Colonials get the message; Shrewsbury responds to coach's halftime challenge.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Chad Garner

SHREWSBURY - Shrewsbury High coach Terry Walles challenged his team at halftime. The Colonials got the message.

The Shrewsbury offensive line paved the way for senior tailback Alex Paulina to rush for 213 of his 244 yards in the second half, powering the Colonials to a 35-20 Division 1A victory over Algonquin Regional here last night.

"Coach said more people had to step up and I thought I was one of those guys. I had to do my job," said Paulina, who carried 26 times. "We just had to dig deep, dig in the trenches."

Algonquin (0-6, 0-1) and Shrewsbury (3-3, 1-1) went into the locker room tied, 7-7, but it quickly changed as Paulina scored three times in the last two quarters.

"(Paulina) did a great job, but their offensive line... Hopefully, he buys them dinner because they came with their work hats on with a clear goal, knowing they had a size advantage, to grind us down," Algonquin coach Bill Long said.

The Tomahawks started the second half by turning the ball over and the Colonials capitalized. Paulina carried three times for 85 yards, including a 55-yard jaunt and 24-yard TD run.

Algonquin got its only lead moments later. Nick Keegan took an inside reverse 76 yards for a 14-13 advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Paulina plunged in from a yard out late in the third quarter.

"Overall, a good performance," Walles said. "I thought we really committed to running to the football and the offensive line did a great job.

"Alex is a great back. He's our go-to guy. When he gets going, we usually get going. He's one of the better backs in Central Mass., in my opinion."

Paulina added a 21-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, but the Tomahawks cut the deficit to 28-20 on Mike Fucci's...