MARSHFIELD — Duxbury High football had not finished a fall season without a Patriot League title since before Marshfield’s senior quarterback Tor Maas was born. However, that changed on Thursday when Maas led the Rams (10-2, 5-0 Patriot Keenan) to a resounding 51-14 victory over the Dragons (10-2, 4-1 Patriot Keenan) for the Patriot Keenan title. This win marks the end of Duxbury’s impressive 16-year league championship streak and hands them their first Patriot League loss since 2007.
“This is what we work for,” Maas expressed, noting the rivalry with Duxbury and the importance of the victory. “They are our cross-town rivals, and the team we want to beat every year, so it couldn’t have ended any better.”
In a standout performance, Maas completed 11 of 20 passes for 208 yards, throwing four touchdowns, and also contributed on the ground with five carries for 40 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“Tor was awesome today,” Rams coach Chris Arouca commented. “He dominated the game, and in a game like that, where the league title is on the line, you need someone like that and he took care of it.”
The Rams jumped to a rapid start with a 4-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Charlie Carroll, followed by a 64-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cole Summers, establishing a 14-0 lead. After a response from Duxbury that narrowed the score, Marshfield’s relentless offense continued to push forward, highlighted by a quick recovery of a Duxbury fumble leading to additional scoring.
Despite a couple of more scoring plays from Duxbury, they were halted for the rest of the match as Marshfield capped off their win with a safety and a final rushing touchdown from senior wide receiver Jake Brilliant.
While the Rams had aspirations of competing in the Division 3 Super Bowl next week, they took immense pride in their victory. “This team, I wouldn’t want to play for any other team,” Maas said. “To beat Duxbury is just great, it’s what we wanted.”
Both Maas and senior running back Davin True expressed deep pride in their teammates, emphasizing the hard work and commitment that led to this memorable triumph.
Coach Arouca shared in this sentiment, praising the character and effort of his players: “They worked hard and they put their teammates ahead of them all the time, and I already miss them. I thanked them a bunch of times for letting me coach them for the last four years.”
Meanwhile, Duxbury will shift their focus to defending their title in the Division 3 Super Bowl next Thursday against Scituate at Gillette Stadium. While they may no longer be Patriot Keenan champions, they will fight for a chance to win their third consecutive state championship.
“Testament to Duxbury for winning the league title for 16 straight years, that’s a remarkable record,” Arouca noted, recognizing the strength of their rivals. “It’s a testament to how good they’ve been and hopefully, we can secure a couple more on them.”
In summary, Marshfield’s victory not only signifies an end to Duxbury’s historic championship streak but also showcases a bright future for a determined Rams team led by exceptional talent and teamwork. This new chapter in Marshfield football could signal the beginning of a competitive era within the league.