Dedham High’s new football partnership with Sharon has produced a 4-2 start, giving players from both schools a shared program competing on an independent schedule.
The co-op began this fall under Sharon coach Ben Shuffain. Dedham’s other athletic teams remain in the Tri-Valley League.
The combined team entered the season with 61 players, including freshmen, drawn roughly evenly from the two schools, according to the Boston Globe’s preseason preview.
Senior quarterback Brady Shuffain, the coach’s son, has helped lead the offense. He threw five touchdown passes in a 40-18 win over Wareham, setting a Sharon program single-game record, according to the Globe.
The co-op followed with a 21-12 victory over Nauset, confirmed by a Dedham Athletics announcement included in TVL Sports’ weekly roundup.
Sharon/Dedham then beat Falmouth 28-14 on Oct. 9. Shuffain threw three touchdown passes, bringing his Sharon career total to a program-record 31. Senior Joseph Seaman caught two scores to extend his career receiving touchdown record to 17, the Globe reported.
Mashpee ended the winning stretch with a 50-18 victory in Week 6, leaving the co-op at 4-2, according to TVL Sports.
Sharon/Dedham next travels to Monument Mountain for a game scheduled Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m., according to MaxPreps.
The partnership also changes Thanksgiving football for both communities. Dedham previously faced Norwood, while Sharon played Oliver Ames. Norwood and Oliver Ames will now meet, and Sharon/Dedham is scheduled to host Rockland on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 10 a.m., according to Rockland’s schedule.
