New Bedford Edges Brockton in Football Thriller

The Whalers ended an eight-year losing streak against the Boxers with a narrow 20-14 victory.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration of two football players in mid-air, capturing the motion and intensity of a high school gridiron defensive play. — New Bedford High School secured a 20-14 victory over Brockton High School at Rocky Marciano Stadium, marking their first win against the Boxers since 2018. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New Bedford High School defeated Brockton High School 20-14, marking their first win against the Boxers since 2018. The hard-fought victory at Rocky Marciano Stadium pushed New Bedford to a 6-1 record on the season.

Why it matters

The result is a major turning point for the New Bedford program, which went winless during the 2025 season. The win helps the team improve its standing as it pushes for an MIAA Division 1 playoff berth.

New Bedford secured the 20-14 win behind a 41-yard touchdown catch and a decisive one-yard rushing touchdown from Lyric Ramos. Brockton's scoring efforts included a seven-yard run by Wilmer Perallon and a 21-yard run by Dakota Yarbrough.

The players

Lyric Ramos

He is a key offensive player for New Bedford who scored a 41-yard touchdown and the game-winning one-yard rushing touchdown.

Tru Gonsalves-Cosme

He is a defensive player for New Bedford who secured the victory by breaking up a pass on the final play of the game.

Wilmer Perallon

He is a player for Brockton who scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown during the game.

Dakota Yarbrough

He is a player for Brockton who scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown during the game.

The details

Tru Gonsalves-Cosme preserved the victory for New Bedford by breaking up a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game to deny a Brockton touchdown. New Bedford enters this postseason push with 60 players in its 2026 camp roster.

2018: The last year New Bedford defeated Brockton prior to this game.
2025: The year New Bedford finished their season without a win.
October 24, 2026: The date New Bedford defeated Brockton 20-14.
October 30, 2026: Brockton plays at Durfee.
October 30, 2026: New Bedford plays at Dartmouth.

Season Trajectory

This win significantly boosts New Bedford's standing in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings as they aim for a playoff spot. Conversely, the loss complicates the late-season outlook for Brockton as they look to recover in their remaining games.

New Bedford will look to continue its climb in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings when they face Dartmouth on October 30. Brockton will attempt to bounce back from the 3-4 record and this narrow loss when they travel to play Durfee on the same date.

The takeaway

Ending a multi-year losing streak highlights a dramatic turnaround for the New Bedford program following a difficult previous season. This victory underscores the importance of late-game defensive stops in high-pressure matchups.