NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. - The first home game of the season at Lasell Field and there was some good energy out at the field that night leading up to the game. Coming off a tough loss last week at West Boylston, a game that seemed to have knocked the Rams momentum off balance early on in the game, with two lightning delays and downpours. The Rams had trouble regrouping after that last Friday. This week would be different, with the home field advantage and the backing energy of the Rams hometown cheering section, the Rams were fired up and seemed excited to take on St. Bernard’s, in redemption of last season’s blowout loss of 52-12 in Fitchburg. Northbridge got the ball first, driving downfield in a series of run and pass plays that concluded with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jake LaChapelle to Zack Tevepaugh, putting the Rams on the board first, followed with a PAT by Jayden Wilson. St. Bernard’s would receive the ball and put up a series of plays before being stopped by Northbridge at the St. B’s 28 yard line on 4th and 7, for a turnover on downs. St. Bernard’s answered back with an interception by Quinn Carlson, returning the possession to St. Bernard’s, who would later put 6 on the board with a run from Cole Blair, followed with a failed two-point conversion, brining the score to 7 - 6, Northbridge. With 4:33 left in the 4th quarter, Jarek Wenc would run one into the end zone for a Northbridge touchdown, followed with a successful extra point kick by Jayden Wilson, that would bring the score to 14 - 6, Northbridge in the lead. Just when things looked like the game was in the home stretch and the Rams would be putting W in the win column, the game got interesting, St. Bernard’s had not given up and decided to make things interesting. St. Bernard’s would score a touchdown with around nine seconds left on the clock in the 4th quarter. With nothing to lose, a successful two-point conversion would bring St. Bernard’s in line with Northbridge, even at 14-14, sending the game into overtime. St. Bernard’s won the coin toss. In OT, St, Bernard’s would immediately go on to bring their score to 20, with a failed two-point conversion run. Northbridge would take possession of the ball for their chance at OT scoring. Joel LaChapelle would even the score at 20 with a run into the end zone, followed with another LaChapelle successful two-point conversion run to conclude the game for a Northbridge win. This game marks Coach Ken LaChapelle’s 389th career win. Next week, the Rams take on Leicester at home for Homecoming Weekend.
