Around the CAL/NEC 4: Week 2

All non-league games again this week. Georgetown was off but everyone else was in action.

First let's take a look at the standings.





If there was ever any doubt, there is more evidence this week that the big gorilla on the CAL/NEC 4 block is Hamilton Wenham. For the second week in a row the Generals defeated a former CAL Large and current CAL/NEC 3 opponent to up their record to 2-0.

This week they thumped Pentucket 30-7 which should definitely throw a scare into the hearts of the rest of the CAL/NEC 4. Granted the Sachems were without their big running back Sean Brennan, but I'm not sure he could account for the entire 23 point difference. More concerning than the score was the fact that Pentucket coach Steve Hayden told Dan Harrison of the Salem News that "physically they were better than us."

That is high praise indeed from the coach of a team that prides itself on steamrolling opponents with a relentlessly physical Wing T ground game.

The Sachems opened the game with their usual "death march" running attack, methodically driving 67 yards in 8:18 with DJ Engelke pounding in from the three. But that would be all Pentucket would celebrate on the day.

The Generals responded on their first drive with a 23 yard Elliot Burr TD that made it 7-6. They then quickly converted two Pentucket fumbles in their own territory into another pair of scores. Trevor Lyons hit Matt Putur with a six yard screen pass for the first TD then ran it in for the two. Burr made the Sachems pay for the second turnover with a one yard blast. Lyons and Putur converted the two and before you could say "defending CAL Small Champs", the Generals led the stunned Sachems 22-7.

Lyons added the final score in the second half on an eight yard rush and Burr added the two point conversion to account for the final score.

Apparently the Generals' only weakness is lack of a kicking game since after missing the PAT on the first TD they went for two every other score. That Achilles heal would have come in handy last year when H-W beat the Pioneers on a last minute field goal, but no use crying over spilled pigskin.

The Generals travel to Newburyport Friday night in what looks to be a VERY interesting contest.

And speaking of World War Memorial Stadium, North Reading sailed into the "Home Port of the Clippers" last Friday night and had their brand new single wing offense stuffed and mounted. Newburyport picked up where they left off against the Pioneers and swatted the Hornets 28-6.

North Reading moved the ball well with their tight split blocking schemes against Saugus last week, but found little running room against the Clippers.

"They went seven guys on the line and they're very, very good skilled kids," Wall told me on Saturday. "They were letting them fly around and make plays."

Newburyport's first team defense stymied outstanding Hornet running back Carl Lipani until they had built up a 28-0 lead. With the Clipper second team defense in, NR mounted their only scoring drive with Lipani picking up most of the yardage including their only TD.

Wall obviously did his homework and watched as Clipper QB Connor Wile and receiver Brett Fontaine put up big numbers against the Pioneers last week. His defense was set up to stop the passing game but Fontaine instead did it on the ground, collecting 136 yards rushing, mostly on sweeps from his end position.

"They had one good pass on a broken play and got a lot of yards on that," Wall said. "Other than that I thought we had him stifled but then they handed him the ball. Credit to them. They're big up front, very physical and great skill kids."

So how are things going with the Hornets and their new offense?

"Until (Friday night) I thought it was going real well," said Wall. "We still saw some things that were there but then they were just more physical. You say 'well we can run this' and then they just stuff it. They had a good scheme going. When they're bigger and they're going to play more physical, it doesn't really matter what offense you run."

"We're young and that's part of our problem," he continued. "And it showed (Friday night). We only started two seniors on defense. It looks good for the future, but how many 28-7 drubbings do you have to take."

The Hornets (1-1) will try and get back on the winning track when they travel to Landry Stadium in Amesbury this Friday night.

Manchester-Essex (1-1) broke into the win column for the first time with a 23-19 seesaw battle at CAL/NEC 3 Saugus. The lead changed hands six times as the two teams exchanged haymakers back and forth.

The big gun for the Hornets was junior running back Jake Fitzgerald who had a pair of touchdowns. M/E led 7-6 on a pass from Corey Burnham to John Beardsley. They took the lead back 15-12 on an eight yard run by Fitzgerald then notched the game winner on a one yard plunge by Fitzgerald.

Former Pioneer defensive coordinator Greg Haberland was in attendance and said that the Hornet line was big and opened some nice holes for Fitzgerald.

The Hornets host Cathedral on Friday night.

Ipswich (0-1) stumbled out of the starting gate with a 40-8 loss to CAL/NEC 2 Marblehead.

The young Tigers, who graduated over a dozen seniors, was pinned in its own territory most of the night as the Magicians pulled out to a 40-0 lead. They avoided the shutout thanks to a Peter Moutevelis 81 yard kickoff return.

Things don't get much easier for Ipswich this week when they travel to Triton to take on Pat Sheehan's Vikings.

And finally, speaking of Sheehan, congrats to the former Pioneer offensive coordinator and captain as his Vikings finally broke through snapping a 12 game losing streak with a 28-27 squeaker against Haverhill.

The Vikes gave up 301 yards to Hillie running back Chance Brady and had to stop a two point conversion try in the middle of the fourth quarter to secure the win, but they got it done.

"It's a huge weight off our shoulders," Sheehan told me. "The kids were real excited."

That's it for now. Check back Thursday for my preview of this week's Bishop Fenwick game.