Finn Sullivan (10) led the Clippers in their strong finish
Finn Brennan (21 points)
(Newburyport MA) The Clippers dominated the final three minutes and that was enough to earn them a, 72-64, win over North Reading on Friday night.
“They crushed us on the glass over the last 4-5 minutes,” said NR coach Joe Casey afterwards. “That’s what won them the game.”
Newburyport coach Dave Clay saw things a bit differently: “We won this game with defensive stops. Those stops led to transition points.”
This game had plenty for both squads to cheer about. The Clippers (6-4) led by six (23-17) after a quarter, but the Hornets (4-4) owned the middle quarters. The visitors were ahead by nine (50-41) with 1 ½ minutes left in the third quarter.
Andrew Boulas (20) paced the Hornets with sixteen points
Newburyport took the game over the rest of the way outscoring the Hornets, 31-14, to gain the victory.
“This group is resilient,” said Coach Clay. “I’m proud of them keeping the fight in them.”
The tempo of this game was fun to watch because both teams had the same approach. The defense was full-court, man-to-man and the attack was full-speed after misses. Rebounds were heavily contested.
Neither team was shy about taking the ball to the basket. The best of the passes were dropdowns by penetrators.
Craig Rubino guards Ronan Brown (12 points)
High scorer Finn Brennan (21 points) was on the receiving end of quite a few in-close passes. “My teammates were getting to the rim and giving me easy dump-downs every time,” said Finn afterwards.
The Hornets were led by Andrew Boulas (16 points) and Cody Cannalonga (14 points). Both players took the ball to the basket and often made the layup or got fouled. Cody drained seven free throws.
The Clippers came out of a timeout after going down, 50-41, and finished the quarter with seven straight points including a Jack Fehlner three.
Scramble on the floor
Two-plus minutes into the last quarter Owen Tahnk cashed two free throws and the Clippers were on top, 55-54.
Finn Sullivan was the spark for the home team the rest of the way. He contributed points, assists, and steals and gave the nearby active student section plenty to get excited about.
“The fans are so committed,” said Finn Sullivan afterwards. “We love having them there.”
Logan Scribner makes a pass to a cutter
“Finn (Sullivan) gives us so much energy and passion on the court and it’s so contagious,” said Coach Clay. “He’s quite an athlete and a fierce competitor.”
Finn connected on a three assisted by Jack Fehlner and then set up teammates Ronan Brown and James Scali for additional three’s.
The Hornets struggled to respond.
“Give them credit,” said NR Coach Casey, “they hit a couple of tough shots down the stretch.”
James Scali (9 points)
Ronan Brown (12) and Jack Fehlner (11) reached double figures for Newburyport.
Finn Brennan had nineteen of this twenty-one points through the first three quarters. The Clippers 50-41 deficit late in the third quarter would have been much larger without the inside scoring of the tall freshman.
The Clippers hadn’t played in ten days.
Finn Brennan at the line
Newburyport won the first meeting between the two teams on January 6th, 57-42.
I’ve done quite a few basketball games this winter and this was easily the noisiest one.
Finn Sullivan: “We defended hard in the fourth quarter and did the little things you need to do to win.”
Nolan Mulcahy (53) brings down Newburyport quarterback Finn Sullivan
Niko Silverio (50) and Brady Ford (73)
(Newburyport MA) The Lynn English Bulldogs (5-6) are on a roll.
Yes, they have six losses but the last one was on October 1st.
LE has now won five straight adding Newburyport to the list, 28-7, at Stehlin Stadium Thursday night.
It was the last home game for the Clippers (4-6).
Newburyport visits Amesbury on Thanksgiving Day.
The Clippers put three straight wins together early in the season but have struggled with five losses in their last six games.
In tonight’s game, Newburyport trailed only, 14-7, early in the fourth quarter after a Finn Sullivan 15-yard scramble and extra-point kick.
Bulldogs quarterback Jesse Maggs
But the Bulldogs responded with points on each of their next two possessions to seal the win.
One of the keys to the Bulldogs’ win was their ability to contain quarterback Finn Sullivan. Finn’s running has been crucial to the NHS offense all season. Lynn English shut that part down except for the 15-yard touchdown scramble early in the final quarter.
Meanwhile, LE showed the ability to run and pass.
Midway through the opening quarter, Newburyport junior Aidan Blunt deflected a pass in the end zone to keep freshman Edwin Castro from putting Lynn English on the scoreboard.
First LE touchdown celebrated
Lynn English would not be denied. They started a drive at their own thirty-eight, late in the first quarter, that paid off at 9:02 in the second quarter.
Mixing passing, running, and a fumble recovery (Edwin Castro) the Bulldogs reached the Newburyport 18.
QB Jesse Maggs then found Edwin Castro yards behind his nearest defender for an 18-yard score. Clipper Angus Webster broke up the 2-point conversion attempt, but LE had a, 6-0, lead.
The Bulldogs put another threatening drive together in the second quarter aided by a major penalty on the Clippers. However, QB Jesse Maggs fumbled and Angus Webster recovered at the Newburyport 17 with less than two minutes left.
The rest of the second quarter the Clippers showed an excellent passing attack. There was protection and the sidelines routes were nicely executed. But the clock was the problem.
Newburyport reached the LE 22 with time for one last play. The Bulldogs’ defense responded as sophomore Mitchell Purter brought the pressure and sacked QB Finn Sullivan to end the half.
