Mansfield 31 Christian Brothers Academy 26

Opening game of the 2011 Season

Mansfield played Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse, NY for their opening day game of the 2011 season. This game was part of the Kickoff Classic organized by the New York Chapter of the National Football Foundation. The game was played at the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University. CBA was ranked # 1 in their conference and # 6 in NY State.

From the Mansfield Patch;

Hornets Beat Christian Brothers Academy 31-26 at High School Football Kick Off Classic

By Fran Leonard
The Mansfield High School Varsity Football team beat the Christian Brothers Academy Friday night 31-26 in a very close and intense game.

"As far as I can remember, this is one of the best high school games I've ever seen or coached or watched," Mansfield Head Coach Michael Redding said.

Mansfield started off the scoring in the first quarter when Greg Donahue scored with 43 seconds left in the quarter. Christian Brothers Academy blocked the extra point and shortly later recovered a fumble in the end zone to score. With the extra point the score was now 7-6 Christian Brothers.

Sean Murphy scored for the Christian Brothers and they got the extra point to bring the score to 14-6 with 3:06 remaining in the half.

MHS recovered Christian Brothers' fumble at their 35 yard line with two seconds left. George Busharis hit Christian Debeauport in the corner of the end zone. Mansfield's two point conversion attempt failed and they took an 18-14 lead into the half. "It was like watching two heavyweights going back and forth," Redding said.

The third quarter brought about another touchdown from MHS. With 4th and 7 at the 30 yard line, George Busharis threw a pass to Greg Donahue for the first down at the six yard line. Dylan Finnerty ran in the remaining six yards for the touchdown with 36 seconds left in the quarter. The score was now 25-14. CBA came back in the 4th with a 60 yard run to bring the score to 25-20, and then promptly recovered a squib kick and brought the ball to the MHS end zone with a 22 yard pass to bring the score to 26-25.

"As good as it looked for us (during the game), they rallied to come back to take the lead," Redding said. "Then, as bad as it looked for us, we rallied to come back. They were just two great teams; no loser tonight."

Christian Brothers Academy turned the ball over on downs on their own 15 yard line with 3:59 left in the game. Mansfield sealed the game after Busharis threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Blayne Taylor with 2:31 left in the game.
"I think both of us will be better for the experience but again, our kids showed our "never surrender" [spirit]" Redding said. "As long as there is time on the clock we're gonna play. We've got quite a good team. "



Saturday 9-10-2011

FOOTBALL: Another rally for Mansfield

From the Attleboro Sun Chronicle

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Following up last season's improbable, come-from-behind Super Bowl championship last year, the Mansfield High had its work cut out against highly-touted Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse Friday night.

True to form, the Hornets had another rally left in them as coach Mike Redding & Co. came away from the Carrier Dome with a 31-26 victory in a game that saw the lead change hands five different times.

Mansfield running back Greg Donahue earned MVP honors as he had 60 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

But it was a Blayne Taylor's 36-yard touchdown reception from quarterback George Busharis with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter that proved the difference on the scoreboard. The Hornets came up with a couple of solid defensive stands in the game's final five minutes to preserve the win.

Donahue opened the scoring with a 1-yard run, the only scoring of the first quarter. Christian Brothers scored the next 12 points to take a 12-6 before Mansfield rallied to lead at the half - Donahue witha 6-yard scoring run and Busharis with a 34-yard scoring strike to Christian Debeauport.

Mansfield added to its halftime lead, taking a 25-14 advantage on Dylan Finerty's 6-yard TD run and Mike Hershman's PAT.

Christian Brothers had the first two scores of the fourth quarter to go back on top, quarterback Cameron McPherson with a 2-run TD and a 22-yard scoring strike, his second of the game.

Mansfield's defense held the rest of the way and got the Taylor TD to put this one in the win column.

Mansfield 31, Christian Brothers (N.Y.) 26


Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Mansfield 6 12 7 6 31
Christian Brothers (N.Y.) 0 14 0 12 26
First quarter
Mansfield TD Greg Donahue 1-yard run (kick failed)
Second quarter
Christian Brothers (N.Y.) TD Jack Psohl 32-yard run (Nolan Brower kick)
Christian Brothers (N.Y.) TD Shane Murphy 22-yard pass from Cameron McPherson (Nolan Brower kick)
Mansfield TD Greg Donahue 6-yard run (kick failed)
Mansfield TD Christian Debeauport 34-yard run (kick failed)
Third quarter
Mansfield TD Dylan Finerty 6-yard run (Mike Hershman kick)
Fourth quarter
Christian Brothers (N.Y.) TD Cameron McPherson 2-yard run (rush failed)
Christian Brothers (N.Y.) TD Evan Adamo 22-yard pass from Cameron McPherson (kick failed)
Mansfield TD Blayne Taylor 27-yard run (kick failed)
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