Holliston outlasts turnover-prone Norwood, 13-7

HOLLISTON — Two standout defenses battled tooth and nail on Saturday at Kamitian Field, but it was Holliston’s Matt Gimblett that was the Panthers ace in the hole.

The junior free safety picked off three Caden Sheehan passes while Panthers quarterback Drew Kafka’s one-yard sneak in the third quarter was enough to give Holliston a 13-7 win over Norwood and the Tri Valley League Large title.

“Our defense, especially Gimblett, was unbelievable,” Holliston coach Mike Yurof said. “They are a no-nonsense, downhill defense and they were awesome.”

The Panthers (5-3, 4-0 TVL) held Norwood ace Jack Dwyer to 33 yards on 19 carries while forcing three turnovers in a game they needed to win for not only the league title but a spot in the Division 4 playoffs.

Gimblett set the Panthers up for what turned out to be the only Holliston score of the first half when he ended Norwood’s (4-4, 3-1) first possession of the game with an interception that he returned to the Mustangs four.

Connor Teague scored from a yard out moments later for a 7-0 Holliston lead.

For nearly the rest of the half, both defenses were in control as the punt units for both teams got plenty of work. But with 4:57 left in the half, Norwood finally put together a sustained drive.

Sheehan completed four of four passes for 49 of 69 yards on a 11-play drive. The last two completions coming after the Mustangs had a second and goal at the 18 as Dwyer made a leaping grab in the end zone with :02 left to knot things at the break.

Norwood also got the ball to begin the second half by was forced into a three and out. That’s where a change Yurof made at the half paid immediate dividends.

Austin Rodenhiser took over in the backfield and his downhill running did most of the damage on a 40-yard drive that Kafka capped with his keeper midway through the third.

“Austin has that downhill style and that was the change we made and it really was the difference,” Yurof said.

Rodenhiser gained all 67 of his yards in the second half while the Holliston defense made big play after big play in the final 24 minutes.

A strip-sack of Sheehan late in the third quarter was followed by Gimblett’s second and third interceptions of the game, the last of which came with 3:20 left following a Norwood blocked punt.

A 14-yard Kafka to Max Maurao completion on third and six just with just over 2:00 to play clinched the league title for the Panthers.

“We’re just a gritty group from top to bottom,” Yurof said. “That’s our game plan.”