(Newburyport MA) Talk about filling the stat sheet!
Senior Trevor Ward rolled up numbers as the Clippers rolled over Pentucket, 35-6, on Friday night at Stehlin Stadium.
Trevor had a three-touchdown evening combined with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Quarterback Finn Sullivan had his best game for Newburyport. The junior threw three touchdown passes and ran for another one.
“They were better than us tonight,” said Pentucket coach Steve Hayden afterwards. “They were clearly more physical.”
The Sachems (0-3) lost two fumbles and had an interception in the first half and fell behind, 21-0. There was no coming back against Newburyport (3-2) on Senior Night.
“Their quarterback was outstanding, and their defense was tough,” explained Coach Hayden.
Newburyport had one turnover but never punted.
Pentucket struggled to stop Finn Sullivan running the quarterback option. Most of his successful QB options followed good fakes to either Trevor Ward or Jacob Buontempo.
“Shoutout to the line,” said Finn. “They made great holes. I couldn’t have done anything without them.”
No question the openings were there but it was the damage that Trevor and Finn did once they broke into the secondary that was noticeable. Both had great speed.
“That was the fastest I’ve ever seen him (Finn) run,” laughed Trevor post-game.
Trevor claimed that Finn was “throwing the ball on a dot,” while Finn claimed that “Trevor made me look good.”
It was that kind of night with plenty of happiness on the Newburyport side.
It was certainly a boost the Clippers needed after last week’s 33-6 loss to Ipswich.
“We had a tough loss last week, but we had a good week of practice this week,” said Finn. “Our goal is to win out.”
On the first touchdown, Trevor started left and then broke clear as he cut back into the middle.
On the second touchdown, Finn faked a handoff to Trevor and went clear up the middle.
Senior Andrew Goodwin kicked the extra point after both scores. Not surprising was that holder Trevor Ward righted a low snap to make the second kick possible.
Newburyport’s offensive line gave Finn plenty of protection. In the second quarter, that lengthy protection gave Finn time to go deep to junior Lucas Stallard for a 24-yard score.
Lucas was able to get behind defenders Ethan Ruszkowski and Joe Lynch.
Newburyport added a fourth TD in the third quarter. It looked like a harmless pass into the flat to Trevor, but his speed and shiftiness allowed him to score from nine yards out.
Pentucket used a trick play to get deep into Newburyport territory in the 3rd quarter. Andrew Melone started one way but handed off to Adam Payne going the other way. The Clippers got caught chasing and Pentucket reached the Red Zone.
However, that promising drive ended with a Trevor Ward interception at the goal line.
“Trevor is great in man coverage,” said Newburyport coach Ben Smolski.
Trevor closed out the Newburyport scoring in the final quarter with a 15-yard touchdown catch.
“On that last touchdown, I figured that Trevor was there somewhere, and he was,” explained Finn Sullivan.
Pentucket’s Chase Dwight was able to get a four-yard, clock-running touchdown in the final two minutes to put the visitors on the board.
Beautiful weather. I was one of those back in the fall saying that football won’t work well in March and April because of the weather. Okay, I was wrong!
Coach Smolski: “I am happy with the way we played tonight.”
Trevor Ward: “We’re lucky to even be able to play. I’m enjoying it.”
All of the pictures above and below will enlarge significantly if you click on them.
McClelland Miscellanea 