VIDEO: Medfield Overwhelmed by Hopkinton in 27-7 Homecoming Loss

It wasn’t the type of homecoming the football team had prepared for.

Medfield head coach Erik Ormberg said the Warriors (2-7, 0-4) spent this week’s practice focusing on creating turnovers on defense and sustaining long drives on offense to control the clock against a tough Hopkinton team.

Medfield was unable to do either Friday night as turnovers and big plays by Hopkinton led to a 27-7 loss.

After a scoreless first quarter and Medfield’s defense establishing early momentum with several drive-stopping plays in the first 11 minutes, Hopkinton took control on one play in the second quarter and never looked back.

After a Medfield drive stalled on Hopkinton’s 45 yard line with just under five minutes to play in the half, Warriors’ quarterback Alex Opiela punted the ball down to the Hillers 20 yard line.

On Hopkinton’s first play of the drive, Barrett Hanlon took a handoff from quarterback Hank Rudden, bounced outside and blew by the Medfield defense for an 80-yard touchdown run. The extra point failed but the damage had been done as the Hillers went up 6-0 with 4:38 remaining in the half.

On Medfield’s next possession, Hanlon intercepted an Opiela pass at the Warriors’ 11-yard line, which set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Tucker Mayo. The extra point was good and in the span of 23 seconds, Hopkinton went up 13-0.

The score didn’t change until the fourth quarter.

Near the end of the third quarter, Hanlon returned a punt to Medfield’s 25-yard line and added a seven-yard run as time expired. Hopkinton’s Alex Hulme scored on a 15-yard run to begin the fourth quarter and the extra point gave the Hillers a 20-0 lead with 10:52 left to play.

Similar to the second quarter, Medfield once again turned the ball over on its next possession after a Hopkinton score. Opiela fumbled the ball while on the run from a constant Hillers’ rush that resulted in relentless pressure most of the night. Hopkinton recovered the loose ball on the Medfield 32 yard line and went right back to work.

Hulme, running out of the quarterback position, rushed four times for 32 yards, including an eight-yard score on the drive. The extra point put the Hillers up 27-0 with just over six minutes to play.

Continuing to show its “never quit” attitude despite the score, Medfield began its final drive on its own 15 yard line and drove the 85 yards needed to score.

Medfield’s Jack Papadinoff ran 15 yards for a Warriors’ first down to the 30 yard line and after short runs by Connor Davis and Papadinoff, Opiela ran the ball to the Warriors’ 40 for another first down.

Medfield’s TJ Valente then drew a pass interference call after a Hopkinton defender grabbed his arm while trying to make a catch on an Opiela pass. The ball was placed at Medfield’s 45-yard line.

On the next play, Opiela connected with Valente, who turned in a great second effort after the catch, running hard to get the Warriors down to the Hopkinton 17 yard line. From there, Opiela avoided a rush, stepped up in the pocket and floated a pass to an open Jake Mintz in the endzone for a Warriors touchdown. The extra point was good and Medfield trailed Hopkinton, 27-7 with 1:57 remaining.

After Hopkinton recovered a squib kick, the Hillers ran the clock out and walked off Calvin George Fisher Memorial Field with a 20-point victory over the Warriors.

Medfield wraps up its Tri-Valley League Large Division schedule with an 0-4 record. The Warriors travel to Millis to face Millis/Hopedale, 48-6 winners over Bellingham Friday, next week at 7 p.m. Hopkinton (8-1, 2-1) will travel to Westwood for a TVL Large Division game that kick offs at 7 p.m.