Around the CAL/NEC 4: Week 6

Well that's it. The Preliminaries are over. Time to get down to business. The league race starts this week. But before we get into it, let's take a look at the final week of non-league play.

First, let's take a look at the standings.



Hamilton-Wenham came off its bye week with a vengeance, mauling Bishop Fenwick 46-13 to remain undefeated at 5-0. Although there wasn't much doubt, this final non league tuneup cemented the Generals as the team to beat in the CAL/NEC 4.

Trevor Lyons, the running back turned quarterback, did most of the damage for the Generals scoring five first half touchdowns and rushing for nearly 300 yards before heading to the sideline early in the third period.

The Generals rolled to a 46-0 lead before the Crusaders' Rufus Rushins scored a pair of TD's against the Hamilton-Wenham junior varsity. In all, the Generals rushed for nearly 500 yards in picking up their 10th straight regular season win.

The Generals travel to Manchester by the Sea to open their league season against the Hornets this Friday night. Barring a monumental upset of seismic proportions, Hamilton Wenham will strut onto the Middle School field a week from Saturday with a 6-0 mark looking to put away what might be their biggest obstacle to the league crown in the Pioneers.

Manchester-Essex was worn down by Northeast Regional in their final non league contest, falling to the Knights 26-7.

The Hornets hung tough with the two time defending Division 4A Super Bowl champs, battling through a scoreless first period and most of the second before giving up two late first half scores to go in at the break down 12-0. M/E kept it that way until early in the fourth quarter when they couldn't convert after getting a first and goal at the Northeast one yard line.

The Knights took over on downs and drove the field to go up 20-0 and seal the win. The Hornets came back to make it 20-6 but Northeast scored as the game ended to account for the final score.

According to the Nick Curcuru of the Gloucester Times, the game got ugly as the Knights were flagged for 120 yards in penalties, including seven personal foul or unsportsmanlike calls. According to Curcuru's article, Hornet coach Mike Athanas refused to allow his team to participate in the traditional post game handshake line, fearing that things might get out of hand.

The Hornets will be decided underdogs when they host Hamilton-Wenham to start their league schedule Friday night.

Georgetown suffered the wrath of Amesbury in their final non league tilt losing 33-6 at Landry Stadium. The Indians, still smarting from their four overtime upset loss to Ipswich, took it out on the Royals who suffered their fourth straight loss.

The Indians scored the first three times they touched the ball rolling for nearly 300 yards in the first half and putting this one out of reach quickly. They led 27-0 before Tyler Wade connected with Nevs Dana for the Royals' only score just before the half ended. Amesbury added a fourth quarter score to account for the 33-6 final.

Georgetown travels to North Reading to open their league season on Friday. The Hornets were off so will have had two weeks to prepare for the Royals.

Ipswich traveled to Newburyport for their final non league game fresh off their first win of the year in the overtime classic against Amesbury. They would not have a similar experience against the Clippers.

The Tigers started strong sacking Clipper quarterback Connor Wile on the first play of the game causing a fumble which Peyton Primack returned for a score. Before everyone was settled into their seats at War Memorial Stadium, Ipswich led 7-0.

It was shortlived as Newburyport answered with a quick march down the field for a score to tie it 7-7. Then Wile tossed the first of three touchdown passes to Brett Fontaine to give the Clippers a 13-7 lead.

The Tigers would not go away as they came up with another defensive score when Nate Glaster picked off a Wile pass and returned it 93 yards to give Ipswich a 14-13 lead. That would be it for the Tigers as the Clippers scored twice more before the half to go in up 27-14. Wile and Fontaine connected for the third time in the third period to make it 34-14.

The Clipper defense completely shackled the Tiger Delaware Wing T, which couldn't manage a score.

Ipswich returns to Jack Welch Field Friday to host the Pioneers in the league opener for both teams.

I'll have a full preview of that game on Thursday. Meanwhile, check back on Wednesday for my next post in my series on the 1986 Super Pioneers.