Friday, September 14, 2018

RECAP & VIDEO: Isaiah Laguerre Comes Through Late, Keeps Brockton Unbeaten


Recap and Video by Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Natick, Mass. – For a moment it looked as though Brockton lost a chance at victory. Isaiah Laguerre brought it back.

With Brockton and host Natick tied at 20 and less than a minute to play, Laguerre came through with a blocked punt resulting in a safety. Following a Redhawks’ free kick, Michael Norman ran out the clock with three straight runs as Brockton edged out a 22-20 win over Natick in front of a packed house on Friday night at Memorial Field.

“I knew the offensive line was focused on me so I first rushed to the right before using my agility to cut back left,” said Laguerre. “Then it was all instinct. I saw the ball, just jumped up and swatted it.” 

Laguerre’s play made sure the Boxers never experienced what would have been an unthinkable loss.
Just moments prior to the blocked punt, Brockton looked like it was going for the game-winning score.

Tied up at 20, the Boxers went on a six-play drive highlighted by a pair of carries by Ajani Horne for 23 yards to get inside the Natick 25-yard line with 1:20 left. While trying to drain the clock, however, Gio Dejesus recovered a Boxers fumble handing possession over to the Redhawks.

Brockton’s defense stood tall, compiling a pair of sacks and a quick three-and-out to give Laguerre the chance to come through with the biggest play of the night.

“The roller coaster of roller coasters,” said Brockton coach Peter Colombo. “We did a great job of pinning them back there at the end and felt we had nothing to lose. Big play for Isaiah. Tremendous high school football game.”

The Boxers trailed 13-12 going into the fourth quarter, but grabbed the lead on their first play from scrimmage to begin the frame courtesy of a 23-yard touchdown run by Ahmik Watterson (8 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs).

Natick answered right back behind the arm of its sophomore quarterback.

On fourth-and-15 from the Brockton 18, Will Lederman (8/15, 132 yards, 2 TD) man picked up a fumbled snap, rolled left, and connected with a Nick Ofodile in the back corner of the end zone to tie the game at 20.

The Redhawks had a chance to take a fourth quarter lead on its next drive after forcing a Brockton three-and-out marching down to the Boxers’ 27-yard line. Natick, however, missed a go-ahead touchdown pass on a drop before turning the ball over on downs.

“You have to overcome adversity and good teams do that," said Colombo. "Our defensive coaches do a great job. The kids are always ready. There's a lot of pressure on them sometimes and they always rise to the occasion."

Despite being down 7-6 to begin the second quarter, it looked as though Brockton was going to head into the half in front as a nine-play 60 yard drive capped off by a two-yard keeper by Norman gave the Boxers a five-point edge with 2:59 left in the half.

Natick came right back.

A pair of completions from Lederman to Angel Lebron moved Natick down to the Boxers 25-yard line. Moments later, Lederman completed a perfect over the shoulder pass to Max Ferrucci (145 total yards, 2 TD) for a 24-yard touchdown to give Natick a 13-12 lead going into halftime.




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