Around the CAL Baker: Week 4

by Tom Condardo

It was opening week for the Baker with two other matchups in addition to the Pioneer game. We'll take a look at both of them and also scan the revised Division 4 North Power Rankings. First, the updated league standings.




The most exciting game of the day occurred Saturday morning at Haverhill Stadium, Georgetown's home away from home until their new turf field is ready. The Royals carried a 24 game league losing streak into the game not having won a game against a league opponent since beating Manchester Essex on Thanksgiving Day 2010.

It looked like more of the same early on as the Hornets roared out to a 13-0 lead on touchdown runs of one and seven yards by Chris Carr. M/E dominated the first half, running off almost twice as many plays as Georgetown. But the Royals hung in there and cut the lead to 13-6 at the half thanks to a 13 yard Nick DePasquale run.

The teams battled through a scoreless third quarter and most of the fourth before the Royals ignited some late game fireworks. The Hornets looked ready to punch in a game icing score when the Georgetown defense halted the drive. With just over three minutes to play, the Royals mounted a long drive and Cooper Martens blasted in from the one to cut the lead to 13-12 with nine seconds to play.

New Georgetown head coach Justin Spurr showed everyone what kind of coach he is going to be by deciding to go for the two point conversion for the win. Even after a motion penalty pushed them back to the 8 yard line, Spurr kept his offense on the field. Martens made the coach look good when he drilled a pass over the middle to tight end Nick Calvani for the two and the win.

The Royals try to make it two in a row when they travel to Ipswich for a rare Thursday night game. The Hornets, who fell to 0-3 with the loss will try to regroup when they host the Pioneers Friday night.

In the other CAL Baker game, Hamilton Wenham travelled to Ipswich and pulled away from a game Tiger team in a 24-7 win. The Generals started fast when Jimmy Littlefield returned the opening kick 78 yards to make it 7-0. Ipswich tied it later in the first on a 41 yard Charlie Gillis run.

The Generals took a 10-7 lead when Ryan Gray booted a 25 yard field goal in the third. H-W stretched the lead to 17-7 when Nolan Wilson blocked a punt and took it into the end zone. Kyle Craig nailed it down for the Generals with a 21 yard interception return midway in the fourth.

Hidden in the result was the fact that the Ipswich defense pitched a shutout against the Generals. All the H-W scores came on defense or special teams.

According to the Salem Evening News, following the win over an Ipswich team that's lost 10 of its last 12 games, H-W coach Andrew Morency screamed at his team "You know what we're going to do now? We're going to win this league."

They continue that quest this Saturday when they host Amesbury. The Tigers will be looking to bounce back when they host Georgetown Thursday night.

Division Four Power Rankings



Despite their win, the Pioneers fell to third place in the power ranks because of lack of production by their defeated opponents. Pentucket lost and Amesbury is still winless. Lynnfield did get three points from Newburyport's win over North Reading.

That's it for now. Check back Thursday for my preview of the Manchester Essex game.