OA Football Looking to Re-Claim Top Davenport Spot at Stoughton

One team will have its eye set on a league championship, while the other looks to keep its title hopes alive.

When the final whistle sounds Friday night at Anthony Sarno field in Stoughton, either the Black Knights will clinch the Davenport Division football championship, or the Tigers will play spoilers and control their own destiny in the small division ().

Both teams are looking to snap long droughts between league championships. Stoughton is looking to snap a 10 year span between titles (Hock tri-champs in 2001) and a 36 year span between its last outright league title back in 1975. OA, meanwhile, has not won a league crown since 1969 - a 42-year drought.

Stoughton is coming off a pivotal victory over Foxborough last Friday that snapped a two-game losing streak. OA, meanwhile, comes in losers of three straight, including its

On paper, the match-up looks pretty even, especially in the ground game. While Stoughton senior Aaron Mack will get the majority of his team’s carries, OA will look to use Carlton Williamson a little more after a three touchdown performance last week (two on kickoff returns); especially with leading rusher Sam Langston questionable with a chest injury.

Defensively, Stoughton and OA have given up the fewest points among the division allowing an average of 14.4 and 17.9 points per game, respectively.

Storylines

Since week six, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. OA has been inconsistent on both ends of the ball, while Stoughton, despite some tough losses against Attleboro and Franklin, has been opportunistic.

OA’s offense has been plagued by turnovers during its skid – including three last week – and will need to limit mistakes in this pivotal contest. While the Tigers have been driven the ball down the field on several occasions, they continually shoot themselves in the foot by not turning those offensive possessions into points.

The usually reliable Tiger 'D' has also struggled during the skid, giving up over 150 yards rushing against Mansfield, North Attleboro and Canton. As a result, opposing offenses have been able to win the time of possession battle and put the OA offense into an early hole.

In last week’s win over Foxborough, Stoughton’s defense made some key plays when it mattered the most, including Alex Kimball’s interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Offensively, the Black Knights also got a strong performance from Mack and junior quarterback Aaron Calixte in his second straight start.

With Stoughton’s sights set on a championship and a desperate OA squad looking to extend its season, Friday’s contest has all a football fan can ask for in this late season matchup.