TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

Returning From Being on the Road

After spending the last two weeks on the road against North Attleboro and Lynn English, the Tigers return home tonight after going 1-1 during that stretch. Taunton enters the matchup at 2-2 and will face the 1-3 Brockton Boxers.

This matchup has become a more consistent non-league meeting over the last decade, with the two teams facing each other three times during that span. Tonight will be the third meeting of the decade, with the series split at 1-1.

The Boxers lost last week 35-3 to Catholic Memorial in a dominant performance by Catholic Memorial. Brockton has faced a difficult schedule this season, including Barnstable, Franklin, and Catholic Memorial.

The Tigers, however, have had the easier schedule based on their record. But Brockton's record should not be mistaken for a lack of ability. The Boxers can certainly put up a fight.

Brockton has been known for its physical strength and explosiveness on both sides of the ball. They are a bigger group than what the Tigers have faced throughout the first four weeks of the season, creating a different type of challenge for Taunton.

That should not be viewed as something to fear. The Tigers have shown that they can be explosive offensively when they click, while the defense has also demonstrated an ability to create turnovers. However, containing the run has remained an issue, and that will be especially important tonight against the Boxers.

Keys to Victory

Key Information

Tonight's game returns to "The Jungle," Alexio J. Stadium. A huge and loud crowd is expected for tonight's theme, which is a Pink Out.

Kickoff is expected at 5:00 PM tonight. Clear skies are expected, with temperatures in the high 60s before the autumn air begins to creep in and temperatures cool down.

GAME NIGHT

Taunton Tigers vs. Brockton Boxers

5:00 PM • Alexio J. Stadium • The Jungle

Pink Out • Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Checking In Across Tiger Athletics

As the fall sports season reaches its midpoint, several Taunton High School programs are battling for playoff opportunities, building momentum, and looking to finish their seasons on a strong note.

Football

Taunton High Football is nearing the midpoint of its season and currently sits at 2-2 and No. 14 in the power rankings. The Tigers have four important matchups remaining this month against Brockton, Stoughton, Attleboro, and Franklin.

Each of these games presents a competitive challenge and will be important for the Tigers as they look to qualify for the MIAA tournament in November and compete with some of the top programs in the state.

The Tigers have excelled offensively, showing the ability to be dynamic through the air while also running the ball effectively. Defensively, however, the team has struggled at times. With four games remaining this month, the football program is looking to take its next step and finish the regular season strong.

Girls Volleyball

The girls volleyball program is just two wins away from nearly qualifying for the MIAA Volleyball playoffs. A change over the last couple of years, along with the development of players, coaches, and the overall environment, has helped lead the Tigers to an impressive 8-4 record and No. 23 ranking in the MIAA power rankings.

The Tigers are also coming off a dominant win over Foxboro yesterday, continuing what has been a strong season.

The next couple of weeks will feature matchups against Durfee, Stoughton, and Milford. These girls are showing the potential that this program has been building toward for years, and the ultimate goal remains clear: competing for a State Championship.

Boys Soccer

Boys soccer has struggled in recent years, and the Tigers currently sit at 2-5-1 and No. 43 in the MIAA power rankings. The trend has continued this season, although the record does not always reflect the way this team has played.

The Tigers have done a strong job preventing opponents from scoring in their wins and near-losses, which has been highly impressive. Now, they are looking to get over the hump and turn those close performances into wins.

With King Philip, North Attleboro, and Braintree coming up over the next week, the Tigers will be looking to build a winning streak and gain some momentum.

Girls Field Hockey

The girls field hockey team is coming off a 4-1 loss against Foxboro. The Tigers currently sit at 4-7-1 and No. 21 in the MIAA power rankings.

The main goal now is to finish strong and find some magic during the rest of the season. With seven games remaining before the MIAA playoffs, ending the regular season on a high note will be important if the Tigers want to build momentum heading into playoff time.

The Tigers will face New Bedford, with another opponent listed as TBD.

Golf

The golf team has been great all season, currently sitting at an impressive 10-5 record with the season beginning to wind down. With only about five matches remaining, the main goal is to continue the team's strong showing on the green.

The Tigers have maintained consistent play throughout the season, staying near par wherever they play. That consistency has helped lead them to their current record.

Taunton will tee off against Sharon one more time and face Durfee over the next week.

Girls Soccer

Currently sitting at 1-6-2 and No. 40 in the MIAA power rankings, the girls soccer team just needs to keep its head up.

The games this year have shown flashes of the potential this program has for the future. Now, the goal is to turn those flashes into consistent results as the season comes to a close.

