High School GameDay: North Reading wins playoff game on final play

NORTH READING, Mass. — In a game with a dramatic finish to a first round MIAA playoff game, the North Reading Hornets football team beat the visiting Wayland Warriors 17-14 on a field goal by Junior kicker Alex D'Ambrosio with no time left on the clock.

With the game tied 14-14 and North Reading driving for the winning score the Hornets were stopped in the Wayland red zone twice trying to score as time was running down.  On 2nd and goal North Reading Senior Quarterback Jake Bedell was stopped short of the goaline as the clock ran down to zero.  But Wayland was called for a holding penalty.  The game can not end on a defensive penalty so North Reading lined up for an untimed final play of the game. And D'Ambrosio made the game winning kick.

"It was like a walk off home run," said North Reading Athletic Director Dave Johnson.

This was really a great game. Wayland was led by their terrific trio of Sophmore Quarterback Mason Bolivar and Runningbacks Junior Wellington Pereira and Senior Manny Oliver.

The three of them had combined for 24 rushing touchdowns coming into this game.  Bolivar ran for two more touchdowns on the night, the only scores of the game for the Warriors

North Reading was led by Senior Jake Bedell who ran for over 100 yards in this game and really carried the load for the Hornets.

North Reading will now travel to Melrose to play the Red Raiders in the next round of the playoffs on Friday night November 3rd.  Melrose beat Dracut in their first round playoff game.

Cox Media Group