9 December, 2014
Hopkinton and Ashland met on thanksgiving morning for the 91st time at the home of the Clockers. Snow fell throughout the previous night into the morning, making the field a sloppy wet surface.
First Drive of the Game Pat Ryan illudes a couple of defenders and completes to Haiden Pereira who was forced out of bounds at around the Ashland 45 yard-line, then a few players later, Jake Kelleher at Quarterback, Pat Ryan Spread to the left, Pat Ryan catches the football for a first down. The Ashland defense stepped it up however, Drew Donohue stuffed for a loss, then Jake Kelleher sacked, the Clockers defense got the job done and keep the game scoreless.
On Ashland's posession QB Mitch Porter finds Filip Cooper under pressure and Cooper turns on the Jets and breaks into Hillers territory. Colin Hanrahan than sets up Ashland nicely within the Hillers 20 yardline heading to the 2nd quarter. Ashland kept the charge going with a great catch by Max Feinburg. Later in the drive a Hopkinton Pass interference call sets up a Mitch Porter Touchdown to make it a 6-0 game, a Joe Kerkach extra point put the Clockers up 7 with 8:16 left in the first half.
After the Ashland touchdown, both defenses went back and forth forcing punts but then in the 4th quarter Pat Ryan goes to Matt Decina for the first
down, then later in the drive Pat Ryan connects with Matt Decina for the touchdown. Hillers were an extra point away from tying the game, however did not convert on the extra point as Ryan took the snap and threw it incomplete with 6:56 left to go in the game. Clockers remained ahead 7-6.
The Hillers then went for the onside kick but Ashland scoops it up and has the football with great field position. Ashland moved the chains a couple times but the Hillers defense bent but did not break as they force the turnover on downs. Hillers get the ball at their own 30 with 2:24 left to go in the game.
Kelleher then threw a ball off the hands of Pat Ryan and the Clockers intercepted. Ashland had a chance to end it with a first down, but Colin Hanrahan jumped offside pushing the Clockers back 5 yards late in the 4th and leading to an incomplete pass followed by a punt late in the game.
Jake Kelleher put together a good last drive finding Matt Decina and Pat Ryan for big completions and found Haiden Pereira inside the 10 yard-line.
A flag pushed the Hillers back on 4th down so now it was about a 31 yard field goal try for Adam Giordano, Giordano kicked it through to make it 9-7 Hopkinton with not a lot of time left. Hillers kick off and Ashland is hoping for a miracle. lateral followed by lateral but Hopkinton special teams come through and secure the 9-7 victory. The Hillers finish the season 5 and 6, Ashland 6 and 5.
Congratulations to the 2014 Hopkinton Hillers Football team on a great finish!
