MIDDLEBORO – The Middleboro varsity football team was seeded 3rd going into their first playoff game, but the Sachems were upset by the Marblehead Magicians, who were seeded 14th. Middleboro lost their playoff game and were knocked out with a 12-21 loss on Friday, Nov. 3.

Middleboro scored two touchdowns, including an 82 yard punt return from Junior Caiden Carriuolo. Middleboro coach Patrick Kingman tried to go for two points twice instead of kicking two extra points, a decision that, if successful, would have given Middleboro four additional points and would have put Middleboro within one touchdown of winning the game.

Middleboro failed to convert on either two point attempt, and ultimately the Sachems weren’t able to make up the ground between them and the Magicians. 

“Our return guys are some of our more explosive players. Any time you get the ball in their hand it gives us a chance to score,” Kingman said of Carriuolo’s punt return. “That’s what you’re hoping for, to try to get a spark.”

“We just fell short tonight. They’re a good team and we didn’t play as well,” he added. “You play the whole forty-eight minutes and you never quit. And our kids didn’t. They played the whole time. We ran out of time and couldn’t make enough plays.”

Marblehead opened the scoring with a touchdown pass. The Magicians got on the board again in the third quarter with another touchdown pass, leaving the score at 0-14.

Middleboro got a chance to get back into the game after Carriuolo returned Marblehead’s punt for an 82 yard touchdown. The Sachems then ran a trick play, where Middleboro pretended like they were going to kick an extra point, but in reality had quarterback and Senior captain Nate Goodine attempt to run the ball to get two points. The attempt was unsuccessful, putting the score at 6-14.

Marblehead then got a third touchdown in the fourth quarter, leaving a little bit more than three minutes on the clock. In crunch time, Middleboro marched down the field and Goodine completed a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Andrew Falk.

Middleboro then tried to go for two points again but again was unsuccessful. Kingman said in retrospect, he should have called for the team to kick an extra point, which he said would have given his team a better chance to tie the game.

“When we went to 12, we should have went for one, got to 13, and then if we got the onside then we have [a chance to get] eight points,” Kingman said.

Middleboro then attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Marblehead. Marblehead was then able to run out the clock and end the game.

Middleboro’s cheer team was at the game and led cheers for the Middleboro supporters who attended the game. Cheerleader and team captain Jiadah Jacobs said that the cheer team was excited to be competing in the sport’s regional tournament.

“We’re very excited to make it to regionals,” Jacobs said. 

Kingman said that there were a lot of lessons his players learn by playing football. “You learn a lot about yourself, your teammates, how to trust people, how to build relationships, teamwork, and all that kind of stuff,” he said.

But the loss means the team has to find ways to improve, Kingman said.

“We have to find ways to get better,” Kingman said. “We got to get a bit more physical. We got to find a way to make situational stops. We just didn’t do that tonight. I have to get back and start doing a better job coaching.”