Around the Division Four North Playoffs: Quarterfinals

By Tom Condardo

We're into the first week of the MIAA playoffs and things went almost according to plan in Division Four North. Three of the top four seeds advanced with only the fourth seeded Triton Vikings not making it to the division semi finals.

Let's take a look at the three non-Pioneer games.

By now you know that Bedford, the number three seed, knocked off Newburyport (#6) 20-6 Friday night. We'll take a closer look at Bedford on Thursday but suffice to say they will be a tough test for the Pioneers.

That said, the Clippers hung tough for a long time and if not for two self inflicted wounds, Newburyport might have been able to pull off the upset. I was at that game and the Clippers were able to move the ball on the tough Buccaneer defense on the opening drive. Starting at their own 24 they picked up two first downs and got to the 41. However on the next play, the Clippers fumbled and Bobby McDonald recovered for the Bucs. Five plays later outstanding running back Olan Abner raced into the endzone from the 30 giving Bedford a 7-0 lead.

The big turning point came early in the second period. Bedford drove to the Clipper 22 but a determined Newburyport defense held Abner to net zero yards on three straight carries (-3, +3, no gain). On fourth down, quarterback Joe Zampell attempted the second of the five passes he would throw in the game and it fell incomplete turning the ball over on downs to Newburyport.

What should have been a lift for the Clippers quickly turned into a disaster when McDonald picked off a Mike Shay pass in the flat and returned it 31 yards for the pick six to increase the Bucs lead to 13-0.

The Clippers continued to battle, picking up three first downs on their next drive but a fourth down pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to Bedford at their own 31.

The Newburyport defense again held Bedford on fourth down on the first drive of the second half and again moved the ball. They picked up three first downs to get to the Bedford 38, but again a fourth down pass fell incomplete.

The Bucs then iced it with an eight play drive that was capped, surprisingly, by a 25 yard touchdown pass from Zampell to Mike Hayes.

Hard nosed running back Trevor Bradbury (18 rushes, 82 yards) got the Clippers on the board with 3:43 left with a one yard TD run. He paid the price taking a wicked hit on the play which injured his shoulder.

The good news for the Pioneers is that the Clippers managed to move the ball, picking up 162 yards on the ground and 68 passing for 230 total yards. They also managed to get 12 first downs. If not for the two big turnovers and breakdowns on a couple of key fourth downs, the Clippers may have been prepping for a return visit to Pioneer Field.

Unfortunately for them, the Bucs also moved the ball. Abner finished with 148 yards on 23 carries. The Bucs managed 234 yards of offense on route to the quarterfinal win.

On a down note, the clock struck midnight for the Cinderella run of Pat Sheehan's Triton Vikings as they came up on the short end of a 31-22 loss to Watertown in Byfield. Four turnovers (2 picks, 2 fumbles) doomed the Vikings' first ever playoff appearance.

Justin Cashman's five yard run and Mark Boyle's conversion catch from Bradley Whitman in the first gave Triton an 8-0 first quarter lead. Watertown then scored to make it 8-7 at the half. Watertown scored first in the third period to put them up 14-8, but the Vikes retook the lead on a 15 yard Cashman run.

The teams headed into the final quarter with Triton up 15-14 but Watertown scored to take a 21-15 lead. The Vikes suffered a killer fumble on their next possession and Watertown quickly converted, extending their lead to 28-15. Triton closed to 28-22 on a 12 yard run by Whitman, but Watertown closed it out with a 22 yard field goal to account for the final score.

Pentucket, the division's top seed, had little trouble with Hamilton Wenham, scoring twice in the first quarter, taking an 18-0 halftime lead and rolling to a 32-0 win. The Sachems bulldozed to 300 yards on the ground led by D. J. Engelke's 195 yards and two TD's.

The Generals managed only 57 yards rushing while quarterback Jack Clay was 17 for 31 for 151 yards. Unfortunately he also threw three interceptions.

Pentucket will host Watertown Saturday at 1 pm in the division's other semi-final matchup.

That's it for now. Check back Thursday when I'll preview the Pioneer-Buccaneer matchup.