Holliston football handles Ashland's tricks, advances in Division 4 football playoffs

HOLLISTON - CJ Pacheco ensured Ashland ran out of rabbits.

The 15th-seeded Clockers relied on trick plays all night against No. 2 Holliston and turned to one in the Division 4 playoff game's crucial moment.

At its own 37 yard line with less than a minute, Ashland lined up in a split formation with most of the line near the hashmark and quarterback Cam Antoniuk under center alone in the middle of the field.

The Clockers attempted the play earlier in the game, but the Panthers called timeout. They let Antoniuk receive the snap this time, and Pacheco bull rushed through the center and grabbed him. The Ashland quarterback managed to throw a one-armed backward pass that bounced to running back Kevin Ozulumba behind Ashland's offensive line. He picked it up and prepared to throw it back across the formation to an open receiver.

Holliston's Jimmy Parmese stuck a hand in the way to tip the pass, and it landed in Pacheco's hands. That wild interception ended a wild 24-16 Holliston victory.

No. 7 Scituate will visit Kamitian Field next week for the quarterfinals after taking down No. 10 Wayland, 47-36.

"We needed it. We knew we were the better team. They didn't shy away from a week before," Parmese said.

The Panthers and Clockers met in the final week of the regular season, which Holliston won 41-0. Neither side expected a similar result.

Ashland utilized a tight running formation for most of the game, controlling the clock and limiting the Panthers' possessions. At one point punter Oliver Lareau faked a punt by pretending to kick the ball and holding it behind his back while he ran the other way for a first down.

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The Clockers held Holliston to an opening-drive field goal then tied the game 3-3 with a 27-yard field goal at the 7:36 mark of the second quarter. Ozulumba set it up with a 61-yard run to get into the red zone. He led Ashland with 86 yards on the ground.

"He's maturing and keeps getting better. Awesome kid," Ashland coach Andrew MacKay said. "Line gave him some great holes."

Holliston responded immediately. Kaua Lima hits Connor Teague for a 52-yard catch and run that put the Panthers up 10-3 and gave them the lead for good.

He added a 53-yard run on the next drive. Lima finished with 115 yards on the ground, 93 in the air and two touchdowns.

"It's the weapons we've got on our team and the coaches game plan," Lima said. "Everything we do Monday through Thursday is for these games, for these big plays Friday night."

The long run set up a 22-yard pass to Brad Andreola for a 17-3 lead with 1:23 to halftime.

"A bunch of kids making plays when we had to," Holliston coach Todd Kiley said.

A blowout appeared likely with the Panthers set to receive the second half kickoff. Only Ashland didn't give it to them. The Clockers recovered a bouncing onside kick to start the third quarter then executed a six-play, 38-yard drive to the end zone. Jason Crispin ran in from 13-yards out to make it a one-score game again.

Lima recovered the next onside kick then led Holliston to a game-sealing touchdown drive capped by a one-yard Devin Harding run with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

Ashland held the ball for most of the fourth quarter, converting three fourth downs before Antoniuk ran in for a two-yard score to shave the deficit to 24-16 after a failed two point conversion with 3:22 to go.

The Clockers forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with 1:36 left. It just wasn't enough time.

"It's amazing. I couldn't be prouder. Obviously there's no second consolation prize, but it speaks to the kids we have at Ashland and the character," MacKay said.

Now Holliston will turn its attention to the Sailors, a rematch of last season's quarterfinal the Panthers won. They'll enter that game fully in gear instead of coasting after a comfortable first round.

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"There's definitely pluses to playing in a game like this. The bottom line is you're in the playoffs you want to win. Any win is going to be a good win," Kiley said. "Now that we do have the win, it is good to have to battle through that adversity."

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk. 

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Holliston football advances in Division 4 with narrow win over Ashland