The Rams came out victorious after defeating Warren Hills 26-21 at home on Friday, Oct. 4. The win was especially sweet as it came on Bulldogs Night, the annual celebration of Randolph youth football.
“We fought to the very end to get a win the entire team needed,” senior Dustin McFarland said of the win.
The Warren Hills offense opened the game, moving methodically down the field as they were able to strike first, bringing the score to 0-7.
The Rams looked to assert their dominance through the air as junior Jackson Magley was able to evade pressure and find junior Joey Sommer on the third down to move the chains. The Rams were knocking on the door as they found themselves on the 5-yard line. After penalties against the Rams, Magley threw a jump ball to Sommer in the back corner of the end zone, making the score 7-6.
Junior cornerback Mason Wilson put the Warren Hills drive to sleep after coming down with an interception, setting up the Rams at midfield. Unfortunately, the Rams ended up punting after four plays.
“I think the team overall came out and gave it everything we had,” sophomore Patrick Dell’Aglio said. “We stayed strong the whole game and didn’t get down or get tired at all.”
The Rams defense eventually shut down the Warren Hills offense, forcing a punt and giving the Rams an opportunity to take the lead. The Rams offense established their run game with multiple runs from senior Gideon Ocheing.
The Rams finished the drive with a play action pass, allowing for a wide-open Sommer touchdown, his second of the day, giving the Rams a 12-7 lead.
Warren Hills looked like they were putting together a promising drive, but it was put to a stop when sophomore Zayne Carswell jumped in front of the pass for an interception, giving the Rams the ball back with under five minutes to go in the half.
The Rams offense was moving with momentum, with Magley and Ochieng finding running lanes that set up the Rams in the red zone. Ochieng, running behind senior Ryan Collins’block, rumbled into the endzone, extending the Rams lead to 18-6 going into halftime.
“We faced adversity well during the week,” senior captain Dean Mangiocavallo said. “We knew to come out strong in the first half, to make a statement.”
The Warren Hills defense came out of halftime with a mission, as they quickly forced a 3 and out getting their offense the ball.
Warren Hills looked to jump start their offense, but Dell’Aglio quickly put that to rest, picking off the ball and giving the Rams an opportunity to go up three scores.
After the Rams were not able to convert, Warren Hills returned their own fumble for a 96-yard touchdown to inch closer to the Rams at 18-14.
To start the fourth quarter, the Rams offense stalled out and faced a 4th and goal. Wilson took the touch pass from Magley. Facing pressure, Wilson threw the ball to Dell’Aglio for another Rams touchdown putting them up 26-14.
Warren Hills did not lie down for the Rams though, as they got back on their horse and marched down the field to make it a one-score game, 26-21.
As the Rams got the ball late in the fourth quarter, junior Logan Hankin stepped up to chew the rest of the time off the clock. Not without help from Magley, he converted on a key third down to end the game.
“The offensive line did a great job in the run game all game,” Magley said. “It opened up the offense, and we were able to move the ball at will.”
The Rams look to carry this week 5 victory into their upcoming homecoming game against their rival, Roxbury, tonight, Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m.
