Warriors Fall to Grey Ghosts in Rain-Soaked Battle

Turnovers plagued the Warriors Friday night in a loss to the Grey Ghosts of Westford Academy as rain soaked the turf at Wayland High School.

Third and fourth quarter scores by the Warriors weren't enough to overcome the work of Grey Ghosts quarterback Troy Faretra, who rushed for a pair of touchdowns, and Justin Mount and Ben Rodman, who each chipped in a score on the way to a 29-10 victory for the Grey Ghosts.

The game was delayed 20 minutes due to thunder and lightning in the area, and rain continued throughout the night. But when the Ghosts got the ball to start the game, they made up for lost time with an 11-play, 80-yard drive in just more than four minutes, capped off by Faretra's first touchdown, a 12-yard run.

Grey Ghosts head coach Rich McKenna said his playcalling wasn't affected by the weather. “We knew that we had to run the ball,” hs said. “We're not looking to sit there and throw... we never have. Just because we spread it out doesn't mean we're not looking to run the ball.”

Later in the first quarter, Ryan Pocock pounced on a Wayland fumble at the Wayland 24 yard line, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Mount three plays later. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play backed up the extra point attempt 15 yards. Instead of attempting the kick, the Ghosts converted on a two-point conversion, putting the visitors on top 15-0 with 2:14 left in the period.

With 1:33 left in the second quarter, the Grey Ghosts' defense forced another fumble deep in Wayland territory, leading to Faretra's second score of the game on the very next play, making the score 22-0.

The Warriors got a sorely-needed touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, covering 70 yards in just three plays. Matthew Goddard found Roby Williams across the middle for a 67-yard touchdown pass that put Wayland on the board with exactly one minute gone by in the third quarter.

But the Grey Ghosts responded with a quick drive of their own, going 86 yards in four plays and 63 seconds, capped off by a 56-yard touchdown run by Rodman to pump the lead back up to 22 points.

“It's good to have those weapons,” McKenna said. “We're trying to utilize those weapons and tuck 'em behind our big O-line.”

Wayland (4-3, 1-0 DCL Small) came away with one more score, a 35-yard field goal by Eric MacLean, with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors will be home again Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. against Newton South High School.