The Tigers will face King Philip, Attleboro, and Durfee over their next three games.

Unified Basketball

The Unified Basketball season is now halfway through, and it has been incredibly enjoyable to watch these students battle it out on the court.

The program brings a free-spirited approach to basketball, where the focus is on participation, teamwork, and making sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute. Both teams come away from each game with something to celebrate.

So far, they have been doing a great job. Shout out to the Unified Basketball program!

The Second Half of the Fall Is Here

With playoff races heating up and seasons approaching their final weeks, Tiger Athletics has plenty to look forward to as October continues.

FINAL SCORE

Tigers win on a late touchdown with 57 seconds remaining

The Eerie October Nights Have Arrived

October is fully in the air as Taunton travels all the way up to Manning Field to play the Lynn English Bulldogs. It was a dark gray night on the North Shore for this anticipated matchup between these two teams, and it was highly energetic from warmups.

Lynn English's crowd made themselves known with their loud cheering, air horns, and takeover of Manning Field.

Owen Coyne

I really feel disturbed that once again I have to write about another football player who passed away, but before I begin, we honor Owen Coyne, who passed away early last week from an unexpected brain hemorrhage.

He was the captain of Marblehead High School football as a senior, a star tri-sport athlete, and was loved by so many. He was honored before the game.

Fright Fest in the First

Taunton would win the toss to begin the game and deferred the kickoff. The Bulldogs would start at the 40, but immediately Taunton would force a fumble and recover, giving the Tigers the ball at the 37-yard line already in Bulldog territory.

The Tigers would pass to begin the game, going to Jackson Dunderdale on the next play on another pass. But a miscommunication on third down would prove costly. Jairo Fernandez would pick off Evan Kane for a pick-six, giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead with 10:46 left in the first quarter.

Taunton would get the ball back after two offsides penalties on the Bulldogs during the kickoff. The Tigers would begin their second drive by running three different times, incorporating running back Luis Sanchez, fullback Jeremy Rhoden, and Kane.

But Kane would fumble, and Lynn would recover again with 9:04 left in the first.

The Bulldogs would start with a seven-yard run and then a tackle for loss by Shyheim Middleton. Lynn would continue to move down the field. On third-and-nine, they would throw a 23-yard passing touchdown to make it 12-0. They would fail again on the two-point conversion, an issue that would continue throughout the game.

Jeremy Rhoden would receive the kickoff for an amazing return, putting the Tigers at Lynn's 37-yard line once again. Chaos would hit the field, with flags being thrown left and right and a touchdown being called back.

But the Tigers would fight their way into the red zone. They would slowly push down the field, and a seven-yard run would put the Tigers inches from the end zone to end the first.

Clicking In the Second

To begin the second, Luis Sanchez would walk into the end zone for a two-yard rushing touchdown. After Alex Ozcan made the extra point, the score was 12-7 Bulldogs with 11:51 left in the half.

Lynn would start its third drive, and Tigers' Thierry Durocher would record a tackle for loss. But Lynn's quarterback, number 12, would have a keeper on third down. A flag by Taunton would give the Bulldogs a first down.

The Bulldogs would continue to move down the field and into Tiger territory. A big tackle by senior Dante Adorno would get Lynn to fourth down.

With 4:15 left in the half, Ejay Alves would pick off Lynn English with no return, giving the Tigers the football.

Kane would get a first down, then be sacked immediately. The Tigers would throw to keep the drive alive and progress into the two-minute drill before taking their first timeout. With 1:16 remaining, Lynn would nearly pick off Kane, followed by a Lynn timeout with 1:02 left.

A holding call would stall the drive. Mason Clark would punt it away, and Lynn would nail the ball out of bounds.

Key Takeaways From the Half

Tide Turning Third

Taunton would receive the ball to begin the second half at midfield. They would open it up with a run and a six-yard return by Amari Teixeira.

Then chaos. Teixeira would break four tackles on what looked like a huge touchdown, but the play would be called back for a holding call. Jeremy Rhoden would then get the first down. On third-and-seven, Kane would be sacked, and Clark would punt it away with 6:35 left in the quarter.

Lynn would get stumped, and a huge drop on third down could have been a game changer. But offsetting penalties would give Lynn the first down.

A wolf would howl into the night, and Jeremy Rhoden would punch the ball out. Gavin Wetherell would return it for a Tigers touchdown.

The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion on the infamous "Philly Special" but failed. Still, Taunton had taken the lead.

