Mansfield Football Dominates Sharon

The got stung Thursday by both its own mistakes and the Mansfield Hornets.

Visiting Mansfield capitalized on the Eagles' errors and won, 49-19.

"It was pretty evident that at times, we can move the ball and execute," Sharon head coach Dave Morse said.

"But, like any team playing a good team, turnovers will kill you. If we turn the ball over, this will continue. If we can fundamentally come together as one group and execute, we will be okay."

Mansfield scored on the game's opening drive.

Senior captain Gregory Donahue's 2-yard touchdown run, and sophomore Michael Hershman's kick put Mansfield ahead, 7-0, with 6:52 left in the first quarter.

The Hornets immediately recovered a fumble on the kickoff return. That possession ended with junior Robert Rapoza's 6-yard TD run, for a 13-0 lead with 4:25 left in the quarter.

Sharon junior Sean Asnes then cut the lead to 13-6, running 65 yards for a touchdown on the Eagles' next drive, with 3:27 left in the quarter.

However, Sharon fumbled the snap on the extra-point kick.

And Mansfield recovered it -- sparking another scoring drive, which culminated in senior captain Blayne Taylor's 5-yard TD run and Taylor's 2-point conversion run for a 21-6 lead with 9:47 left until halftime.

Sharon's early fumbles "gave us great field position," Mansfield head coach Mike Redding said.

"But (Sharon) never quit," Redding said.

"Dave's done some great stuff with them on offense, and we were lucky to take advantage of the turnovers."

Mansfield led, 42-6, at halftime.

Sharon scored on the second half's opening possession, Asnes running for a 21-yard TD with 7:05 left in the third quarter. Junior Eric Lesser kicked the extra point, making the score 42-13.

Mansfield's Rapoza and Sharon senior captain Jordan Owen recorded TD runs to close the scoring.

Sharon (2-3) hosts Canton at 2 p.m. Oct. 15. It's Sharon's Homecoming game.

Mansfield (4-1) hosts Attleboro at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14.