Nipmuc fans were ecstatic when the Warriors defeated the BVT Beavers in the Battle of Pleasant Street Turkey Bowl 22-20. In the eight years of the rivalry, Nipmuc has only defeated BVT one other time, in 2008.
Fans weren’t too worried when the Beavers scored on the opening drive taking the lead 0-7, they knew they had a good team and thought this could be their year. .
The Warriors were able to get on the board when senior safety Zachary Friberg made an interception. Junior quarterback Derek DeMarzo took advantage of the turnover and threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Zac Hunter. The score now 6-7.
Late in the second quarter the Warriors running game was on fire when Captain Pete Schiloski made a rumbling, stumbling run from the 12-yard line to the goal line. Schiloski then rushed the final yard for a touchdown.
Nipmuc held BVT to 7 points going into the half 12-7.
Nipmuc received the ball at the start of the second half and maintained possession for most of the third quarter, utilizing a ground and pound style offense. Nipmuc junior running back Mike Manning and senior running backs Kyle Nocera and Schiloski effectively moved the ball downfield. Senior Captain Max Polay completed a drive-saving first down, on third and long, for the Warriors. Quarterback DeMarzo ran for 4 yards and put Nipmuc on the board again. His run capped off an 85-yard drive for the Warriors. Running back Manning scored on the two-point conversation. The score 20-7 Nipmuc with two minutes left in the third quarter.
BVT junior quarterback Hector Petri quickly answered Nipmuc when he hit senior Christopher Lira for a 75-yard touchdown. BVT sophomore Reece Hendriks made it 20-14 with the extra point.
The Warriors defense responded after being stopped in the red zone when Nipmuc senior Captain Ryan Nelson sacked BVT quarterback Petri on 3rd down, pushing the Beavers back to their own 5-yard line. A bad snap by BVT forced a two-point safety, putting the Warriors ahead by 8 points, 22-14.
The Beavers defense stopped the Warriors in the red zone once again.
Nipmuc Max Hubley made a key sack on Quarterback Petri to make it fourth down and long for the Beavers. Petri shook off the sack and hit senior Antonio Sullo for a 30-yard touchdown with a minute left in the game. Nipmuc’s Senior Corner Back Jared Plumb and Senior Captain Grant Jorgensen were able to stuff the two-point conversion maintaining Nipmuc’s lead, 22-20.
Nipmuc recovered BVT’s onside kick attempt and two quick kneel downs sealed the victory for Nipmuc at 22-20, and perhaps began a new tradition for the Thanksgiving Day Battle for Pleasant Street.
Game photos and video highlights are available on nipmucfootball.com. Nipmuc Football is also asking alumni to reach out for the alumni page on the site.
A special thanks to Shawn DeMarzo for submitting the majority of this post/stats for Upton Daily to share with readers. All photos are contributed.
Click on any photo to start slideshow and read captions.
UPTON DAILY 