MIDDLEBORO – For much of the Middleboro versus Apponequet football game on Thursday, Sept. 5, the score was tied 7-7. A touchdown in the third quarter propelled the Sachems to a 14-7 home field victory and a strong start to the season.

"It's a positive," said Middleboro head football coach Patrick Kingman. "We showed that we're a tough gritty football team and I'm proud of that."

This is the 28th time the two nearby schools have gone head-to-head to kick off the season.

"It was a hard fought game," said Apponequet head football coach Zane Fyfe. "Offensively we had multiple opportunities deep in their territory, we just didn't finish the drive."

According to Fyfe, his team needs to work on the “fundamentals.”

“We're still not getting the basics,” he said. “We do have some young guys that are playing and today was a learning curve for these kids. They'll get better as the season goes on but we've got to fix the little things."

Kingman explained that even with a victory over Apponequet, the Sachems need to fix some mistakes on the field.

“In life in general you make mistakes and it's an opportunity to learn from that,” he said. “You make a mistake, try not to do it again and that's what [we try to do] on the football field and … in the classroom."

Fyfe said he hopes this is Apponequet’s only loss of the season.

"[I’m] positive,” he said. “We're moving forward. I told the kids tomorrow comes and we're prepping for Abington. We’ll forget about this, it’s done … we’ll move forward too."

The Apponequet Lakers will face Abington High School on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.

For Kingman, Thursday’s win against Apponequet doesn’t change his outlook for the season.

“We're the same thing no matter what," said Kingman. “I hate to [be] cliche but you play to win the game. You can't win all of them if you don't win the first one. Our plan is to try and go 1-0 every week and realistically we want to win a league championship."

This positive outlook was also shared amongst fans.

Middleboro High School students Jordan Ingram, 16; Olivia Mather, 16; Raegann Griffin, 15; and Julia Gray, 16; expressed their excitement for the rest of the season.

"Oh yeah, so excited," the girls said.

"It's so fun when the games are at night," said Griffin. "I'm excited to see what this team can bring."

Fall River resident Jim Porter, 85, came to the game to photograph and watch his grandson play for Apponequet. "I expected Middleboro to walk on them," said Porter. Despite the loss he said the Lakers exceeded his expectations.

Middleboro will welcome Holliston High School next Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.