Captain Reed Harasimowicz falls hard after a carry, despite blocking help from his Harvard teammates Ryan Reynolds, center, and Wally Shaw, 70. (Photos by Ellen Harasimowicz)
The Littleton-Bromfield varsity football team fell to Ayer on Thanksgiving Thursday by a score of 44-22, finishing its season with five wins and six losses.
The scoring began with a pair of touchdowns and two-point conversions for Ayer. Panthers running back Charlie Jones scored all 16 first-quarter points on running plays. At the end of the quarter, the Tigers defense, led by Captain Alex Harrah, a Bromfield junior, made a strong defensive stand and forced an Ayer fourth down.
The second quarter began with a touchdown by Ayer quarterback Jon Bollinger and a Jones two-point conversion. Later in the quarter, the Tigers defense stifled another Ayer drive with key tackles coming from Bromfield senior Chris Kenney and junior Brent Duoba. The first half ended with the score 38-0 after Ayer touchdowns by DJ Trinque and Mike Racca.
The Tigers opened the second half with two long rushes by Captain Reed Harasimowicz, a Bromfield senior. The plays set up Will Zimmerman for a quarterback sneak. The touchdown and a Mike Rentschler two-point conversion gave Littleton its first points of the day. Mid-game rain muddied the playing surface, but didn’t stop Harasimowicz from returning an Ayer punt across midfield and in for a touchdown. On the ensuing drive, Bromfield senior Wally Shaw stopped Trinque on the goal line before Jones scored his third rushing touchdown of the game for Ayer. During the fourth quarter Littleton scored again: a touchdown pass from Zimmerman to Rentschler, accompanied by a successful two-point conversion.
Sporting a new letter jacket—and a broken leg—Bromfield junior James Jarvis watches the final Bromfield/Littleton Tigers game of the season from the sidelines with teammate Richard Burke
Coming into the game, the Tigers talked of the tough goal of upsetting Ayer, which finished 10-1 and were league co-champions. Harasimowicz said he felt that “Ayer was extremely athletic and talented.” Bromfield junior Dan Child said, “They were stronger, faster, and executed better.” Littleton was also missing multiple starters due to injuries, including two Bromfield captains: junior James Jarvis and senior Joseph Galeski.
In spite of the score, the Littleton-Bromfield team had some spectacular plays against their stronger opponent. Although Harasimowicz downplayed the effect of the rain, the mud made his punt return for a touchdown more difficult. Bromfield senior Chris Kenney also made two catches for first downs. His play throughout the game led to his selection as the Tigers’ most valuable player of the game.
The Thanksgiving Day game always has a special significance for high school players. Harasimowicz described the game as “a season in itself,” both because of the tough competition and the change in start time. Child said that the game “carries more weight than the others, being our last game.”
This is true especially for the seniors who finished their high school careers that day. Kenney said of his season, “The record could have been a little better, but practice and everything was fun.”
Harasimowicz added that he “had a lot of fun this year…and the guys on the team are awesome.” Both seniors expressed plans to continue their football careers in the coming years while at college. Child and the other returning Tigers have high hopes for next season. Their goals include an improved record and the program’s first win over Ayer in three seasons.
