FHS FOOTBALL BEATS DARTMOUTH 21-14
by Laurie Los, sports editor Standard-Times
DARTMOUTH — With a third straight trip to the Super Bowl on the horizon, the Fairhaven High football team didn’t look past rival Dartmouth High on Thanksgiving morning.
“It’s Thanksgiving,” said Fairhaven High head coach Derek Almeida. “It means so much to us and our community and I know it means a lot to them too. I think this is the biggest rivalry in the state. “We played to win.”
[Photo: FHS sophomore quarterback Jackson Ponte runs 35 yards for the first touchdown of the game.]
It took a game-winning touchdown run by senior Ian Alexion in the final two minutes of the game for the Blue Devils to prevail 21-14 at Dartmouth Memorial Stadium on Nov. 27 in another instant classic in this annual rivalry.
“That’s a good football team,” Almeida said of Dartmouth. “Those kids play hard. They tackle. They block. I tip my hat to them. That was a great football game.”
This was the third straight year where this matchup has been decided in the final seconds and by 7 points or less.
“I’m proud of our guys because I thought they brought a level of intensity that Fairhaven probably hasn’t seen all year,” said Dartmouth head coach Rick White, whose team finished the season 6-5. “Obviously they’re a great football team. Our goal was to make their lives miserable for four quarters and I think we accomplished that. The seniors left it all out there.
“Hopefully they can go out there and win the Super Bowl because it really represents all the schools down here and hopefully we prepared them for it and they take care of Norwell. That’s what it is about.”
No. 3 Fairhaven (11-1) will face top-seeded Norwell at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4 in the MIAA Div. 6 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. The game can be livestreamed on www.Patriots.com
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fairhaven didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard as the Blue Devils scored on the third offensive play of the game on a 35-yard scamper by sophomore Jackson Ponte, who got his first varsity start at quarterback in the game.
“The past two years we’ve had QBs step up in the program and this was my turn,” Ponte said. “I’ve been ready the last couple of weeks and I’ve been ready all year, waiting for my number to get called. It was awesome to come out and win today.”
Almeida added, “Given the situation he was in, he did a great job. He ran the offense efficiently. He did a nice job of running the option and I’m proud of how he played. He gets a lot of reps throughout the year. Every time he came in, he focused and worked hard. He learned a lot from Evan (Lamontagne) throughout the year.”
Dartmouth responded in the second quarter. Following a turnover by Fairhaven that gave the hosts the ball at the Blue Devil 5, junior quarterback Aidan Gendron scored on a 1-yard keeper to tie the game at 7 with 9:10 left in the first half.
Fairhaven answered with a 16-play, 73-yard drive that was capped off by a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Evan Lamontagne on fourth down to put Fairhaven out front 14-7 with 2:04 left in the second quarter.
“We did bring Evan in when we needed him and he played some good snaps for us,” Almeida said. “I’m proud of both of them (Lamontagne and Ponte) and I’m proud of our team.”
Dartmouth, which was stopped short of the goal line on the final play of the first half, scored on its opening drive of the third quarter when senior Brady Beauparland passed the ball to Gendron, who threw a 58-yard scoring strike to junior Chase Afonso to tie the game at 14.
Dartmouth’s defense stopped Fairhaven on fourth down in its open territory to open the fourth quarter.
The Blue Devils forced back-to-back punts and put together a 9-play, 64-yard game-winning drive that saw Alexion break free for a 21-yard scamper with 2:07 remaining.
“That was a good run right there,” said Alexion, who carried the ball 16 times for a team-high 114 yards.
Senior Grant Darmofal finished with 91 yards on 18 carries while Aaron Lague rushed 9 times for 57 yards.
“I was hoping sooner or later, one of them would pop one,” Almeida said. “I’m proud of those guys. They work hard every day in practice.”
Gendron completed back-to-back passes to get Dartmouth inside Fairhaven territory, but was intercepted by sophomore Jackson Williams, ending his team’s comeback attempt with 1:25 to go.
“It’s a great challenge to prepare for,” White said. “I love these rivalry games we have with Stang, New Bedford and these guys. This year we won two out of the three. You don’t want to lose, but I’m happy with our guys’ effort today.”
Fairhaven plays for the M.I.A.A. Division 6 state championship on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. The game can be livestreamed on www.Patriots.com This is the third consecutive year that FHS is playing in the D-6 title game, having won in 2023.