Lynn would not back down, though. An electric return for Lynn on the kickoff would put them at the 47-yard line in Tiger territory. The crowd would lose their minds — blowing horns, screaming, chanting, and giving life to Lynn.

Lynn would use that energy to put themselves into the red zone and set up first-and-goal at the eight-yard line to end the third quarter.

Two Teams Putting It All on the Line

The two teams would do everything they could during this fourth-quarter beginning sequence. The nerves were hitting both sides.

A tackle for loss by Taunton would ensure third-and-goal, and Lynn would be forced to take an unexpected timeout. They would fail on third-and-goal and take another timeout on fourth down with 10:44 left in the game.

The Tigers would force a huge incompletion and stop Lynn from scoring.

Taunton would get stalled out, though, going three-and-out and being forced to punt. Clark would deliver a beautiful rainbow punt, but there would be a mistake. Now 8:18 remained in the game.

Lynn would start its drive by being flagged for a facemask, instantly putting the Bulldogs in Taunton territory.

Taunton would hold it down, and Rhoden would nearly get a pick-six that was dropped. The play still forced a crucial fourth down. Lynn would save the drive, though, and get the first down.

Back-to-back runs by Lynn and a third-and-two conversion would officially put the Bulldogs in the red zone.

A run by Lynn's quarterback would put them at the four-yard line. They would inch their way to the one-yard line, and then Lynn would run in for a touchdown.

It Came Down to This.

Taunton would have only three minutes to begin a comeback win on the road.

Rhoden would put the Tigers at the Lynn 49-yard line. Kane would connect with Dunderdale on third-and-one to progress the two-minute drill. Another reception by Dunderdale would get Taunton a first down.

A near touchdown was called back by half a foot for Taunton.

Now on third-and-seven with 1:14 left in the game, on possibly the last play of the game, Kane would throw a beautiful ball to Dunderdale for a touchdown — his first of the season after having so many touchdowns called back.

Dunderdale would finish the game with 5 catches for 51 yards.

With 49 seconds left in the game, Lynn would attempt a miracle comeback. They would not be able to complete it after an incomplete pass on fourth down, and the Tigers would win.

Final Thoughts

It is definitely devastating for the Bulldogs and uplifting for the Tigers. A well-fought, but sloppy, game of football. One team came out victorious.

Now the Tigers move on to the Brockton Boxers.

TIGERS VICTORY

TAUNTON 19 • LYNN ENGLISH 18

Game-winning touchdown with 57 seconds remaining

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

The Matchup

Tonight, the Tigers travel out to the North Shore to play the Lynn English Bulldogs. Both teams enter tonight with identical 1-2 records, meaning one team will leave with a 2-2 record.

The Tigers are looking to bounce back after a tough Week 3 matchup against the North Attleboro Red Rocketeers, where Taunton suffered a 33-14 loss.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are also looking to respond after a 21-0 loss to the Peabody Tanners. Both teams will be looking for a win tonight and an opportunity to build momentum.

What to Expect Tonight

The game is expected to be played on a pleasant autumn night, although a shower may move through before the 7:30 kickoff.

Both teams were impacted by the Nor’easter last week, with the weather slowing down their offenses. Tonight, however, the Tigers will look to establish themselves both through the air and on the ground.

For the Bulldogs, the focus will be on attacking the Tigers' run defense, forcing penalties, and keeping the Taunton offense off the field for as long as possible.

The Bulldogs allowed three touchdowns through the air last week. Taunton quarterback Evan Kane threw two touchdown passes late in the fourth quarter against North Attleboro, giving the Tigers another passing threat that Lynn English will have to account for.

Key Factors to Watch

Summary

Tonight's game carries plenty of importance for both teams as they look for a win and some momentum heading into the next part of the season.

The game could come down to which team is able to attack first and establish its style. If the Tigers can put the first points on the board and keep the Lynn English offense off the field, they will have an opportunity to control the game.

On the other side, Lynn English will look to contain Taunton through both the ground and air, similar to what North Attleboro was able to do last week.

GAME NIGHT

Taunton Tigers vs. Lynn English Bulldogs

7:30 PM • Lynn, Massachusetts

WEEK 3 FINAL

Not Just Autumn Wind; But a NOR’EASTER

A Nor’easter was just moments away from impacting Bristol County. Still, it did not stop this storied Hockomock Division matchup between the Taunton Tigers and the North Attleboro Red Rocketeers.

With warmups being riddled with strong gusts from Mother Nature and slight signs of rain from the clouds, the teams prepared to begin this Week 3 matchup.

