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BOXFORD - Pentucket made the plays they had to and withstood a tough Masconomet running attack to hang on for the 21-13 win to stay unbeaten. The difference in the game was a blocked punt by Noah Malhi that gave the Sachems the ball at the Masco 1-yard line midway through the second quarter. On the very next play Liam Sheehy punched it in to give Pentucket the lead. Stevie Johanson booted the first of his three PAT's for a 7-0 advantage. "That blocked punt by Malhi was a big momentum change," said Pentucket coach Steve Hayden. "As things turned out we only beat them by one touchdown. So we really needed a play like that." Masconomet running back Scott Foden came up big on the ensuing drive, returning the kick 47 yards to the Sachems 41-yard line, and four plays later broke away from tacklers for a 34-yard touchdown run to tie the game. The Sachems' punishing running game led by Kiernan Haley, Sheehy, and Brennan McGuirk gave them a 14-7 lead right after Foden's first touchdown run. Travis Bounsy had a long return, and a face mask penalty against the Chieftains moved the ball to the Masco 30-yard liine. On the next play Haley went all the way for the score, and at the half Pentucket led, 14-7. Pentucket added another touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter when Haley went in from four yards out. Masconomet answered with no time left in the third quarter when Pentucket's punt was partially blocked, giving the Chieftains possession at the Sachems' 28. Foden got the call four times in a row, capping the drive with a 3-yard run, but the PAT failed. Pentucket is now 5-0 and will host Coyle-Cassidy next Saturday at 1 p.m.

NORTH READING — Matt McCarthy scored on runs of 75 and 34 yards and Masconomet missed a game-tying PAT in the waning seconds as North Reading pulled off the shocker, 14-13.

McCarthy had scored go-ahead with 1:25 left but there was still a lot of football to play. Paul Baker made things interesting on his late 10-yard TD run.