RANDOLPH, Mass. – For three quarters Friday, the Hoosac Valley football team had a fighting chance to make the Final Four.

 

But fourth-seeded Randolph pulled away in the final 12 minutes to earn a 46-13 win in the quarter-finals of the Division 8 playoffs.

 

Alin Norisca and Mekhi White ran for 128 and 149 yards, respectively, and the Blue Devils scored 40 unanswered points after the Hurricanes took a 13-6, first-quarter lead.

 

“I talked to the [Randolph] coach before the game,” Hoosac Valley coach Marshall Maxwell said. “No. 7 [White], he’s the sixth fastest kid in the state. He’s going to UMass Lowell on a track scholarship. No. 0 [Norisca] is going to Rhode Island for football. He’s the 10th fastest kid in the state. And [Abraham Cornet], the quarterback, is going to the University of New England to play quarterback. They break some tackles because they’re fast. They’re big, strong kids.

 

“I’m just happy our kids came down here and competed at a high level, on a big stage, bright lights. And, you know what, that team is gonna be hard to beat. That’s a tough out for any team left in the tournament.”

 

Randolph (10-0) will face Nashoba Tech, a 20-6 winner over Kipp Academy Lynn, in next week’s state semi-final round.

 

But first, the Blue Devils had to face down a Hoosac Valley team that – but for a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown – was within one score going to the fourth quarter.

 

Hoosac Valley’s defense held Randolph on its first possession, and after the Blue Devils tried a fake punt, the Hurricanes touched the ball first at the plus-31. Two plays later, Qwanell Bradley (187 yards rushing) was in the end zone to make it 6-0.

 

Norisca went 60 yards on Randolph’s next offensive snap to tie the game, but Hoosac Valley answered with an 81-yard drive to retake the lead.

 

Bradley and Noah Rehill took turns running the ball, and Ben Payton completed a 10-yard pass to Adan Wicks to get Hoosac Valley to the 22. Bradley took the ball to the end zone from there, and Wicks kicked an extra point to make it 13-6.

 

Randolph answered with a sustained drive of its own, going 73 yards in a 13-play possession that spanned the first and second quarters and ended in a 2-yard run by Luis Valentin. The point after was good, and the teams were tied, 13-13.

 

The Blue Devils held Hoosac Valley to a three-and-out on its next possession, and White returned the ensuing punt 60 yards, taking the ball to the left before cutting back and streaking up the right side of the field to give Randolph the lead for good.

 

Hoosac Valley’s offense took over at its 32 after a 15-yard return by Wicks, and the Hurricanes drove to the plus-37 before a fourth down try came up empty with 4 minutes, 11 seconds left in the half.

 

Norisca then started a drive with a 48-yard run to the Hurricanes’ 15, and three plays later, White was in the end zone and Norisca’s second PAT made it 27-13.

 

“Big plays killed us,” Maxwell said. “[Norisca] had the long run, [White] had the punt return. Then they had a drive in there that really gassed us out. So, now, you’re looking at the scoreboard, and it’s 27-13.”

 

Hoosac Valley got the ball to start the second and got a 43-yard run by Bradley to take the ball to the Randolph 30. But the Blue Devils’ defense stiffened and stopped the ‘Canes on fourth down.

 

The Hurricanes then got a lift when Carson Durant recovered a fumble at the Hoosac Valley 28. Again, Randolph came up with the stop and got the ball back on a punt with 6:07 left in the third.

 

The Blue Devils then methodically drove 58 yards for a score on a 1-yard run by Cornet in the first minute of the fourth quarter to make it 33-13.

 

With just 11:24 to play and down three scores, Hoosac Valley was forced to go to the air – with backup quarterback Kamarion Kastner after Payton was knocked out of the game.

 

Its possession ended at midfield on fourth down, and Cornet completed two passes for 45 yards to make it 39-13 with 10:06 left.

 

Then Hoosac’s next possession ended in a punt from its 25, but a bad snap resulted in Randolph taking over with first-and-goal at the 1 and 8:55 remaining. It scored on its first play, sending the game to running time.

 

“I’m just very proud of them,” Maxwell said, noting that the Hurricanes graduate 13 seniors off the 8-2 squad. “Hard-working group of kids. The team busted their butt. We’ve come a long way. I feel like, in two years, we’ve come a long way. The program’s where we want to be.

 

“We just … it’s Western Mass. We need to get some kids. Trying to find kids is always a challenge.”