Barnstable could very well be the best second half high school football team in the state.
Appearing lackluster and disoriented at times in the first half, the Barnstable High School Red Raiders (4-1) gave a punishing performance on both sides of the ball in the second half, outscoring guest Marshfield (3-2), 22-0. The final score? Barnstable 29, Marshfield 20.
Marshfield senior captain and running back Ben Joyal - who scored all three touchdowns for the visiting Rams - was lightning quick and relentless throughout the game. He scored from the 1-yard line at 7:04 of the first quarter, a rush that highlighted an 11-play drive to draw first blood for the green and white.
Barnstable's only glimmer of hope in the first half was a Kristian Lucashensky 58-yard touchdown bomb to senior captain Hayden Lucashensky late in the second quarter. Murphy finished the game with 12 carries for 116 yards and 74 yards receiving on two receptions for 190 all-purpose yards on the evening. He also had a pair of sacks and perhaps staged his best defensive performance of the season to date.
Lucashensky settled down from two first-half interceptions to throw for 190 yards (11-25) and three touchdown passes on the night. While he was picked off a career-high three times, all three interceptions were under heavy pressure. Senior Mike Bilodeau and senior Derek Estes also caught touchdown passes on the night from the tough-as-nails senior QB, Lucashensky.
Senior wide receiver Colby Blaze had three receptions for 28 yards, Bilodeau had three catches for 41 yards and Estes had three for 47 yards to top off Murphy's 74 yards receiving.
Senior kicker and defensive end Dereck Pacheco was a perfect 4-4 on the night on PAT kick attempts. He also played exceptionally well on defense, as did senior co-captain Chris Kennedy and seniors Estes, Conor Walsh and Murphy. Junior linebackers Colton Bergal and Clyde Perry also turned in a fine performance on defense, as did junior lineman Owen Murray. Senior offensive lineman Billy Grimmer was also key.
