Greater Taunton area high school football Thanksgiving picks and previews
TAUNTON— The final week of high school football is upon us in the Greater Taunton area.
Two weeks ago, in non-playoff action, Taunton (6-4, 2-2 Hockomock Kelley-Rex) earned a 13-12 comeback win over Brockton while Bridgewater-Raynham (3-7, 1-1 Southeast Conference) looked solid in a 22-8 win over Whitman-Hanson. Bristol-Plymouth (3-7, 0-3 Mayflower Large) put up 15 unanswered points before falling 26-15 to Medway while Dighton-Rehoboth (2-7, 0-4 South Coast Blue) fell to Medfield by less than a touchdown.
Bristol-Plymouth kicks off the action Wednesday, hosting Blue Hills (7-4, 3-0 Mayflower Large) in Thanksgiving Eve action. On Turkey Day itself, Taunton travels to Milford (9-2, 3-1 Hockomock Kelley-Rex) while Bridgewater-Raynham plays host to Brockton (3-7, 2-0 SEC) and Dighton-Rehoboth welcomes Seekonk (1-9, 0-3 South Coast Gold) for their annual rivalry showdowns.
Here's a preview of all four matchups involving Greater Taunton area teams as well as predictions on the outcomes:
Taunton at Milford
When: Thursday, 10 a.m.
Records: Taunton (6-4, 2-2 Hockomock Kelley-Rex); Milford (9-2, 3-1 Hockomock Kelley-Rex)
Preview: Both sides enter the third edition of this contest in similar circumstances to the previous two. The Tigers are coming off a non-playoff win following a first-round playoff exit while the Scarlet Hawks are coming off a Final Four loss. One thing that is different, however, is that Taunton has the chance to finish with a winning Kelley-Rex record for the first time in program history, along with a team looking to leave a legacy. Milford, on the other hand, is at home and looks determined to bounce back from another postseason disappointment. Powered by a strong defensive unit, the Scarlet Hawks have been led offensively by junior quarterback Jack Buckley and senior running back/kicker Nick Araujo, who both missed the loss to Walpole, while junior wide receiver Andrew Rivera has been a key target. The Tigers have showed Milford they’re always willing to step up for the occasion and nothing would be sweeter for them to finally get that first win of this series.
Prediction: Taunton 24, Milford 21
Bridgewater-Raynham vs. Brockton
When: Thursday, 10 a.m.
Records: Bridgewater-Raynham (3-7, 1-1 SEC); Brockton (3-7, 2-0 SEC)
Preview: While the season didn’t really go the way either the Trojans or Boxers hoped, once again the SEC title is on the line. A Brockton win guarantees another outright title while a B-R win, twinned with a New Bedford win over Durfee, could set up a three-way tie at the top. The Trojans have looked to be adjusting well to the junior quarterback Caleb Tripp-led offense, now being winners of back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Boxers, meanwhile, are on a two-game losing skid after succumbing to a Taunton comeback in their last outing. Expect freshman quarterback Jayden Campbell to show out with Pitt-bound senior wide receiver Cameron Monteiro in their final game together, but expect the Trojans to ground-and-pound throughout. This game, especially with the stakes, has the makings of an old-school, hard fought, back-and-forth battle worthy of the holiday showcase.
Prediction: Bridgewater-Raynham 21, Brockton 20
Bristol-Plymouth vs. Blue Hills
When: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Records: Bristol-Plymouth (3-7, 0-3 Mayflower Large); Blue Hills (7-4, 3-0 Mayflower Large)
Preview: The relatively young Craftsmen have had their share of struggles this fall, but saved perhaps their biggest challenge for last in the Warriors. Blue Hills comes into this contest off a 52-12 thrashing of Smith Voke out in Northampton in the MVADA Big School semi-finals. Once again, the Warriors were led by their explosive backfield trio of seniors Caiden Montas, who had four touchdowns, Matt Begin and Aidan Landers. Unfortunately for B-P, stopping the run has been a key struggle all year, so they will need to put up a season-best performance to have a chance at coming away with the win. Expect senior quarterback Ryan Donovan to have another strong running game, as he’ll be determined to end his high school football career on a high note. The Craftsmen’s best bet for success is if the Warriors take things a bit easy and rest up for next week’s MVADA Big School Championship against Tri-County.
Prediction: Blue Hills 28, Bristol-Plymouth 14
Dighton-Rehoboth vs. Seekonk
When: Thursday, 10 a.m.
Records: Dighton-Rehoboth (2-7, 0-4 South Coast Blue); Seekonk (1-9, 0-3 South Coast Gold)
Preview: The Falcons come into this annual contest having lost their last two games by under a touchdown, while the Warriors only win of the season came in Week 10 in triple overtime against Monomoy. Last year, it was Seekonk which was the more senior side against a relatively young D-R squad, but the tables are turned this time. Look for the senior trio of quarterback Joel DaSilva and running backs David Diaz-Tavares and Kevin Gousie Jr. to end their high school football careers with a bang taking down their arch rival at home.
Prediction: Dighton-Rehoboth 28, Seekonk 14
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Greater Taunton Thanksgiving high school football picks and previews
