Sports

Medfield Football Opens TVL Schedule Against Defending Super Bowl Champs

Medfield hosts Holliston in the Tri-Valley League Large Division season opener tonight at 7 p.m. on the MHS Turf.

It’s a big night for the football team.

The Warriors open its 2011 season against defending TVL and Division 3A Super Bowl champs, Holliston.

“Holliston is a talented team that knows how to win,” Medfield head coach Erik Ormberg said. “We have a tall challenge in front of us. The kids are excited.”

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The challenge, according to Ormberg, is facing a “talented team that expects to win all their games.”

“Holliston is the defending TVL champs and the defending Super Bowl champs,” Ormberg said. Someone needs to take that away from them and our guys will have an opportunity on Friday.”

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In order to take that away from Holliston, Medfield will have to keep up with Holliston’s speed.

“We need to match Holliston's speed,” Ormberg said. “We need to win the line of scrimmage. We have to secure the ball and win the field position battle. We need to do everything at full speed.”

After starting the season 0-2 against non-league teams, Medfield (1-2, 0-0) routed , for its first win of the year, building momentum heading into the league opener.

“I'd say the tide of confidence is where it should be going into our first league game,” Ormberg said. “The level of competitiveness at practice was where it should be.”

Despite the big game implications surrounding this week, Ormberg said his team is operating like it is business as usual.

“This week was like any other,” Ormberg said. “The staff has put together a plan of attack. The kids have taken a number of reps in order to prepare. The scout teams worked overtime in trying to replicate the team speed Holliston brings to the table.”

Ormberg said Holliston’s offense revolves around two key offensive skill players, quarterback Dan Barone and running back Jake Frechette and the Warriors will have to contain them in order to be successful.

“We know the success of their offense depends heavily on those two players,” Ormberg said. “They execute. They get to the perimeter. They are disciplined on both sides of the ball. They run spread and diesel [formations on offense]. We have prepared for their formations and repped the plays that we think are imperative to stop.”

For Medfield, Ormberg said “everyone who steps on the field will have a job to do” before singling out two players in particular.

“I give credit to Joe Shebertes and TJ Valente,” Ormberg said. “They went from skill position players to the offensive line this week. They have put team first all year and this is another example of them understanding what ‘team’ is all about.”

After a strong week of practice and a game plan that the coaches and players believe in, Ormberg said the Warriors are ready to begin the 2011 TVL Large season.

“I know we will compete,” said Ormberg.

Medfield hosts Holliston at 7 p.m. Friday on the MHS Turf.

Fans Encouraged to Wear ‘Carolina Blue’ at Tonight’s Game

Medfield parents and students are encouraged to show school spirit by wearing “Carolina blue” at tonight’s game to create a “Carolina Blue Out” in the stands for the Medfield Warriors as they take on the defending Division 3A Super Bowl champs.

“Fans have done ‘White Outs’ at hoop games and word got out about the ‘Blue Out,’” Ormberg said. “We are hoping for a good turnout.”


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