FRAMINGHAM - Troy Flutie, the nephew of Boston College legend Doug Flutie, had three touchdowns (two passing) as the Natick Redhawks defeated the rival Framingham Flyers, 26-14, on Thanksgiving Day at Bowditch Field.
Flutie and the Redhawks (10-1) set the pace on the opening drive, as the Redhawks' junior gunslinger let loose a deep bomb to receiver Justin Robinson for an 80-yard score, putting Natick on top 7-0 with 7:29 remaining in the first quarter. Flutie added his second touchdown pass in the second, connecting with receiver Alex Hilger for a 27-yard score. Natick held a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Framingham (5-6) found its way onto the scoreboard early in the third quarter, as quarterback Christopher Bloomingdale found Matthew Cronin for a 7-yard score with 7:10 left, cutting the Redhawks' lead in half. Natick responded with Flutie's third touchdown, a one-yard quarterback keeper at 2:42 of the third.
The Flyers had a golden opportunity to get back in the game after a lengthy drive at the end of the third quarter. Framingham faced a second down and one at the Natick seven to open the final quarter, and would later need to face a fourth down and one, but a Cronin rush came up just short of the first.
Nick Lee's 15-yard touchdown run up the middle put the nail in the coffin for Natick, giving the Redhawks a 26-7 edge. Framingham would tack on a score in garbage time on a one-yard keeper from Bloomingdale with 52.9 ticks to play.
Natick clinched a postseason berth with the win and will take on Plymouth South on Nov. 27. Framingham, however, did not qualify for postseason play.
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