Patch's Massachusetts High School Football Players of the Week

By Bob Holmes, Patch Correspondent

John Coates, Waltham -- In a thrilling 15-14 win over Melrose, the senior quarterback scored the first Waltham touchdown on a 3-yard run, and then ran in the winning two-point conversion in the fourth quarter to give the Hawks the win. Waltham scored all its points in the fourth quarter.

Will Matovu, Tewksbury -- Coming into the year there were a lot of candidates at running back for Tewksbury, but no clear standout. That may have changed after the junior back ran for two second-quarter touchdowns in a 21-0 shutout of Methuen.

Joey D'Emilia and Matt Willis, Bridgewater-Raynham -- You won't find any big yardage or long scoring runs here. It was the little things that added up to B-R beating Xaverian, 22-21, ending the Hawks' state-best 25-game win streak. Willis blocked an extra point that kept B-R ahead by one and D'Emilia recovered a Xaverian fumble late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Jason Lopez, Marblehead -- The Magicians are off to a 2-0 start after beating Wakefield, 34-13. Credit for the win goes to Lopez, who ran for 137 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns, his second consecutive game with two scores.

Noah Freedman, Peabody -- The Tanners won their first game, blanking Malden, 7-0, thanks in large part to their junior running back. Freedman ran for 88 yards, including 39 on the winning drive, and the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Blake Hill, Milford -- In a 35-7 win over Franklin, the senior running back scored three touchdowns on runs of 13, 31, and 14 yards.

Matt Andreas, Danvers -- Unlike the first week win over Winthrop, there was no need for late heroics in the Falcons' 30-14 win over Lynnfield. Andreas scored two touchdowns as Danvers improved to 2-0 on the young season.

Anthony DeGirolamo, Mansfield -- The Hornets had no trouble with Braintree, beating the Wamps, 34-10, led by their senior quarterback who threw for one touchdown and ran for two more.

Isaac Nascimento, Wareham -- The senior back is off to a great start this fall and in a 39-8 win over Bourne he ran for 237 yards and four touchdowns.

Ben Jones, Belmont -- In a 34-6 win over Medford, the senior running back had 334 yards on 19 carries and scored all five touchdowns for the Marauders.

Joe Monteiro and Keshawn Brown, Brockton -- The senior co-captains combined to lead the Boxers past Weymouth, 14-12 in overtime. After Weymouth scored to tie it at 12-12, Brown blocked the extra point attempt and Monteiro picked it up and ran it back the other way for the winning points.

Sal Frelick, Lexington -- The senior is back on the weekly honor roll and why not? In a 35-34 win over Concord-Carlisle he completed 10 of 13 passes for 167 yards and a score, and also ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

Wyatt Shisler, Hanover -- It's hard to overlook how the Indians line dominated East Bridgewater Friday but in the 38-23 win their senior quarterback gets the nod here. Shisler was 5-of-8 passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 139 yards, all in the first half.

Connor Degenhardt, Westford -- In a 33-10 win over Chelmsford, the Grey Ghosts senior showed why he's one of the top quarterbacks in the state. Degenhardt threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns. He had 12 touchdown passes last year and already has six this fall after two games.

Bob Holmes has spent three decades covering high school football in Massachusetts for The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. Contact him at masspatchfootball@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @robertholmes630