November-December 2026

It was the end of my sophomore year, and the baseball playoffs were going amazingly. I batted third in the lineup and was the designated hitter. I had hurt my shoulder earlier in the season and couldn’t play the field, but I did what I could to stay in the game and help my team win. Walking into Polar Park on that unusually chilly June morning, I watched the game before ours. I felt calm, with some excitement. It was weird, though, because it was the calmest I had been going into a game during this playoff run.

As we walked onto the field after the game before ours ended, the sound of the crowd seemed to disappear, and we were locked in and ready to play ball. Some would say it was a one-inning game. We scored three runs in the first inning, and they scored two. After that, it was a pitchers’ duel. It was a game that kept you on your toes. I couldn’t wait to get up to bat, and it was hard for me to just sit there between innings and watch my team play defense. I paced back and forth in the dugout, just waiting for my moment.

With two outs in the seventh inning, the batter popped the ball up toward Jimmer at second base. It felt like the ball was in the air forever. I was on the field before the ball even came down, and I jumped right into the pile. It was a crazy feeling, and I felt like I was on cloud nine. After all the hard work we had put in throughout the season, winning the state championship was an incredible feeling.

The celebration didn’t stop after the game. We got a state police escort back to the high school, where police cars and fire trucks had their sirens blasting, and friends and family were lined up along the streets. The whole town was celebrating with us, and it was an amazing feeling. We celebrated until around 3 a.m., and the next morning, we were in a parade that went around Millbury.

Winning the state championship was about more than just the final game. It was about the work we put in as a team and the memories we made together. It is something I will never forget.

The audience sees a performance. The students see trials, fun, and blooming friendships with fellow cast members.

“Look out now, Five. Don’t go splashing paint over me like that.” That is the first line I speak in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland play this November. I play the Two of Spades, a Card Guard. Nothing major. Even then, I can’t help but get excited for this play. It is the first play I’ll be in, after all.

I only have a few lines in the entire play, so it was easy to memorize them. I kind of feel bad for Rachel Rutkiewicz, who keeps tripping over her lines as Alice. But that is all part of Drama Club: rehearsal and practice.

I’ve already gotten used to my lines as the Two of Spades; however, those aren’t the only lines I was given, as I am also a part of the jury in a court scene. I’m also included in lines that every cast member has to say at the end of the play. I haven’t quite gotten used to those lines yet, but I believe I can get them down before opening night.

The show runs the weekend of November 20–22, with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available online in advance or at the door before each show ($12 for adults, $7 for students and children). The entire cast and crew have worked so hard to bring this show to life, and we hope to see you there.

Becoming Student Council President has been such an exciting and rewarding experience so far. Going into senior year, I was both nervous and excited because I knew I was taking on a bigger responsibility and wanted to make sure I did a good job. Another big change this year was having new student council advisors. After having Ms. Morin and Mrs. Cronin as advisors, it was definitely different adjusting to someone new. They have both been very supportive, and I am very grateful for all of the help they have provided for me to be successful through my time as a Student Council member, Junior Delegate, and now President.

Our new advisors, Mrs. Comeau and Mrs. Demaria, have made the transition so easy. I already had a great relationship with Mrs. Comeau through soccer and track, so having her as one of our advisors has been especially nice. Both of our new advisors have been so supportive, helpful, and willing to work with us. So far, everything has been running very smoothly, and I could not be happier with how the year has started.

Being president has allowed me to take on more leadership, help organize events, and work with other students to make our school a better place. I am excited to continue learning and growing in this role. I am also looking forward to seeing what the rest of senior year has in store and making the most of my last year at Millbury!

By: Mason Hubley (2028)

I could tell this year was going to be different for the football team. All summer, this group was lifting, working out, and bonding. Last year, our team went 3–5 in the regular season and lost in the second round of the playoffs. It was a down year for us, so we felt pressure to get back to our winning mentality. And by "we," I mean me specifically, as I was a junior QB making my first varsity start in two months without a lick of varsity competition under my belt.

Although lifting was hard and being sore sucked, I knew nothing was going to be handed to me. I had to work for it. This wasn’t just me; our team's attendance in the weight room was as good as it had been in years. Guys were showing up willing to work and get better. We also had people step up and become leaders who led by example, pushing others to work harder.

There were some questions about our team going into the year, but by the first game, there wasn’t a group I was more confident in. We knew Week 1 was a tough game and we’d have to play great to win, and guess what we did—answered those questions and proved the doubters wrong.

Now we are at 5–2 going into Week 8 against Northbridge. Northbridge is a very good team, but so are we. Throughout the year, Coach Ray Richards has repeatedly said, “If we are in the fourth quarter in a big game, I like us.” This couldn’t be more accurate. We worked so hard this summer in team lifts and early-season practices to prepare for games like this. This group is ready to go, and after we get it done this week, I’ll be ready to watch us make a run in the playoffs.

