Sunday, December 4, 2011
Eagles senior running back Deonate Ramey-Doe scored three TDs against the Rockets defense, as BC High defeated Needham, 21-7, on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Not every story has a happy ending. Needham High School’s varsity football team ended their season on Saturday with a crushing 21-7 loss against Boston College High School as they played in their first-ever Division I Eastern Massachusetts Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. The loss marks the fourth time in MIAA playoff history that the Rockets have lost a postseason affair; however, it was a valiant effort. “We said we wanted to do this four years ago, three years ago, so we did it, we got here, and we gave them a good game,” said Needham senior running back Mike Vespa. “That’s all you can ask for.” “I thought we played with them, I thought we played tough with them,” said Needham head coach Dave Duffy. “They’re a great football team, they …
42.28714
-71.23033
Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
/articles/bc-high-ends-needham-s-football-season
154232
/locations/5940728
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Rockets made history on Tuesday as they defeated the Whalers, 42-14.
Take a deep breath Needham High School varsity football fans, because the Rockets have officially won a playoff game and are headed to Gillette Stadium on Saturday to face Boston College High School in the MIAA Division I Super Bowl. “It feels great,” Needham head coach Dave Duffy said after his team’s victory against New Bedford on Tuesday. “We’ve never won a playoff game, [and] it’s always hung over our heads a little bit, but especially moving up to Division I. I knew we were going to be good this year. I’m glad the kids worked hard and got to accomplish something no other team has ever accomplished.” The Rockets should be proud, especially since they beat-up a quality New Bedford squad on Tuesday evening under the lights at Weymouth …
42.28714
-71.23033
Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
/articles/needham-advances-to-division-i-super-bowl
154232
/locations/5904870
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Needham Rockets have never won a MIAA playoff game and are hopeful that tonight's game against New Bedford will be their first.
Prior to the start of the regular season, various Needham High School varsity football players predicted that the Rockets would win the Bay State Conference Carey division and clinch a Division I playoff berth. On Thanksgiving morning, the Rockets' preseason prediction came true, as Needham walloped Wellesley High School and secured a spot in today's Division I semi-final contest against New Bedford High School, set for 7:30 p.m. at Weymouth High School. “They’re big, they’re fast, and they play a very tough schedule. I know they’re banged up a little bit, [because] they had some injuries to some of their good players, [which] is very similar to us,” said Needham head coach Dave Duffy, when asked to describe the Whalers football team. …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The neighbors and rivals will meet for their 124th Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday, Nov. 24, with a win sending Needham to the post-season.
It isn’t exactly Harvard-Yale or Williams-Amherst, but it is indeed one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the country, and every year it lives up to the hype. On Thanksgiving morning, Needham High School’s varsity football team will travel to Wellesley High School for their final regular season contest of the season. With a win, they’ll clinch their first playoff berth since 2009. “We’re working hard in practice. Everyone’s picking up the intensity level that much more. We’re just trying to prepare and work hard, so we can try and win this game,” said Mark Riley, a senior co-captain for Needham. Needham will enter Thursday’s contest with a one-game winning streak, while Wellesley has dropped their last two matchups against …
42.28714
-71.23033
Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
/articles/thanksgiving-football-preview-needham-wellesley
154232
/locations/5856730
42.302644
-71.280295
50 Rice St, Wellesley, MA
/articles/thanksgiving-football-preview-needham-wellesley
/locations/5856731
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Natick ended Needham's winning streak on Friday, Oct. 28 at Memorial Field.
Entering Friday’s game, Needham seemed confident that they’d be able to defeat Natick. But the Red and Blue had a different plan, as they overpowered the Rockets in the second half and left Memorial Field with a 49-24 victory. “This is huge. That’s a great team,” Natick head coach Mark Mortarelli said. “Unfortunately, they’re under-manned, a couple of guys got hurt during this game, [and] of course the quarterback’s out, but anytime you beat Needham, they’re very well coached and they’re very balanced. It’s just huge for us.” “Well, they’re an excellent team,” Needham head coach Dave Duffy said. “They executed flawlessly on offense, and we did have some injuries, can’t use that for excuse. [We’ve] got to get ready for the rest of the year…
42.287283
-71.235304
Memorial Park
92 Rosemary St, Needham, MA
/articles/flutie-dunlap-lead-natick-past-needham-49-28
222931
/locations/5698327
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Charter and senior tight end connected for two TDs in Friday's win against Walpole.
Leading up to Friday’s contest against the Walpole Rebels, Needham Rocket fans had one question on their mind—who would replace senior captain and quarterback Drew Burnett under center? The answer: an untested sophomore by the name of Ryan Charter, who appeared completely unfazed against a Rebels defense and managed to record two touchdown strikes to senior tight end Mark Riley in a 31-22 victory. “It’s easy to play well with these kids, it’s a great team,” Charter said. “The whole week, I didn’t really know what was going on, I just tried to do my best in practice [and] I was looking forward to the game the whole week and everyone was asking if I was nervous and I was like, ‘no way, I’m excited,’ so I loved it, I loved it.” “The kid …
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Needham Rockets news, notes and games to watch.
It’s been an interesting past couple of days for the Needham High School Rockets varsity football team, who lost senior captain and quarterback Drew Burnett to an ankle injury, which he sustained last weekend against Milton. “He wanted to stay in, I wanted him to stay in, so it was my decision and it apparently was a bad decision [because] he got hurt,” head coach Dave Duffy said. “I feel bad for him, and his high school career’s over, but his college career will still go on. After he recovers [from his injury], he’s going to be perfectly fine." Burnett, who wasn’t at the team’s practice on Wednesday, left an enormous void for Duffy, who will likely be forced to use three backup quarterbacks, (senior Dan Pierce, junior Matt McGloin and …
42.287283
-71.235304
Memorial Park
92 Rosemary St, Needham, MA
/articles/rocket-fuel-football-has-a-new-qb-boy-s-and-girl-s-soccer-keeps-on-winning
222931
/locations/5631810
42.26887
-71.22012
DeFazio Park
Dedham Ave & South St, Needham, MA
/articles/rocket-fuel-football-has-a-new-qb-boy-s-and-girl-s-soccer-keeps-on-winning
222927
/locations/5631811
42.28714
-71.23033
Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
/articles/rocket-fuel-football-has-a-new-qb-boy-s-and-girl-s-soccer-keeps-on-winning
154232
/locations/5631812
