King Philip Football Grinds Out 20-7 Win Over Dartmouth

For those looking for some good old fashion football, last night’s game between the King Philip Warriors and Dartmouth Indians was the place to be. With a slippery ball and a muddy field making it tough to go to the outside, both teams resorted to trying to grind the ball up the middle during KP’s (4-0) 20-7 win over the Indians.

“Any win’s a good win, you’re going up against a physical team out there and some tough conditions,” King Philip head coach Brian Lee said. “We got a lead and we just tried to protect it.”

The Warriors got on the board first on one of the few passing plays of the game. A six yard pass from John Dillon to Ryan Dunn gave the Warriors the first score of the game after a drive lasting almost half of the first quarter.

A two point conversion pass from Dillon to Sam McDonald extended the Warriors’ lead to 8-0 with 1:24 left in the opening quarter.

The drive was what KP was looking for considering the conditions. Just simple up the gut football that took plenty of time off the clock.

“You couldn’t really run outside, it was hard to push, you tried to keep it between the tackles, and let the clock do it’s work. We were lucky to be up at the half, second half really got wet and that’s why we wanted to take the ball in the first half,” said Lee.

After being forced to punt after a quick three and out at the beginning of the second quarter, Dartmouth thought they had KP where they wanted them after an Eddie Cadorette sack gave KP a third and 12 at their own 23. Getting to the outside, Joe Johnston (22 carries, 173 yards, 1 TD) was able to rush down the east sideline into the end zone on a 77 yard run. A missed extra point kept the score at 14-0 Warriors.

With a little chance still left for a comeback, Dartmouth still could try to tie it with the ball at the start of the fourth quarter but all hope was lost after a Dartmouth fumble was recovered by the Warriors in Indian territory.

A quick drive capped off by a one yard QB sneak by Dillion would lock up the game as the Warriors took a 20-0 lead with 3:24 left in the match. Once again, the extra point was no good as the Warriors struggled to keep the now very wet and slick ball down.

The special teams on the extra points was one of the few negatives for the Warriors, although the wet conditions did not help matters.

“The protection was better. I think we had a little trouble with the hold and then the second one was the ball was wet and sloppy and we just couldn’t get the hold down,” Lee said.

With the win, the Warriors remain undefeated heading into next week’s first league game. King Philip will host Hockomock League newcomers Taunton on Friday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.