Wellesley puts on an offensive clinic, shuts out Belmont

WELLESLEY — After a sterling performance against Belmont on Saturday, Wellesley senior Robby Broggi said this was the best his team has played offensively all season.

Was it ever.

In a Div. 2 first-round game against No. 10 Belmont, No. 7 Wellesley did just about everything right in a 42-0 rout.

Belmont drops to 5-4. Wellesley (5-4) advances to the state quarterfinals, where it will face powerhouse No. 2 seed Catholic Memorial.

That will be a steep challenge, but Wellesley will be going into it on a high note.

“Yeah, for sure (it is fun playing in this offense),” Broggi said. “We definitely mixed things up from the start of the year. I think the offense is the best it’s looked all year. It was a blast.”

“It’s how they practiced this week, so I think that’s the big message,” Wellesley coach Jesse Davis said. “Big turnaround after our loss to Weymouth. The kids really showed up this week ready to go. They executed today.”

Broggi caught five passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns, all from different passers. Bobby Shanahan completed all five of his pass attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown. Henry Redgate rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Lukas Prock threw a 46-yard touchdown pass and rushed for a 75-yard score.

It was an all-around strong day of execution for the Raiders, who were simply clicking on all cylinders.

Off the opening kick, Wellesley went 66 yards on 12 plays, mixing things up well. Max Poirier took a snap, rolled to his right, then hit Broggi in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown pass as Wellesley took a 7-0 lead with 5:35 left in the opening quarter.

On the second play of the second quarter, Poirier ran in a 4-yard touchdown as Wellesley doubled its lead.

Wellesley started its next possession on the Belmont 44, and Redgate ran three straight times, the third a 10-yard touchdown run off a direct snap as Wellesley took a 21-0 lead.

Prock then hit Broggi on a 46-yard touchdown on the right side as Wellesley took a 28-0 lead into the break.

Shanahan helped the Raiders keep it going in the third quarter when he hit Broggi on a 31-yard score.

Prock’s 75-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter put an exclamation point on it.

Belmont’s Jayden Arno threw for 117 yards and rushed for another 30.

The win helps complete a turnaround for the Wellesley season, one which the Raiders started with an 0-3 record.

“We knew we had the talent. We started slow,” Davis said. “We had some guys out from injury, and the kids showed their resilience. It really is our seniors that has made the big turnaround for us, that brought the team together. We’re playing our best football now, so that’s good. We’re going to need it.”

Wellesley’s Max Poirier drives for the touchdown as Belmont’s Bryce Hubbard, left, attempts to stop him. Wellesley captured a 42-0 victory Saturday at home. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

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