By Sam Rosenblatt
Managing Editor of Sports
It’s the most exciting time of the season for South’s fall sports teams. Some teams have just wrapped up their seasons, while others are still very much alive in their respective state tournaments.
The Lions achieved a historic victory on the gridiron on Saturday, as the football team defeated Haverhill 32-27 for their first ever home playoff victory. Junior quarterback Austin Burton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another, while senior captain Anthony DeNitto racked up three touchdown receptions in the win.
Senior captain Frankie Barros and junior defensive back Ilan Hascal each came up with crucial fourth quarter interceptions to help seal the victory. The football team (7-1) will travel to top seeded Billerica (8-0) for the D2 North semifinals this Friday.
After closing out the season with a 9-9 record, Newton South’s girls’ volleyball team earned a playoff berth and will take on Latin Academy this Friday in their first round matchup.
Newton South girls’ soccer (13-4-1) earned the seven seed in the D1 South sectional tournament and will take on North Quincy in a highly anticipated under the lights matchup tonight at 6:00.
A talented group of seniors, along with the team’s leading goal scorers, junior Ali Nislick and freshman Audrey Lavey, will look to lead the Lions to victory.
South’s field hockey team closed out the season with a loss against crosstown rival Newton North. They finished the season with a 3-13-1 record, tripling their win total from last season, and will hope to continue their recent improvement next season.
Both cross-country teams competed at the DCL Championship Meet at Franklin Park on Friday.
The girls’ team featured many impressive performances, as the Lions claimed three of the top ten spots in the varsity race. Junior Clare Martin and senior captain Rebecca Grusby finished second and third, respectively, while sophomore Caroline Barry placed ninth.
These performances keyed South to a second place finish as a team in the meet, behind rival Lincoln-Sudbury. The Lions will have another chance of knocking off L-S in two weeks at the Division 1 State Championship Meet.
Boys’ cross-country finished sixth as a team at the DCL Championship Meet. Junior Gal Fudim led South with a sixth place finish in the varsity race. The Lions also displayed their young talent, placing four freshman in the top ten of the freshman race, led by third place finisher Shaw Miller.
South will next compete at the MSTCA Coaches Invitational Meet this Saturday before the D1 State Championship the following week.