Every play starts with the snap of the ball, and from there, everyone has a job to do. As the starting center for the MHS football team, I have an important job every time I step onto the field. Before each play, I have to snap the ball, communicate with the offensive line, and know my blocking assignment. Playing center is not always the most noticeable position, but it is one of the most important parts of the offense. I take pride in protecting our quarterback and opening running lanes for our backs. Being on the offensive line has taught me that football is about trusting your teammates and doing your job every play.

Throughout the season, I have seen how much the offensive line affects the success of our skill players. We work to give our quarterback time to throw and our running backs a hole to run through. Players like Cole Guilford and Joey McNamara bring a lot to our offense with their athletic ability and playmaking skills. Cole said, “We just have to keep playing hard and take advantage of our opportunities.” Joey added, “We all have to work together and keep pushing because every game matters.” Seeing our teammates make plays makes all the hard work in practice worth it.

At the end of the day, football is a team sport, and everyone has a role. Whether it is the offensive line blocking up front or the skill players making plays downfield, every position matters. We might not always get recognized, but we know how important our jobs are. As the season continues, MHS will look to keep improving, stay together, and compete every game.

Being the lead guitarist of a band is a lot more work than posing and trying to look cool. It is an exercise in trust. A live performance is built on trust. The simmer of stage lights cooks your face, and soon the sweat travels into your eye. Now you are playing the most important part of the song completely blind. You trust in your hands and their muscle memory. You trust in the drummer to keep us in time. You trust the sound tech to balance the volume. The whole time, your brain is freezing as it braces for failure. At least, this is my experience. But there is more to this, so let's back up.

I had been playing guitar at a professional level for a few years when I started playing shows. There is so much more to being a musician than just performing. I always made sure to learn everyone else's part on top of my own so I knew the song inside and out. Guitar is a lot harder than people think. In my experience, it is an exercise in controlled overthinking. If you are not stressed, you are not prepared. If you go to a show comfortable, you go unprepared. Every show I play, I get worried about messing it up, and that fear keeps a performance good.

Most of a live performance, people assume, is listening to your band and reacting accordingly—and they would be right, to an extent. It is vital you listen to your bandmates and always stay aware, but if you have to think about what you are going to do next, you are going to fail. Playing a song at a live performance should be muscle memory and not much more. I have played shows where I was consciously thinking about what to do next. Those—those were the worst ones I have ever played. They came out sloppy, and it was clear I was unsure about my music. I learned through my failures that if you want to have a great performance, you need to not think of what's happening and, like all musicians say, “just feel it.”

Communication on stage is ten percent words and ninety percent pantomime. The bassist nodding his head a certain way to the drummer can mean so many different things, but to everyone on stage, it makes complete sense. There is a spoken silence on stage that controls the whole show. Eye contact toward the end of the song often means we are going to end on one big hit. These little details are invisible on video unless you know what to look for.

In the end, all the stress and anxiety are worth it when you hear the crowd erupt or you see people digging the music. When people start moving to the music you play, that is what makes all the practice worth it. As for my experience with playing blind, I had to rely solely on my hands to keep me on track. My brain was on fire, but my hands knew what the neck felt like. I had complete trust in my muscle memory and its ability to execute properly. Because being a musician is mostly about executing properly when you have every reason not to.

Week 7 of the NFL season brought plenty of exciting performances, surprising results, and controversial moments. Some teams showed why they could be serious contenders, while others struggled when they needed to step up. From dominant offenses and defenses to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs putting together impressive games, there was no shortage of players and teams worth talking about. In this article, we’ll take a look at the biggest standouts from Week 7, including the best-performing team, the best offense and defense, the Week 7 QB MVP, the top wide receivers and running backs, the biggest upset of the week, the worst referee call game, and more. Let’s break down who impressed, who surprised us, and which moments made Week 7 one to remember.

Best Offense of the Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When I was thinking about who should get this award, it came quickly to my mind because no other offense did as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They deserve this award after putting up 43 points against the Carolina Panthers. Their offense was crazy because they scored 33 points in the first half alone and finished with 258 rushing yards, with Bucky Irving leading the way with 106 yards and two touchdowns. Baker Mayfield also made his return after missing three games with a dislocated thumb, and while he only threw 11 passes, he completed seven for 64 yards and a touchdown, including a touchdown pass to Tez Johnson just before halftime. Honestly, Baker being back helped Tampa Bay look completely different from past weeks, and the Buccaneers’ explosive rushing attack made this one of the most impressive games of the week.

Best Defense of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals deserve the Best Defense of Week 7 after completely shutting down the Baltimore Ravens in the second half of their 35–13 comeback victory. After allowing Baltimore to take a 13–0 lead in the first half, Cincinnati’s defense came out after halftime and helped flip the entire game, holding the Ravens scoreless for the rest of the afternoon. The Bengals also forced a turnover, recorded four sacks, and made a crucial fourth-down stop while limiting Derrick Henry to just 45 rushing yards on 17 carries. The defense’s second-half performance was a huge reason Cincinnati was able to turn a 13-point deficit into a 22-point victory, making the Bengals one of the biggest defensive standouts of Week 7.

