Around the League: Week Four

The CAL Small ran into some tough non-league sledding this week as the Pioneers were the only team in the league to post a win. As for the rest, the tally was pretty gruesome: three shutouts (really four) and five losses by a combined score of 145-8. And two of the eight points came on a safety. Amesbury had the best weekend of the non-Pioneer teams in the league. They enjoyed a bye.

Let's start with a look at the updated standings.

The most significant news came out of West Newbury where Pentucket handed Newburyport its first loss of the season by an odd 3-2 score. Anyone who has watched a game on that quagmire of a field up there can understand the lack of offense in the torrential rains. It had to be like watching one of those fraternity Mud Bowl games.

The contest was scoreless until late in the third period. The Sachems were knocking at the door on the Clipper one yard line, but Kyle LeBlanc sacked quarterback Mike Doud on a third and goal. Pentucket coach Steve Hayden sent out Paul Treado to attempt his first ever varsity field goal. Treado squished it through from 22 yards and according to David Willis of the Eagle Tribune, it was his first ever made field goal at any level.

The two teams squished and squashed through the rest of the game and with 15 seconds left, Pentucket was faced with a fourth down from their own nine yard line. Rather than risk a block or shanked punt, Hayden opted to take the safety giving Newburyport their two points (hence really the fourth shutout of the weekend for the CAL Small), and the Sachems a free kick from the 20. LeBlanc fielded the punt at midfield and after a series of typical final-play laterals, LeBlanc ended up with the ball and slipped into the mud ending the game.

The Clippers continue their Macho March through the CAL Large this week when they travel to Boxford to take on the 3-1 Masconomet Chieftains.

North Reading was trounced by Austin Prep 36-6 on Saturday, and to add insult to injury, most of the damage was done by North Reading residents who fled south to play for the Cougars. Quarterback Ryan Havey threw for nearly 200 yards and a pair of TD's, Ray Acciavatti tallied two TD's and JR Richard had a 40 yard interception return for a score. All three are NR townies which had to be painful for Hornet head coach Jeff Walls. It was the third straight loss for North Reading who fall to 1-3 overall.

QB John Brooks continues to throw TD passes, as he connected with Nick Rosano for the Hornet's only score.

The green and gold could be in for another tough one Friday night when they visit Red Hot Triton. The 4-0 Vikes have pummeled their victims by an aggregate 142-30 score.

It appears more and more like Georgetown is headed for a serious reversal from last year’s contending 8-2 season. The Royals were battered by Marblehead 42-0 and is now 0-3. They trailed 20-0 at the half and were never in this one after the first quarter. 

They managed just over 70 yards of offense, 50 of that from Chris Esposito on 19 carries. Crespo also had 18 tackles.He must be yearning for the days when his brother was at the controls making opposing defenses look silly.

Georgetown journeys to Landry Stadium Friday night to take on Amesbury. This week will tell us a lot more about the Indians. They have had two weeks to prepare for the struggling Royals squad so we'll see how they compare to Georgetown.

And speaking of struggling and battering, you have to feel for the Ipswich Tigers. They took another beating last week, this one a 34-0 pasting at the hands of Triton. The Vikes scored the first four times they touched the ball. 

Running back Brendan O’Neil, who the Pioneers will get a close up look at in a couple of weeks, decimated the reeling Tigers, rolling for 163 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries. He scored on 33% of his carries in what was a monumental mismatch.

Ipswich is now 0-4 and have been outscored 127-0. Yep, not one point yet. They have now lost 25 straight games since winning the Super Bowl in 2006. Bill Simmons of ESPN.com talks about the five year rule where you can’t complain about your team for five years once they win a championship. Looks like Tiger fans have a couple of more years to go. They are in for more trouble this weekend when travel to West Newbury to take on Pentucket.

Hamilton-Wenham capped off the dismal weekend on Monday afternoon as they were crushed 30-0 by Bishop Fenwick.  The Generals were down only 8-0 at the half but had only run eight plays in the first two quarters. Predictably, the overtaxed defense wore down and the Crusaders scored on their first three second half possessions to pull away.

Now 0-4, the Generals host Wilmington this weekend in what could be another rough go of it.

Check back on Thursday for a preview of Friday night's Lynnfield-Danvers contest.

Material from the Newburyport Daily News, Lawrence Eagle Tribute, Salem Evening News, Boston Herald and Rally North.net was used in compiling this report.

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