The Middlesex Varsity Football team built a 20-3 lead over Roxbury Latin through three quarters and then withstood a furious RL rally to notch a 20-17 win in ISL football play on Saturday, September 28. The win pushed the Zebras record to 2-0, their first such start since 2009.

RL received the opening kickoff and drove into Middlesex territory before a big fourth down sack by linebacker Luke Warzynski turned the ball over on downs to the Zebras. A 33 yard completion from quarterback Luke Felago to Orion Saunders set up Middlesex deep in RL territory and then Felago hit senior receiver Xavier Hazard with a 6 yard touchdown on 3rd and goal, giving Middlesex a 7-0 with 5:25 to go in the opening stanza.

RL responded with a drive into the red zone, but the Middlesex defense held, forcing a 33 yard field goal that made the score 7-3 just a minute into the second quarter. The ensuing Middlesex drive advanced all the way to the RL 15 but it eventually stalled and yielded no points. Neither team could mount any offense until Felago hit Hazard with a 23 yard pass that advanced the ball to the RL 11 with 15 seconds left in the half. After two incompletions, freshman kicker Sam Elfner nailed a field goal to make the halftime score 10-3 in favor of Middlesex.

Middlesex took the ball to start the second half and drove it down to a first and goal to go situation. The RL defense held, however, and Elfner hit a 26 yard field goal to increase the Middlesex lead to 13-3 with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

After forcing a three and out, Middlesex scored on the first play of its next drive on an electric 53 yard touchdown run by junior running back Frankie Forrest, making the score 20-3 in favor of Middlesex with 2:38 to go in the third.

RL would not go quietly, however, and the Foxes hit a 29 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the Middlesex lead to 20-10. Middlesex was able to gain one first down on its next possession, but RL forced a punt and their second touchdown pass of the game from 9 yards out made it a 20-17 game.

Middlesex advanced into RL territory but a fourth down attempt that would have iced the game was stuffed and RL had the chance to tie or win with 1:44 remaining in the game. RL advanced to the Middlesex 29 but the Zebras forced two incompletions and held a rushing attempt to one yard, forcing RL to try a long field goal to tie in the waning seconds. The kick had the distance but sailed wide left and the Zebras had survived 20-17.