FOXBORO — The brand of football King Philip plays generally does not build excitement.
The Warriors suffocate opponents on defense, and bludgeon them in the running game.
Using that successful formula again, KP earned a 13-7 win Friday night at Foxboro in a Hockomock League crossover.
KP improves to 6-0, while Foxboro took its first loss at 5-1. The victory also prevented Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli from winning his 300th game for at least a week.
“It’s tough to make a living just lining up and pounding straight ahead when everybody knows what you’re going to do,” King Philip coach Brian Lee said. “At the same time, you’re working a little clock trying to keep them off the field. We really missed some big opportunities. Missed a field goal, (didn’t convert a) fourth and 1. We missed them, they stopped us. Those things kept them in the game, fighting until the end like they always do.
“It’s always a battle over here. Did I expect a battle when I come here? Yeah. Always. And they play their hearts out for Jack. There’s a lot on the line for them, and those kids gave everything they had for him.”
One kid who laid it all out for Lee was junior running back Andrew Laplante. He carried the ball 32 times for 162 yards. He did not score, but he made one hard run after another, and led a KP rushing attack that was relentless.
Fullback Jack Berthiaume rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 7 yards, and Aidan Astorino had another 37 yards rushing.
KP took over in the first half then held on in the second. The Warriors went 80 yards on 11 plays to start the game, as Laplante had 46 of those yards on six attempts. Berthiaume punched it in from a yard out and KP led, 7-0, 6:13 left in the quarter.
The Warriors then got great field position in the second quarter at the Foxboro 28, and Berthiaume cashed in from 7 yards out to make it 13-0 with 4:53 left in the half.
KP made two interceptions — by Brandon Nicastro and Thomas Kilroy — in the third quarter, but Foxboro running back Ben Angelini executed a perfect double-pass for a 69-yard touchdown to wide receiver Nolan Gordon in the fourth quarter. Angelini had 51 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Foxboro quarterback Mike Marcucella threw for 85 yards.
But Foxboro could not put together a late drive, and KP held on.
“It’s something we put in this week,” Martinelli said of the double pass. “I’m proud of them. We lost to a damn good football team. Hung in there right to the very end. We made how many fourth-down stops? I don’t know. If there is a lesson to any of this, the rest of your life is not going to be all balloons and candies. We hadn’t trailed in any game at any juncture to this point. They had a little adversity. KP is tough as nails. We knew that. They’re big, strong, and powerful. Proud of the kids.”
