The Rivalry Continues: Medfield and Dover-Sherborn to Meet for 46th Time on Thanksgiving

Rivalry, tradition and bragging rights – that’s Thanksgiving Day football.

Thursday’s Turkey Day tilt between Medfield and Dover-Sherborn will feature all the above as both teams meet for the 46th time Thursday at 10 a.m. at Medfield’s Calvin George Fisher Memorial Field.

With nothing left to play for beyond pride and the final score, game 13 on the schedule is the biggest of the season for both schools.

“Thanksgiving week is a special week in Massachusetts,” said Medfield head coach Erik Ormberg. “The games this week are a culmination for many teams. “A lot happens on Thanksgiving and I think the Medfield/D-S rivalry has been special because of the community and competition surrounding the teams.”

Here’s a closer look into Thursday’s game:

Rivalry:

Prior to Thursday’s game, Medfield and Dover-Sherborn have met 45 times on Thanksgiving. The towns border each other and carry a sense of community and school pride whenever these two teams meet on the field, ice rink or basketball court.

Familiarity, as they say, breeds contempt, which ultimately forms rivals. After 45 football games against one another, it’s obvious these two teams know each other.

“I think of the rivalry as a time of competition and a time of community,” Ormberg said. “All the seniors become football alumni once the game is over and they are the focal point in the community for a couple of very special hours.”

Tradition:

The Medfield/D-S football tradition has created memorable games, special moments and countless memories over the years.

“In the 10 years I have been a part of the Medfield staff, we have had some games go right down to the wire,” Ormberg said. “We've had playoff implications based on us winning a game and another team winning. We lost a game in 2004, 35-34 that kept Holliston out of the playoffs.”  

As for the tradition of playing on Thanksgiving, Ormberg said it’s the “exclamation point” of the season.

“It is the crossover into alumni-status for the seniors, it's a chance for junior leaders to arise,” Ormberg said. “Our staff has one D-S graduate in Mark Rose, four MHS graduates in Brian Gavaghan, Kevin Gavaghan, Brian Frazier and Josh Minsky. I know it means a lot to those guys. Mark is a D-S grad coaching his son (Greg Rose), a future MHS grad on Thanksgiving. Mark is ready to coach the game … I'd say he's ready to play the game.
“Thanksgiving, to me, means family and football. There is a sudden finality to the season on Thanksgiving, for everyone, coaches, players and parents. It's a special day that resonates in the off-season.”

Bragging Rights:

Medfield currently leads its Thanksgiving Day series with D-S, 24-17-4 but D-S has won the last two meetings, including last year’s 14-9 victory over the Warriors in Dover. Here’s a look at the last six meetings between the two schools:

• 2010-D-S, 14-9
• 2009-D-S, 28-12
• 2008-Medfield, 28-12
• 2007-Medfield, 21-0
• 2006-Medfield, 34-0
• 2005-Medfield, 28-13
• 2004-D-S, 35-34

Game Day Preview:

Medfield and Dover-Sherborn endured similar seasons in terms of overall records and results against common opponents. As a result, neither team will be advancing to the playoffs this year, putting even more emphasis on Thursday’s season finale in Medfield.

“We do match-up well [against Dover-Sherborn],” Ormberg said. “We've been throwing the ball a lot more lately given Alex Opiela's success finding receivers on the run. We feel as though we have three big threats at wide receiver in Jake Mintz, TJ Valente and Tim Bernard. The offensive line has stabilized as of late and we hope to control the line of scrimmage and stay disciplined when D-S blitzes and to tackle well for four quarters. The efforts of Ife Adebayo, Doug Nelson, Greg Rose and Conor Davis have allowed Alex to connect with receivers.”

Despite a 3-7 record (2-2 in Tri-Valley League Small Division), D-S has made significant improvements on the field over the last three weeks.

“D-S has been playing great lately,” Ormberg said. “They hung with Westwood, losing 7-0 (Nov. 4). Their offensive coordinator is a former Westwood coordinator and their head coach is a former assistant at Westwood. The D-S staff put together a great game plan and limited Westwood in all phases of the game.

The Raiders’ progress over the last three weeks culminated in a 48-19 victory over Ashland on Nov. 11.

“D-S handed it to Ashland even though they had a few kids out with injuries,” Ormberg said. “With an extra week to prepare, I imagine D-S will come at us with a double tight and spread formation. They will play an aggressive 44 defense similar to Medway.”

As for the players Medfield will be looking to contain, D-S’ Billy Polk tops the list.

“Billy Polk is a hardnosed running back,” Ormberg said. “Their success is relative to his success. Their quarterback, [Will Scatchard], makes great decisions with their zone read and throws a good ball. D-S is a balanced threat to run and pass. Aaron Oberst is a formidable two-way lineman.”

To counter Dover-Sherborn’s offense, Ormberg stressed the importance of doing something his defense has not been able to do much of this season – force turnovers.

“We need to take the ball away defensively,” Ormberg said. “We haven't had as many takeaways as we'd like this year. That will be a point of emphasis.”

Other keys to victory include sustaining and finishing offensive drives, protecting the ball and winning the battle on special teams.

