Around the CAL Baker - Week 2

by Tom Condardo

It was another dismal week for the rest of the Baker Division as all five teams were beaten by a combined score of 153-26 with two shutouts. In two weeks of non-league play, the non-Lynnfield
Baker teams went 1-9 and were outscored 287-114. The only win was a 13-0 victory by Manchester-Essex over Northeast Metro 13-0. I'll take a look at last week's action but first, here are the updated standings.



The closest contest occurred in Manchester where the Hornets lost a tough one to Greater Lowell. The game started an hour late because the officials were delayed getting there from a 5 pm game in Lynn. Interesting scheduling since I'm not sure how anyone thinks two hours is enough time to account for a full game plus travel time from Lynn to Manchester, but anyhooo....

Greater Lowell jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on a 60 yard run but the Hornets answered back with a Charlie Otterbein to Evan Pennoyer 19 yard TD pass. Otterbein's PAT gave M/E 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Another long run in the second quarter gave Greater Lowell a 12-7 lead. The Hornets were heading for the go-ahead score but on third down from the Gryphon eight yard line, Greater Lowell picked off a pass and returned it 92 yards to make it 18-7.

M/E kept fighting and mounted another drive in the fourth. Sophomore Robbie Sarmanian ran one in from the eight to make it 18-13. The Hornets, who moved the ball well all game, put together another drive and marched to the GL 17 yard line, but a fourth down pass fell incomplete to seal the win for Greater Lowell.

The Hornets host Georgetown Friday night in their Baker Division opener.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend occurred in North Reading, where the Hornets eviscerated Hamilton-Wenham 42-0. NR's double trouble of Matt McCarthy and David Smith zipped through the General defense all night. McCarthy scored on a 55 yard run, and Smith tallied on runs of 87 and 50 yards. John Merullo scored from the two and the eight. Nick Copelas had a five yard touchdown run late. Angelo Disanto booted six PAT's.

I was at the game and the Hornets continue to establish themselves as one of the big threats in Division 4 North. Running out of the Power I, North Reading rolled for 275 yards in the on the ground in the first two quarters in building a 28-0 halftime lead. They also had two TD's called back as they were flagged for six penalties in the first half. It was the second week in a row that the Generals allowed 42 points.

The Hornet defense is fast, tough, and aggressive, and completely stifled the General "two quarterback" offense." NR held HW to 56 yards of offense and forced a pair of interceptions in the first half.

The Generals will look to regroup when they host Ipswich in the opening Baker Division game for both teams this Saturday. H/W has beaten the Tigers seven straight times including twice each of the past two seasons.

Ipswich lost their second straight game falling to Newburyport 21-7. The Clippers scored on the opening drive of the game, on the first possession of the second half, and on the first drive of the fourth quarter to score 21 unanswered points. Ipswich put up their lone score with the JV teams on the field.

The Clippers rebounded from their loss to the Pioneers by smothering the Tiger attack. Ipswich ran only 10 plays in the second half. They'll be looking to snap their long losing streak against their Thanksgiving rival when they travel to South Hamilton Saturday afternoon.

Georgetown fell into an early hole, giving up 38 first half points enroute to a 44-6 defeat at the hands of Greater Lawrence. The Royals dedicated their new turf field but they couldn't come up with a win to christen the new complex. They showed some ability to throw the ball in the second half with quarterback Nick Calvani connecting with Jimmy and Ryan Sherman on some long passes. Calvani and Ryan Sherman hooked up on a 10 yarder for the Royals' lone score. They travel to Manchester in a meeting of two first year head coaches in their Baker League opening game Friday night.

Amesbury hung tough with Pentucket in a nearly scoreless first half, but the Sachems punched one in just before halftime and another to open the third quarter to open a 14-0 lead. They scored twice more in the final quarter to account for the final score.

The Indians best threat came early in the second when they were controlling much of the play. They got to the Sachem three yard line but quarterback Garrett Collins was picked off to kill the drive. They never threatened to score after that.

Amesbury gave up over 300 rushing yards to Pentucket and were held to just over 100 yards on the ground. The Indians completed only one pass for 47 yards to dangerous receiver Dan Welch.

The Indians will be looking to pick up their first win of the year when they visit Pioneer Stadium Friday to open Baker Division play.

That's it for now. Check back Thursday night for my preview of the Baker Division opener against Amesbury.