Around the League: Week Seven

Now that we are into serious league play, the CAL Small is starting to take shape. Six of the seven teams played within the league last week with only Newburyport playing a non league game.

First, let's get to the updated standings:



Well I guess we know what's going on at the top of the league, and barring something very unusual, the title could very well be decided this week. The Pioneers and Clippers are undefeated in league play with Amesbury and Hamilton Wenham lurking with one league loss.

Newburyport tuned up for the big showdown with an impressive come from behind win over North Andover. The Clippers were playing their fourth straight CAL Large opponent in a row and the first three were losses. The latest one was a tough, last second loss on a field goal to Wilmington. This week, they turned the trick on the Knights when Kyle Leblanc booted a 37 yarder to beat the Knights 17-14 with one second left.

The Clippers trailed 14-7 late in the third quarter when they blocked their second punt in a row and recovered on the North Andover one yard line. Leblanc swept in on the first play to tie the score at 14-14. The Knights answered right back and marched to the Newburyport 10 yard line, but the Clippers held and forced a 37 yard field goal attempt that was long enough but wide.

The Clippers got the ball back with less than two minutes and Ryan O'Connor marched them from their own 36 to the Knight 11 completing five passes for 40 yards. Josh Williams took a simple handoff to move the ball to the middle of the field to set up the field goal attempt and actually broke free for the score. The TD was called back for an illegal block, setting the stage for Leblanc's last second game winning kick.

More on the Clippers later in the week.

Two other CAL Small teams finally broke into the win column this week.

Georgetown had an easy time of it with Ipswich, beating the Tigers 28-13 for their first win. Chris Esposito, finally taking the reins at quarterback from brother Joe, continues to improve running and throwing for over 100 yards for the second week in a row. The Royals led 14-7 at the half and built a 28-7 lead in the second half before Ipswich scored a late TD to account for the final score. Ipswich scored their first touchdown on a 77 yard kickoff return by John Etheridge.

It was the 28th straight loss for the struggling Tigers. They travel to Amesbury this week to take on what figures to be an angry Indian team.

Georgetown will go for two in a row  when they visit Hamilton-Wenham in a battle of one win teams.

Speaking of the Generals, Hamilton-Wenham notched their first win of the season with a stunning comeback against North Reading. The Hornets led 16-0 late in the third period, but the Generals scored 24 unanswered points to take the 24-16 win.

Bobby and Nick Rosano each scored a first half touchdown as North Reading dominated the first half, but the Generals awoke in a big way in the second half. H-W quarterback Andy Duval, healed from the ankle injury that has hampered him all year, finished 6 of 11 for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Duval's first was a 15 yarder to Jimmy Love in the third to cut the NR lead to 16-8. Early in the fourth, Dan Beckett broke loose for a 44 yard touchdown run. Duval rushed for the two to tie the score at 16-16. The Generals took the lead on a 77 yard TD hookup from Duval to Jake Prince.

The Hornets made a furious last minute comeback, getting a first and goal at the General 5 yard line with less than a minute to play, but H-W held four times to seal the win. It was the Hornet's sixth straight loss.

The Generals were bolstered by the return of lineman Paul Littlefield, who has also been hampered by an ankle injury. He made 16 tackles against North Reading.

H-W hosts Georgetown this week while the Hornets will "entertain" the Pentucket Sachems who are coming off a 31-7 loss to Wilmington.

Check back Thursday for a preview of the showdown with Newburyport.

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