“We need to succeed in the red zone on offense and finish drives,” Ormberg said. “Our special teams units need to make a few impact plays.”

At 2-8 (0-4 in TVL Large Division), Medfield has struggled to put together a complete game in their eight losses. The Warriors went toe-to-toe with TVL Small Division champion Millis/Hopedale on Nov. 11 but turnovers proved costly in an eight-point loss.

“We get closer every week to playing a complete game,” Ormberg said. “We feel as though the competition this year – potentially playing four playoff teams in KP,
OA, Millis-Hopedale, Holliston – and two other teams in 9-1 Hopkinton and
8-2 Westwood has challenged all of us to our core. … The kids fought hard to be in a position to win against Millis/Hopedale. Turnovers prevented us from playing a complete game. As a staff, we feel as though Thanksgiving will be a complete effort.”

Ormberg said it was a good year overall in the TVL with a lot of strong competition each week throughout the league.

"The competition was good in the TVL this year, similar to 2007 with nine teams finishing over .500 that year, I think,” Ormberg said.

As has been the coaching staff’s message throughout the majority of the season to its Medfield High School football team, Thursday’s game will be about the 15 seniors in the program.

“We will be putting out an all-senior kickoff team to emphasize that the day is all about the seniors,” Ormberg said. “We want those guys to set the tone on kickoff.”

In the practices leading up to Thursday’s game, Ormberg has seen the seniors begin to realize their MHS football careers are coming to a close.

“The seniors are practicing like they have one game left and that is a good sign,” Ormberg said. “The extra time in between the Millis and D-S game allows us to better prepare for D-S. We have studied the film and tried to break down their tendencies. We want the seniors to finish the year and their careers with a hard fought victory on Thanksgiving.”

Ormberg said he hopes to see some “great community support" for the seniors and the team Thursday.

“We hope to see a packed house and plan on having the best of Medfield football on display,” Ormberg said. “I know our kids will fly to the ball on defense and block to the whistle on offense. I expect our most complete game.”

Predictions:

Medfield 28, Dover-Sherborn 21

Look for Medfield to turn in its best effort of the season in an emotional and exciting game that will honor 15 seniors in the program, including captains Alex Opiela and Ife Adebayo. Expect Opiela to have a big day connecting with receivers and fellow seniors TJ Valente, Jake Mintz and Tim Bernard. Sam Tawa has returned to the Medfield backfield and will look to get the Warriors’ running game going behind the blocking of Greg Rose and Adebayo. On defense, a forced turnover by the Warriors may prove to be the difference. This game will be close as D-S will provide plenty of challenges on both sides of the ball but simply put, the Warriors win when they score over 20 points and on Thanksgiving, I expect that to happen. ­­– Jeremie Smith, Medfield Patch local editor

Dover-Sherborn 24, Medfield 21
The Raiders have struggled mightily on offense at times this season. However, in their last game, they put up 48 points in a, 48-19, victory over Ashland. Quarterback Will Scatchard had his best game of the season and D-S added six rushing touchdowns in the game. That game may have given them the confidence booster they need to keep their offense clicking. The Raiders defense has been highly susceptible to giving up the "home run" play all season long. So don't be surprised if Medfield scores on a quick strike or a big run play. My prediction is that the Raiders offense carries over from their last game and their defense gives up one fewer big play than usual in order to get the Turkey Day win. – Ben Paulin, Dover-Sherborn Patch local editor.

Statistics and Results:

Medfield rushing leaders: Tawa, 436 yards; Opiela, 384 yards.

Medfield receiving leaders: Bernard, 34 receptions for 510 yards; Valente, 21 receptions for 273 yards; Mintz, 10 receptions for 222 yards.

Medfield passing leaders: Opeila, 86 completions of 188 attempts for 1,129 yards.

Medfield defensive leaders: Adebayo, 64 tackles; Arthur D’Angelo, 10 tackles for loss; Matt Casieri, three interceptions.

Medfield 2011 Results:

Record: 2-8, 0-4

Sept. 9 vs. Oliver Ames,

Sept. 16 @ King Philip,

Sept. 23 @ Ashland,

Sept. 30 vs. Holliston,

Oct. 6 vs. Westwood,

Oct. 15 vs. Bellingham,

Oct. 21 @ Norton,

Oct. 28 @ Medway,

Nov. 4 vs. Hopkinton, 27-7, L

Nov. 11 @ Millis/Hopedale,

Dover-Sherborn 2011 Results:

Record: 3-7, 2-2

Sept. 9 @ Nauset, 41-7, L

Sept. 16 vs. Northeast, 27-14, W

Sept. 23 @ Holliston, 42-6, L

Sept. 30 @ Bellingham, 33-20, W

Oct. 6 @ Hopkinton, 28-7, L

Oct. 14 @ Medway, 34-13, L

Oct. 21 vs. Millis/Hopedale, 28-0 L

Oct. 28 vs. Norton, 20-7, L

Nov. 4 vs. Westwood, 7-0, L

Nov. 11 vs. Ashland, 48-19, W