Week 7 MVP: Joe Burrow

Even though I don’t really like Joe Burrow, Joe Burrow is my Week 7 MVP after leading the Bengals to an incredible 35–13 comeback victory against the Ravens. Burrow finished with 292 passing yards and four touchdowns, and what made his performance even more impressive was how he responded after Cincinnati got shut out 13 to 0 in the first half. He came out in the second half and completely took over, throwing four touchdown passes as the Bengals scored 35 unanswered points. Burrow’s ability to stay composed, make big throws, and lead his team to such a huge comeback makes him the clear choice for Week 7 MVP.

Best Wide Receivers of Week 7: Tee Higgins and Luther Burden III

In Week 7, the best wide receivers have to go to Tee Higgins and Luther Burden III because Tee Higgins finished with 6 receptions for 148 yards and 1 touchdown against the Ravens. He averaged an incredible 24.7 yards per catch in this game, giving the Bengals a major downfield threat. His big plays helped put a fire under the Bengals' offense, and he was one of the biggest offensive difference-makers in the game.

Best Running Backs of Week 7: Tony Pollard and Javonte Williams

Honestly, thinking of just one best running back this week was really hard, so I decided to give it to these two running backs. The first one is Tony Pollard from the Tennessee Titans because he had one of the best running back performances of Week 7 despite the Titans losing to the Browns. Pollard rushed for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns on 25 carries. Pollard was a huge reason Tennessee was able to put up 24 points and keep the game competitive all the way to the final kick. Javonte Williams from the Cowboys was another outstanding running back in Week 7, putting together a dominant performance against the Eagles. Williams rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown, consistently creating big plays and helping Dallas control the game on the ground. His 155 rushing yards were the most among the standout backs this week, and his performance was a major part of Dallas's impressive victory. Williams showed excellent explosiveness and power throughout the game and easily earned a spot among the best running backs of Week 7.

Best Tight End: Mason Taylor

Mason Taylor is my pick for the best tight end of Week 7 after putting up a big performance against the Miami Dolphins. Taylor finished with 5 catches for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving the Jets a reliable weapon in the passing game throughout the afternoon. He also caught the successful two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, helping bring the Jets within three points and making the final minutes extremely close. Even though they overall lost to the Dolphins 28–25, Taylor was the main reason the Jets got 28 points against the Dolphins.

Best Defensive Player: Blake Cashman

Even though I honestly could pick any player from the Vikings, I have picked Blake Cashman as my pick for the best defensive player of the week after an outstanding performance in the Vikings' win against the Colts, 16–10. Cashman recorded seven defensive stops, two sacks, and three pass breakups, making an impact both against the pass and the run. His two sacks helped pressure Daniel Jones, while his three pass breakups showed how effective he was in coverage. Cashman finished the week with a 94.3 PFF grade, the highest defensive grade in the NFL for Week 7, making him a clear choice for this award.

Best Rookie: KC Concepcion Jr.

In Week 7, there were a lot of good rookies, but I picked KC Concepcion Jr. because he had 8 receptions on 10 targets for 129 yards and an average of 16.1 yards per catch. He is the main reason that the Browns won against the Titans 27–24. KC Concepcion Jr. is one of the best rookies from the 2026 class. He is making a big impact for the Browns, who I thought were not going to win a game at all, but they have won 5 games. Overall, KC Concepcion has had a big impact on the Browns' offense this season, and that’s incredible for the Browns, who we thought were going to be trash.

Best Head Coach of Week 7: Kevin Stefanski

When I was thinking about this award, I immediately thought of Kevin Stefanski because the Falcons beat the undefeated 49ers team that seemed unstoppable since Week 1. Stefanski had his team ready to play from the opening whistle. Atlanta played disciplined football, protected the ball, and took advantage of San Francisco's mistakes, forcing four turnovers while committing none of their own. The Falcons also stayed composed when the 49ers tried to fight their way back into the game, making the right plays down the stretch to secure the victory. Beating a 6–0 team is impressive by itself, but doing it while forcing four turnovers and never giving one away makes Stefanski's Week 7 coaching performance stand out.

Best Game of the Week: Browns vs. Titans

My thoughts before this game were that it was going to be trash, but I was completely wrong because both teams played really well and kept the game competitive all the way to the end of the game—more than I thought it was going to be. The Browns eventually escaped with a 27–24 victory, but Tennessee never let the Browns run away with the score, making it a back-and-forth battle with 51 combined points. Tony Pollard was outstanding for Tennessee with three rushing touchdowns, while Quinshon Judkins scored twice for Cleveland. The Titans even tied the game at 24 in the fourth quarter before Cleveland kicked the game-winning field goal with just three seconds remaining. This game had a combination of big plays, touchdowns, and a close score to make it incredible, and people were off their seats the whole night. This is the reason why Browns vs. Titans was the best game of the week in a nice but surprising way.