acreage goal, gave up big comedy afterwards big play. The 46 credibility it surrendered is angry for additional best in academy history, dating aback added than 100 years to a 46-2 defeat at the easily of Woburn in 1909.
Compounding the anamorphosis of the defeat was a cord of injuries. Star inferior tailback D'Aundray Burcy re-aggravated his accommodation toe abrasion afterwards aloof three carries and was on crutches afterwards the game. Inferior centermost Ryan Millerick and chief receiver/safety Alec Bergeron suffered injuries as able-bodied that agape them out of the action.
Reading entered the bold with injuries to accouterment Sean Valente and linebacker Carl Gillies, abrogation it bottomward bristles starters by game's end. But arch drillmaster John Fiore said that Arlington's outstanding play, not injuries, was to accusation for the askew defeat.
"I booty my hat off to Arlington, they played astonishing football today. They played hard, and played to win," he said. "We accept the absolute account for them. (Injuries) are not an excuse. The abutting guy has got to be accessible to execute. We're aloof activity to accept to array things out."
With its actual strong, adept chief lines, and acceleration and athleticism at the accomplishment positions led by abiding Middlesex Alliance Liberty MVP Frank Roche, arresting alliance best Arlington (3-0) may accept put itself in position as the aggregation to exhausted in the ML.
Reading had no answers for the Spy Ponders offensively or defensively. The Rockets captivated Arlington to a three-and-out on its aperture possession, but Roche alternate a Corey DiLoreto interception for a 40-yard touchdown on Reading's after possession.
"I ahead the pick-six to alpha the bold absolutely affectionate of set the tone, accepting the advance on that," said Arlington arch drillmaster John Dubzinski. "I can't say abundant about the aegis — you win championships with defense, and that was a championship effort. Our o-line did a abundant job up advanced establishing the band of scrimmage."
On Arlington's abutting control Roche hauled in a 43-yard canyon from Alec Coleman to the Reading one-yard line, again plunged up the average for a additional touchdown and a 12-0 advance with 1:04 larboard in the aboriginal quarter.
The Rockets' abandoned first-half highlight came on the after alpha back inferior assurance Will Connery erupted for an 86-yard touchdown return. Tommy White's PAT fabricated it a one-possession bold (12-7) with 51 abnormal to play.
But the accurateness of the scoreboard was illusory. The Rockets absent Burcy anon thereafter and Arlington took a two touchdown advance (18-7) with a advantageous seven play, 60-yard touchdown drive amid through the additional quarter. Roche had an 11-yard gain, and fullback Tommy Houston (8 carries, 117 yards) ripped off a 15-yard run, again a 26-yard touchdown run off appropriate bouncer and center.
"We approved to accumulate them off antithesis with spread, power, tight, double-tights," said Dubzinski. "We approved to accord the brawl to our home run hitters Frank Roche and Tommy Houston and they responded like All-Scholastic players. The final account was surprising. I anticipation we could adhere with them. I didn't ahead it to be as biased as it was. We aloof played a absolute aggregation effort. I told the kids, Reading is a premiere football program, it's a acceptable barometer stick for us to exhausted them."
The additional bisected began about identical to the first. Alex Gera intercepted DiLoreto at the Reading 36 to accessible the third division and alternate the aces all the way to the two. One comedy after Roche bashed in for his third touchdown of the game. Afterwards the Rockets jumped offsides on the PAT, Roche ran in the about-face for a 26-7 lead.
On its abutting control Reading managed a attenuate aboriginal bottomward on a 38-yard run by green Nick DiNapoli to midfield, but the Rockets angry the brawl over on downs at the Arlington 46.
This time the Spy Ponders bare aloof three plays to score. Houston had a 27-yard run to the Reading 27, and one comedy after Coleman begin bound end Sukhi Singh for a 14-yard touchdown canyon and a 33-7 lead.
Arlington opened up the fourth division with a 50-yard Coleman touchdown run. Coleman bankrupt two tackles en avenue to the end area as the Rockets looked absolutely baffled and spent at that point.
Trailing 39-7, DiLoreto cut the advance to 39-14 with a 25-yard touchdown canyon to chief captain Will Murray afterward an Arlington turnover, but Houston ran for a 41-yard touchdown beneath than a minute after to end the scoring.
The Rockets will be attractive to aces up the pieces, admitting it has a abbreviate anniversary of convenance afore hosting Winchester Thursday night (7 p.m.).