King Philip defeats North Attleboro in early-season test

NORTH ATTLEBORO — King Philip and North Attleboro both bring a similar punishing style to the gridiron. But when the Hockomock League rivals collided Friday night at Beaupre Field, it was KP’s version of smashmouth football that won out. Behind the tough running of Keigan Canto-Osorio and Tallan King plus another standout defensive performance, the Warriors delivered blow after blow to topple the Red Rocketeers, 21-7, with their gritty effort. Canto-Osorio racked up 127 yards rushing on 15 carries with two touchdowns while King took 14 carries for 144 yards and a score. “We told them last week, we got the win, but we didn’t play very physical. We weren’t really tough,” KP head coach Brian Lee said. “I said, ‘You’re going to be up against it against North because you know how tough and physical they are.’ And they responded to that.” The game swung in the favor of KP (2-0) on a controversial call at the end of Canto-Osorio’s 40-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left in the third quarter. After unleashing two monster stiff arms on defenders to break free, Canto-Osorio scampered along the left sideline and tried to beat the last defender to the pylon. He dove for it and the play was called a touchdown despite it looking like the senior back lost control of the ball before crossing the goal line. Lee agreed Canto-Osorio did fumble, but was glad to catch a break. “He fumbled it,” Lee said. “It’s OK. They blew that call. We had some other ones, so that’s how it goes. It was a hell of an effort. We didn’t block anybody, so he deserved a touchdown as far as I’m concerned. Sometimes you get lucky.” North Attleboro head coach Mike Strachan was frustrated with the call but tried to get his team to move on from it. “I said my peace (to the refs) and (after) I said my peace I went back to coaching,” Strachan said. “… At the end of the day it shouldn’t come down to one play like that. It just happens to be a big play in the game.” The Red Rocketeers (1-1) had a difficult time stopping KP’s bruising rushing attack. King sealed the contest for the Warriors when he bulldozed his way to a 49-yard touchdown run to give KP a two-score advantage with 5:41 left. That lead was in good hands thanks to KP’s stout defense. KP’s defense forced three interceptions and came through with two key defensive stands in their territory in the second half, including when North Attleboro turned the ball over on downs at the Warriors 13-yard line early in the fourth quarter. “It was great,” Lee said. “Defense is what we hang our hat on that. It keeps us going while we’re trying to get things going on offense.”