Walpole 30, Framingham 20: Flyers fall to Rebels

Coming off a 41-point outburst and convincing win in its season opener, the Framingham football team was confident it could light the scoreboard in last night’s Bay State Conference tussle with Walpole.

The outset looked promising for the Flyers, but after a fast start, the Flyers’ offense hit a snag in a 30-20 loss on a crisp night at Bowditch Field.

Framingham (1-1 overall, BSC) led 14-0 in the first quarter, but was outscored 30-7 the rest of the way and did not score in the final three quarters.

Walpole (2-0 overall, BSC) capitalized on its opportunities, returning an interception and a punt for a touchdown. It also got a 62-yard touchdown run from junior Mike Rando.

“Three big plays cost us,” Framingham coach Gary Doherty said. “That’s football, you got to eliminate big plays if you want to win.”

Framingham quarterback Greg Finley was electric in the first quarter, completing 8-of-10 passes for 163 yards and leading the Flyers on three scoring drives. After the opening quarter, Walpole began to drop back in coverage and Finley finished with just 213 yards passing.

“Our defense did great,” Finley said. “Our offense just couldn’t move it. Because we were throwing all over them, we don’t really have a rushing attack, they brought it. They just played the pass.”

The Flyers marched 65 yards in just five plays on the game’s opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. A 40-yard completion from Finley to Mike Stearns (7 catches, 109 yards) moved the ball inside the 10. Matt Cronin’s touchdown gave Framingham the lead.

Framingham added to its lead on Finley’s 1-yard run with 4:16 to play in the first. Cronin returned a punt 24 yards to the Walpole 24 to give Framingham excellent field position. Finley picked up a fourth-and-11 with a 24-yard completion to Donald Goff that moved the ball to the 1 before Finley took it into the end zone.

“The first few drives were amazing, and I thought we could carry that momentum the whole time,” Finley said.

Walpole, though, quickly answered on Rando’s long scamper.

“We really had an opportunity to put this team away if we tackle,” Doherty said of the long run. “He’s just so hard to tackle, he’s going to be a special player.”

The Rebels missed the PAT, but drew within a point when Brad Webber returned a punt 71 yards with 1:44 left in the first.

Seeing its lead evaporate didn’t rattle the Flyers, as Finley and Stearns connected for a 64-yard touchdown on a slant play to put Framingham ahead 20-13 in an action-packed opening quarter.

“It was a play we usually look for him and to get the corner biting on the ball,” Finley said. “I threw the ball a bit in front of him but he made the play.”

Walpole tied the game early in the second. Tough luck then put the Flyers behind with 2:22 left in the first half.

From his own 5 yardline, Finley looked for Stearns. The ball hit Stearns in the leg and kicked into the surprised hands of Webber, who went in untouched to give the visitors a 27-20 lead.

“It was a freak play,” said Finley.

Doherty thought the play was a game changer.

“They kept fighting, our kids kept fighting,” he said. “We had a fluke play at the end of the half that was a huge play. It changes what you do. With the lead or without the lead it changes what you do. I think that play was a big part of the outcome.”

Framingham struggled to move the ball in the second half. The Flyers had just four first downs, one via penalty, until its final drive of the game. Walpole moved ahead by two scores on Cam Hanley’s 32-yard field goal with 2:34 remaining.

“We did not get into a rhythm (on offense),” said Doherty. “We got into a rhythm at times, but we didn’t maintain it.”