Hopkinton's quarterback and wide receiver's relationship transcends football field
HOPKINTON - Sam Pantera remembered the last time they ran the play.
Hopkinton called for an option route with less than a minute to go in the season opener against Wayland on Friday. The Hillers trailed by six.
In a prior scrimmage, Hopkinton quarterback Julian Rivard overthrew Pantera running the same play.
"I knew he was going to try and take a little bit off of it and try to make me run under it and make a play with it," Pantera said.
The wide receiver knows his quarterback well. Rivard lofted the throw high and to Pantera's back shoulder. He adjusted to the flight of the pass and caught it with a defender hanging on his back. Pantera shook the Wayland corner with a stiff arm than ran the remainder of the 52 yards to the end zone for a game-winning touchdown.
The reception completed a 12-catch, 203-yard performance for the senior. Rivard also hit him on a slant two plays prior that gained 17 yards to open the drive.
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"It’s great to know I have him in my back pocket whenever I need him," said Rivard, who ran for two touchdowns, as well.
They've been attached at the hip for almost a decade. The pair used to be neighbors in Hopkinton. Rivard came over one day to hang out. Sam's dad Matt Pantera taught him how to play football.
"I've been throwing to him since I was like eight," Rivard said. "We have that chemistry."
They've built the relationship methodically, working together in the offseason. Hopkinton coach Mark Sanborn notices the impact in practice and beyond.
"It's something that we stressed in the offseason. We're not just lifting and doing things together just to get better for the season. We're doing it to build that brotherhood in the offseason because that's what carries onto the field," Sanborn said. "That's what wins close games like this (against Wayland)."
Pantera and Rivard mostly communicate pre-snap to beat a defense before he utters his cadence. Neither plays defense, so they can discuss what they're seeing and adjustments from the sidelines.
It's often a three-way conversation with Sanborn.
"I trust them. I trust their feedback," Sanborn said. "They trust each other. They know when something goes wrong not to be negative and stay positive and bounce back."
Rivard connected with Pantera five times for 112 yards in the first half. Wayland stymied him for the opening part of the third quarter and built a lead behind running back Max Dresens' explosive carries.
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The Warriors couldn't hold him down for long, though. They worked together to find the coverage's solution.
"They've kind of seen it all. I told them before the game they were there the first year when we really struggled week in week out. Last year, we saw some success," Sanborn said. "For them I trust that they've taken all those experiences and crafted the way they've led this football team. It's a perfect example of never giving up always playing the end, and we came through."
Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hopkinton's Rivard and Pantera's football connection started as kids