Leo

I just want to take a moment to pay my respects to Leo, a member of the North Attleboro Class of 2027, who passed away in 2024 after a tough battle with cancer. He was honored before kickoff.

A Burst of Wind Means a Touchdown

To begin the game, Taunton deferred to North Attleboro, and the Red Rocketeers immediately established the strongest point of their offense: the run game.

A 10-yard run and a 9-yard run opened the drive for North Attleboro. The run game focused heavily on quarterback Nathaniel Robin early in the possession.

That opened the door for Joseph Ruggiero to break off an 18-yard carry and put North Attleboro into the red zone. The drive would lead to a 10-yard touchdown run by Ruggiero with 4:29 left in the first quarter.

The Response

North Attleboro would squib kick the ball to No. 1 Joali Alves. The Tigers tried to establish the run game themselves but were immediately stumped by the North Attleboro front.

This led to a third-and-10 situation for returning senior quarterback No. 16 Evan Kane. Kane was sacked, and the Tigers were forced to punt.

The Foundation

North Attleboro opened its second drive by continuing to run the ball, a trend that would continue throughout the game.

As we came to the end of the first quarter, Robin continued to run effectively. Then, in the opening sequence of the second quarter, Ruggiero broke loose for a 41-yard rushing touchdown.

Showing Life

Taunton would show life as they began their drive with a run to Luis Sanchez and continued to slowly push down the field.

A play-action pass for a 12-yard gain was important on this drive as the Tigers slowly began to build momentum. A run on third-and-10 for seven yards by Sanchez, followed by a defensive pass interference call on fourth down, put the Tigers in the red zone with 6:06 left in the half.

But a false start and a sequence of unfortunate events turned the drive into a third-and-27 with 4:22 left. Kane would be sacked, forcing a fourth down.

Kane was picked off on fourth-and-29, but a flag was thrown. It did not change the situation, and North Attleboro would start with first-and-20.

Running Away With It Into the Half

North Attleboro would get a 16-yard reception, and a holding call would put the Red Rocketeers at the 49-yard line.

Then, immediately on the next play, Robin broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown run to give North Attleboro a 20-0 lead going into the half.

Key Takeaways From the Half

1. The flags on Taunton: The Tigers were flagged numerous times.
2. North Attleboro's run game: The Red Rocketeers showed a dominant rushing attack.
3. The elements: Wind and rain played a major factor in the Tigers' offense not getting going.

New Half, No Change

The Tigers got the ball to begin the half. A seven-yard run and a 15-yard reception to Diovanni Silva would begin the drive for Taunton.

But the drive would be stopped quickly, and North Attleboro would stall them out. The Red Rocketeers would get the ball and go right back to the run game with a breakout run by Ruggiero.

Malachi Touron would make a shoelace tackle to prevent the touchdown. A run to Nick O'Brien and Ruggiero would put the Tigers on their heels.

On fourth-and-goal, North Attleboro would hand the ball back to Ruggiero for another touchdown, making it 26-0 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

Trying to Flip the Switch

The Tigers got the ball, and Kane ended the third quarter with a 17-yard keeper.

Mother Nature would play a huge role in the next sequence, as what would have been a massive passing touchdown was blown away by the wind and rain.

But a run by Sanchez and an offsides penalty would continue the drive. A 23-yard reception to Silva would put the Tigers in the red zone. Another defensive pass interference call would put the Tigers at the 6-yard line.

On fourth down, a flea flicker from Kane to Sanchez would create the first score for the Tigers. Sanchez would then find Jeremy Rhoden for a touchdown with 6:02 left in the game.

Eliminating the Comeback

North Attleboro would immediately run the ball like they had all game. Robin would get a first down that would set up another Ruggiero run.

Once again, Robin would break free, this time for a 26-yard touchdown for North Attleboro's final score of the game, making it 33-6 with 2:55 left in the game.

Continuing to Fight

A personal foul on an onside kick would put the Tigers at midfield.

A 14-yard reception by Silva and a 24-yard reception by Sanchez would set the Tigers up in the red zone.

On what was thought to be their final play of the game, a bobbled tip-and-catch by sophomore Derek George would result in the final score for the Tigers.

Kicker Alex Ozcan would lay a perfect onside kick, and the Tigers would recover. Taunton was not able to capitalize on the possession, however, and that would be the game.

Final Thoughts

A tough matchup for our Tigers. North Attleboro established its run game early and continued to rely on it throughout the game.

The end of this game really showed how good and creative this offense can be when it finds its rhythm. The Tigers will now look ahead to Lynn English on Friday, back on the road.