Most can only dream of playing a game at Fenway Park.
Westin McNeilly had a rare opportunity Tuesday night and decided to make it count.
The junior quarterback finished 12-of-24 passing, registering a pair of touchdowns as Wakefield defeated Melrose for the fifth consecutive season in its annual Thanksgiving rivalry, 20-9.
“It’s crazy,” said McNeilly. “Our coach talked about it before the game – tunnel vision. It’s obviously a beautiful place, but we can’t get distracted. We each (had) to get the job done. That’s just what we did.”
In the early stages of Tuesday night’s bout, players struggled to adjust to America’s beloved ballpark as Melrose and Wakefield traded possessions to start. The Thanksgiving showcase turned into a defensive chess match until the waning moments of the first half.
After the Warriors (4-6) took over with great field position at the Red Hawks’ 36-yard line with 6:30 left in the second quarter, McNeilly slowly worked his team up the field. Facing third down with 4:34 to play in the stanza, the junior quarterback fired a bullet to his right, connecting with senior wideout Will Forbes for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Carter Jefferson added an extra point, and Wakefield drew first blood with a 7-0 edge.
As the final minute of the second quarter ticked away, Jack Feeney propelled Melrose (5-5) on a late drive, looking to get on the board. The senior pushed his team into the red zone, spiking the ball to stop the clock with four seconds to play in the half. Junior Nate Greer followed up with a 31-yard field goal as the clock hit triple zeroes, cutting the deficit to 7-3 at intermission.
As soon as the third quarter began, however, play opened up as Feeney marched his unit right down the field. The quarterback found Tyler Garipay with a pass, who made a tip-toe catch along the sideline for a 15-yard touchdown reception as the Red Hawks took a 9-7 lead.
It was short-lived.
One minute later, McNeilly dropped back and fired a Hail Mary toss toward home plate. Cam Sartori hauled in the pass for a 64-yard touchdown reception, and Wakefield snatched control right back, seizing a 14-9 advantage with 8:38 to go in the third.
The score held into the final frame, with Melrose looking to stage a go-ahead drive.
Feeney threw a pass toward the sideline and was picked off by Finn Ryan. The sophomore corner tumbled out of bounds in the red zone for Wakefield. The Warriors capitalized on the turnover moments later, as junior Jaden Fullerton scampered to paydirt for a three-yard touchdown rush, making it a 20-9 game with 8:37 left in regulation.
“It didn’t feel real, to be honest with you,” Fullerton said. “I’ve been coming to this field since I was little. To be actually on the field? To score a touchdown for our Thanksgiving game? It was unreal. I can’t comprehend it still. It’s crazy.”
Fullerton concluded with 26 carries for 122 yards rushing to aid Wakefield in the victory.
By now, Warriors coach John Rafferty has been coaching long enough to see just about everything. Tuesday’s experience was a new one for him, calling a game at Fenway. In the end, however, the only thing that truly mattered was keeping up a winning tradition. He took a moment to reflect on a rivalry that just witnessed its latest chapter on a grand stage.
“It’s Melrose-Wakefield, baby,” said a chuckling Rafferty. “No matter what, it’s Melrose-Wakefield. It’s the most important game. It’s a kid from Melrose, and a kid from Wakefield. It’s just so fantastic, and so important.”
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