Tewksbury Clinches MVC Small Title

Don't tell anyone on the Tewksbury sideline that it was anything but a beautiful day.

Tewksbury overcame cold, rain, and muddy conditions to beat visiting Billerica, 20-7, Saturday and clinch the Merrimack Valley Small football title. With the win, Tewksbury (7-0) will be the top seed in the Division 2 North playoffs, with Billerica (6-1) the likely No. 2 seed. The MIAA pairings will be released Sunday.

Sophomore Jay Connolly and senior Aaron Whitehouse shared the role of hero. Connolly threw for one score and ran for another while Whitehouse returned a punt 57 yards for a score and caught a 47-yard touchdown pass.

After the first half ended in a 7-7 tie, Tewksbury took a 14-7 lead with 2:19 to play in the third on Whitehouse's punt return. The Redmen took that lead into the fourth quarter and sealed the win when Connolly scored on a 1-yard run with 6:41 to play. The missed extra point was about the only thing Tewksbury did wrong in the half but the 20-7 lead was more than enough.

Tewksbury dominated the first quarter but it was scoreless after one. In the second quarter, Billerica took a 7-0 lead on a 47-yard Zac Burns to Dean Brooks touchdown pass with 1:58 to play before the half. Tewksbury came back and tied it when Connolly connected with Whitehouse on a 47-yard scoring pass with 41 seconds to play.