Warriors Expect a Physical Marshfield

Some of the Lincoln-Sudbury football players and head coach described Marshfield High the same way – physical.

For this reason, the Warriors (0-1) know they are facing one of their toughest opponents when they play the defending Division 2A champions at home on Thursday.

"They are as good as anybody we are going to play," said L-S head football coach Thomas Lopez. "We better bring our A-game with us."

Marshfield, which beat Masconomet, 13-12, in last year's Division 2A championship, has been to the title game four years in a row. The Rams (1-0) are returning six defensive starters from that championship team.

"They are an outstanding program," said Lopez. "They are tough kids who are pretty physical."

The Warriors lost 22-7 on the road to last year's Marshfield program. Lopez is hoping the team's experience will help them this year.

"We did not move the ball particularly well," said Lopez. "I would like to be able to throw and run the ball on them a little better."

L-S is coming off a 28-17 home loss against Tewksbury last Friday — a game in which the Warriors gave up the first 14-points and took almost 25 minutes to score their first touchdown.

"We have got to move the ball more productively," said senior running back Marc Pace. "Last game we had some opportunities we could have seized that we did not."

"Our offensive line needs some improvement and our defensive line did not play particularly well," added Lopez.

Marshfield gained a 33-20 home win against Dracut on Saturday. In their victory, the Rams produced three turnovers, including two for touchdowns.

"Our offense was very consistent, in addition to the (turnovers)," said Marshfield head coach Lou Silva. "I would like to see us be more consistent with big plays.

"Last week we created quite a few turnovers."

Rams senior Jonathon Fraser had both a reception and fumble recovery for a touchdown against Dracut. Silva expects a strong performance from Fraser, along with junior running back Bryan Mey and senior nose guard Thomas Pomella.

"Fraser is a tremendous athlete and three-sport starter," said Silva. "Mey has had good consistency all preseason and Pomella is rarely off the field."

Strong performances last week for L-S came from sophomore Brian Carroll and Pace. Carroll had the team's two touchdowns, while Pace had an interception and multiple returns over 20 yards.

"Carroll and Pace both did a very good job," said Lopez. "It is something to build on."

While the Warriors had a strong kick-return game, they had trouble on punt coverage. Two of Tewksbury's punt returns almost made it back to the point of the snap.

Lopez noted a 24-yard punt return by Tewksbury that left the Redmen on the Warriors 17-yard line.

"That punt set up their third touchdown," said Lopez. "We can not give up a 17-yard march.

"One thing we worked on all this week was our punt game."

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on the Doucette Field turf at Lincoln-Sudbury High School.

"They are well-coached and tough," said Lopez. "They are even a better team than Tewksbury."

"These games against good teams show how good you are," added Silva.