TEWKSBURY — Despite its No. 7 seed in Division 3 North, the English football team had high hopes for its postseason journey following a 5-2 regular season.
But a trip to defending section champion Tewksbury didn’t make for an easy start. The Bulldogs fought and scored the final two touchdowns before falling short in Saturday’s 31-28 game at Doucette Stadium.
Mathias Fowler, Sam Ofurie and Tahj Purter all rushed for English touchdowns. Purter also caught an 85-yarder from Fowler to tie the score at 14-14 in the second quarter.
“I’m proud of the way my kids battled and played a full 48 minutes, but unfortunately we didn’t make enough plays and lost to a good team,” English head coach Chris Carroll said. “I think a play here or a play there and it’s a different game.
“We came ready to win a ballgame and we were almost there. The first round of the playoffs is a little short of our expectations this year, but we’ll bounce back.”
After the first three series were scoreless, the touchdowns went back and forth for most of the first half. English played from behind after Ryne Rametta’s 24-yard pass to Tyler Keough helped the Redmen take a 7-0 lead with 3:40 left in the first.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to respond as Fowler broke into the end zone on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. Tyler Drinan’s ensuing PAT tied the score.
Richard Markwarth’s 9-yard reception in the back of the end zone lifted Tewksbury at the beginning of the second, but English pushed again just two plays later with Purter’s long scoring run down the sideline.
Kyle Darrigo’s short run and a 29-yard Keough field goal extended the Redmen lead to 10 at the half.
“We started off pretty strong on defense, but then we weren’t able to get many stops,” Carroll said. ”That’s really been unlike us for most of the year. We’ve been a relatively stingy defense, and even on offense I think we left some points on the board.”
Darrigo found the end zone four plays into the second half before English ran a 16-play drive that Ofurie capped with an 8-yard run. The series saw the Bulldogs in several long situations, including a fake punt that Purter converted for a first down four plays in.
“A lot of guys stepped up, but all I can say is that drive took too long,” Carroll said. “We don’t normally grind out long drives like that, but that’s a good defense. They expect to win at home, and you have to take it from them.”
Darrigo intercepted Fowler on the next series before the Bulldogs got the ball back and scored on Purter’s 4-yard run. It was too little too late, however, as Tewksbury recovered an onside kick and ran to the win.
“Being down, I think there was more attention to the passing game from their defense so that opened up lanes,” Carroll said. “We took what the defense gave us. The guys played hard for a full 48 minutes.”
English drops into the non-tournament bracket and it’s next opponent is TBA.
