PREVIEW
For a long, long time, the North Attleboro/Mansfield game was circled on every calendar around the Hockomock League as it almost always had high implications for the Hockomock League championship, and in turn, who went on to the MIAA tournament.
The league itself has changed with two divisions and the playoffs have also changed, with a lot more than the league champion going to the postseason. But one thing that hasn’t changed is intensity of the rivalry between the Hornets and the Rocketeers. While none of the current players on either side have gone head-to-head in high school, this week’s HockomockSports Game of the Week should see the rivalry pick up right where it left off in 2014.
Two people that are plenty familiar with the rivalry are Mansfield head coach Mike Redding and North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. The two grew up playing Pop Warner together in North Attleboro, were teammates in high school for the Rocketeers, and continued as teammates at Holy Cross. Redding has been at the helm of the Hornets since 1989 while Johnson took over the Big Red in 2009 but has been with the program since 1983 meaning both have been apart of this rivalry for a long time.
North Attleboro’s switch to the Davenport division for the 2015 season put a halt to the rivalry but the change to the MIAA playoffs this season allowed for more non-league games and the Hornets and Rocketeers will clash at Community Field for the first time since 2014. North owns a 55-33-3 advantage in the series that dates back to 1920, but the teams have split the last 15 meetings with seven wins apiece and one tie (12-12) in 2002.
That means the Hornets will get their first dose of North Attleboro senior quarterback Tyler DeMattio, who has wreaked havoc against Davenport foes over the past two seasons. North will meet a host of new faces, not just to the rivalry but to the varsity level. Conner Zukowski made his debut under center, and in impressive fashion too, knocking off St. John’s Shrewsbury on the road. North is coming off a loss to rival Bishop Feehan, with DeMattio scoring the lone touchdown and kicking a field goal for all of the Rocketeers’ points.
In its win over the Pioneers, the Hornets used a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to get the win. Zukowski connected with Trevor Foley, a 6’4, 180-pound sophomore, for both of the fourth quarter scores. Mansfield’s defense also did its part as Foley, sophomore CJ Bell, and junior Caden Colby all had interceptions to halt drives by St. John’s Shrewsbury.
This one could come down to the ground game. North struggled to have any consistency on the offensive side of the ball against the Shamrocks but one thing we’ve learned over the years is that the Rocketeers only get better as the season goes on. Meanwhile, Bishop Feehan back Nick Yanchuk ran for over 200 yards on the ground for the Rocketeers will need to tighten things against Mansfield this week. Rocco Scarpellini (112 rushing yards) and Drew Sacco spearheaded Mansfield’s rushing attack, each scoring in the second quarter.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
September 26, 2014 – Mansfield, 22 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final – North Attleboro only ran one play on offense in the first quarter but put up 21 points and never trailed in a win over Mansfield at Community Field. Pat Munley scored after Bobby Mylod blocked a punt, Nick Rajotte returned a kickoff 89 yards for a score, and Brody Barr scored on a 58-yard quarterback run for a big early lead. Andrew Hanwell added an interception and a rushing score for North.
September 27th, 2013 – North Attleboro, 14 @ Mansfield, 35 – Final – Mansfield’s loaded offense was on full display in their matchup with the Rocketeers. Mansfield, who went on to finish undefeated and win the state championship, got a pair of touchdowns from running back Miguel Villar-Perez (121 yards) and Kyle Wisnieski hooked up with Michael Hershman for two more. Mansfield led 21-7 at halftime; Brendan Hill anchored the Mansfield defense with a pair of sacks.
October 26, 2012 – Mansfield, 21 @ North Attleboro, 36 – Final – North Attleboro scored seconds into the contest and bookended the first half with a score just before the break at Community Field. On just the second play of the game, Ryan Perron hit Jake Dellaire for a 62-yard touchdown and just before halftime, Perron linked up with Alex Jette for a 40-yard touchdown to take a 20-7 edge into halftime. Mansfield took the lead in the second half after a touchdown from Kevin Makie, and a passing touchdown from Kyle Wisnieski to Mike Hershman, but Perron put the hosts back in front with a rushing score. Dwayne Hunter put the game away with a 75-yard touchdown run.
November 11th, 2011 – North Attleboro 18, @ Mansfield, 15 – Final – Mansfield fumbled on its very first play and North Attleboro took advantage of the good field position with a rushing touchdown from Spyro Varetimos just minutes into the game to set the tone. Varetimos hit Alex Jette for a five-yard pass and catch into the endzone to double North’s lead but a fumble helped Mansfield get back into the game as George Busharis hit Greg Donahue for a touchdown just before halftime. Varetimos got his third overall touchdown of the game on a pass to Paul Norris.
October 29, 2010 – Mansfield, 24 @ North Attleboro, 15 – Final – North Attleboro scored late in the fourth quarter on a halfback pass from Danny Johnson to Ryan Flannery to get within two points but Mansfield’s Joe Oram stuffed a two-point conversion attempt to preserve the lead. Mansfield recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Hornets tacked on a late touchdown with under a minute to play to ice the win. George Busharis opened the scoring with a touchdown pass to Jeff Hill and Dave Eberhardt made it 10-0 with a close field goal. North responded with Zach Horton kicked a field goal and Brady Shorey hit Paul McCarthy for 51 yards; only a blocked PAT kept the visitors ahead. Jamel Marshall and Greg Donahue had fourth quarter rushing scores for Mansfield, who handed North its first loss of the season.
POLL
Predictions
Mansfield @ North Attleboro
Ryan Lanigan: 
Mansfield
Josh Perry: Mansfield
Attleboro @ Bishop Feehan
Ryan Lanigan: 
Attleboro
Josh Perry: Attleboro
Canton vs. Norton
Ryan Lanigan: 
Canton
Josh Perry: Canton
Foxboro @ Whitman-Hanson
Ryan Lanigan: 
Foxboro
Josh Perry: Foxboro
Franklin @ Brockton
Ryan Lanigan: 
Franklin
Josh Perry: Franklin
King Philip @ Needham
Ryan Lanigan: 
King Philip
Josh Perry: King Philip
Milford @ Wellesley
Ryan Lanigan: 
Milford
Josh Perry: Milford
Oliver Ames @ Quincy
Ryan Lanigan: 
Oliver Ames
Josh Perry: Oliver Ames
Stoughton vs. Braintree
Ryan Lanigan: 
Stoughton
Josh Perry: Stoughton
Taunton @ Durfee
Ryan Lanigan: 
Taunton
Josh Perry: Taunton
Sharon @ Seekonk
Ryan Lanigan: 
Sharon
Josh Perry: Sharon
Records
Ryan Lanigan: 6-5
Josh Perry: 6-5