Medford High Football falls to Northeast Metro Tech 34-0

The Mustangs couldn’t get a grip on the Golden Knights ground game.

Isaiah Robles ran wild, rushing for four touchdowns, as host Northeast Metro Tech (4-1) took down Medford, 34-0, in a Saturday morning matinee.

With the loss, coach John Curley’s club falls to 1-4 on the season.

“It was tough, but we’ve got to be ready to play,” said Curley. “It’s another game where we need to understand that we’ve got to be ready to play [as soon as we] get off the bus.”

Northeast junior Lucas De Oliveria got Northeast’s offense in motion, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. Robles took it from there. The fleet-footed running back rumbled 10 yards to pay dirt for his first of four end zone shuffles. The run gave the Knights the 15-0 edge with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Although they struggled to find a rhythm, the Mustangs still had a few bright spots. The team executed a nifty two-pass play option putting them in prime scoring position. Quarterback Travers Moodie connected with Ronald David, who then fired a secondary pass to senior Samuel Dieurestil for an impressive 34-yard gain to the red zone.

The threat was quickly thwarted, however, after Jovan Walcott picked off a Moodie pass just two plays later.

Knights QB Ryan Beede quickly changed direction, sending De Oliveria in on a 15-yard reception to the 21. Robles took the initiative further, darting in a few plays later for his second touchdown. He added his third TD on a goal-line strike with 53.1 seconds remaining in the half. And just like that the Knights held the 27-0 lead at intermission.

Robles put the game away early in the second half, after Northeast recovered a Medford fumble. The running back rolled in on a two-yard, end zone scamper for his fourth TD of the game, increasing the lead to 34-0.

“They were ready to go from first series,” said Curley. “They had the momentum from the get-go. We tried to get some things going here and there, but it just wasn’t in our favor. It just wasn’t in the cards for us.”

Despite the setback, Curley feels his team can take some positives out of this loss. Dieurestil was among a handful of players that opened eyes with what they could do.

“Sammy stepped up a little bit on the offensive side,” said Curley.  “We also had a few good plays on the defensive side. We had a couple freshmen starting the first time this year. I think that went pretty well for the program, just to get better and overall learning experience. I think this will help us in the future. They obviously wanted to win the game today, but it can also lay the foundation for better games this coming season.”

Former coach DeFelice likes new-look Mustangs

The Golden Knights had a familiar face patrolling the sidelines.

Former Mustang head coach Mike DeFelice enters his third season as defensive coordinator/offensive line coach for Donny Heres's squad. He likes the progress his old club has made in recent years, including last season’s GBL championship.

It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving group.

“Coach Curley is a great friend of mine and has been for a long time,” said DeFelice, who coached Medford football from 2004 to 2006. “AJ Rosetti, their offensive coordinator, is a kid that played for me. I love him and his father, dearly. I have no level of satisfaction beating Medford and winning the football game any more than I was heartbroken when we lost to them last year. We came to their place last year and got beat. They came here today, and we just had a good day.”

The coach still stays in touch with a lot of his former players through social media, as well as bumping into a handful of them at Hormel Stadium before last year’s showdown. Revisiting Medford always brings a smile to his face.

“I have nothing but great, positive memories about being there,” said DeFelice. “We had great kids, just like John has here.”

DeFelice is certainly no stranger to adversity at Medford High. He and his squad faced it head-on after enduring a winless campaign in 2004. Technically, Medford was 1-9. Their loss to Somerville was ultimately ruled a forfeit when it was revealed that then-coach John Hannah used an illegal player.

The first impression DeFelice left was a lasting one, however. The players rallied behind him after school administrators elected not to renew his contract for 2005. The team called an audible, prompting an infamous meeting with administrators in the summer of 2005, followed by another huddle with Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, in an all-out effort to bring him back.

The protest paid off. DeFelice was eventually reinstated. The team celebrated in style winning its home opener by beating Winchester 14-13.

But that was then, and this is now.

These days, DeFelice has to watch a Mustangs resurgence from afar.

“That’s a very young, but very physical Medford team,” said DeFelice. “Being able to watch them closely, seeing what John is building and what he’s accomplished winning the GBL last year, it's great things for the football program at that school.”

“It’s a big deal,” he added. “When I was there, we were trying to do the same thing. Trying to grow the culture and create something special. He’s been able to do that. He’s put his time in and has worked real hard. The kids have bought in and it’s great to see.”

DeFelice was particularly impressed to see several prospects making key contributions for Medford on Saturday.

“The guys on the headset kept telling me, ‘this kid's a freshman, that kid's a freshman,’” said DeFelice. “I said ‘are you kidding me?’ Their whole identity since John has taken over has been about their toughness. They were the same way today. I know they’re a lot younger than last year. They’ve got some kids who are pretty talented football players, gaining some valuable experience. Watch them in a year or two. They’re going to be right back in top of the GBL again.”

Medford continues its three-game road trip visiting Lynn English (3-2), Friday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs are fresh off a 45-20 win over Malden, Oct. 9.

2025 Medford football schedule

Date Opponent                     Time/score

9/5        @ Everett                   34-7 L

9/18     Vs Lynn Classical        20-0 W

9/25     Vs Revere                    43-14 L

10/2     Vs. Somerville             14-6 L

10/11  @ Northeast Metro     34-0 L

10/17  @ Lynn English             6 pm

10/24  @ Chelsea                       6 pm

10/30  Vs. Saugus                       6 pm

11/27  Vs. Malden                       10 am