Wes Chandler (89 yards)
Lynn English padded their lead in the third quarter. The key to LE’s second scoring drive was catches by senior Shea Palmer. Shea’s second catch was a leaper along the right sidelines that reached the Newburyport 14.
Senior Wes Chandler (89 yards) broke left, cut back and scored untouched. Wes also ran in the two-point conversion. LE now led, 14-0, with four minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Clippers needed a big break to get back in the game and the Lynn English coaching staff supplied it.
Located deep in their own territory (28-yard-line) on fourth down, the Bulldogs decided to go for it. (I’m thinking the two-touchdown lead and significant confidence in their running game may have been the motivation.) Anyhow, QG Jesse Maggs tried and failed to get the one yard needed, setting Newburyport up at the LE 28.
QB Finn Sullivan (155 yards passing) passed to sophomore Sean Miles to get NHS to the L15 and scrambled in from there.
Finn Sullivan off on his 15-yard touchdown run
Finn Sullivan dives into the end zone
The Clippers were now only behind, 14-7, with most of the final quarter ahead of them. Could they tighten up the defense and get closer?
Unfortunately, for the home team, the defense couldn’t get it done.
Ernie Panias runs away from the Clippers defense to score his 2nd touchdown of the half
The Bulldogs had size on their line and had already picked up quality yards running or passing.
Sophomore Ernie Panias started the third scoring drive with a 20-yard run and then the QB Jesse Maggs to Wes Chandler connection clicked twice to reach the Newburyport 2.
Ernie Panias covered the last two yards at 9:43. Wes Chandler rushed for the 2-point conversion. LE was now in front, 22-7.
Jack Hadden
The Clippers took a 4th down gamble on their next possession, and like the Bulldogs, came up empty. Sophomore Kane Brennan was stopped in his tracks by the Bulldogs defense to set them up at the Newburyport 42.
Lynn English capitalized on the good field position two minutes later. Ernie Panias went in off the right side standing up. The two-point conversion (Lionel Rivera) was stopped. LE was in command, 28-7, with 6:40 left.
Credit the Clippers. The game was essentially over but that didn’t stop them from putting a solid drive together. A key play was a catch by junior Jack Hadden getting Newburyport to the one-yard-line.
However, a pass interference call against the Clippers in the end zone frustrated the golden scoring chance.
Lynn English 0 6 8 14 – 28
Newburyport 0 0 0 7 – 7
I noted a tremendous difference in the atmosphere at the stadium from Wednesday night (boys soccer tourney game) and Thursday night (football game). Weekday, non-tournament games can reduce the crowd to close friends and family.
Finn Sullivan passed for 155 yards
The weather was cool but not cold.
Lynn English is in the Northeastern Conference and Division Three.
Newburyport is in the Cape Ann League and Division Five.
Bulldogs’ quarterback Jesse Maggs reminded me of Pentucket’s Chase Dwight. Both are big, strong, and faster than you suspect.
(I wasn’t intending to write this game up. I planned to cover it with a few pictures, which I did on my Twitter account (McClellandPeter). When I realized that there was no local coverage (at all) I decided to put this story together. I didn’t talk to coaches and players afterwards. Those interactions are important, and it would have helped me to have had them.)
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Ball on the ground
Ernie Panias (7) and Jeff Thurston (9)
Robert Merenda (67), Nolan Mulcahy (53), Finn Sullivan (10)
Ernie Panias (7) has blockers in front
Logan Jones (3), Josh McDonald (4), Jack Hadden (6), and Ernie Panias (7) battle in the end zone
Chase Dwight scored three touchdowns including this one
Jeffrey Thurston (9) chases Chase
(Haverhill MA) His running style isn’t complicated.
“I see space and I hit it,” explained Pentucket quarterback Chase Dwight.
Chase scored three short-yardage touchdowns and that was enough for the Sachems (4-1) to defeat Newburyport, 21-7, on Saturday afternoon.
Chase ended up with a career day that included 148 yards rushing and 152 yards passing (10-for-17).
Both teams produced TDs on their opening possessions and the score was tied at, 7-7, at halftime.
Grant Mosesian (8) scored for Newburyport in the first quarter
Anyone’s game going into the second half.
After matching turnovers to start the second half, Pentucket dominated on both sides of the ball.
The next two possessions Newburyport punted while the Sachems scored each time.
The defensive key for Pentucket was limiting Clippers QB Finn Sullivan. The talented senior came into today’s game with seven touchdown passes, and five rushing touchdowns.
Finn finished with fifty-five yards passing (seven-for-seventeen) and seventy-six yards rushing on sixteen carries. Little of the yardage came in the second half.
Chase Dwight behind blockers
“Defensively, we were able to keep their quarterback under wraps,” said Pentucket coach Steve Hayden afterwards.
“He ran all over us last year,” added Coach Hayden recalling last year’s 40-6 loss to the Clippers.
“After their first score today, we kept our gaps controlled a little bit better,” said Coach Hayden.
On offense, Pentucket overcame bad starting field position in the second half twice (their eight and their ten) and turned in two time-consuming scoring drives.
Ryan Miles reaches for a pass as Paul Parachojuk defends
“The key to our offense is 4 (Chase Dwight) and his composure,” said Coach Hayden.
In the go-ahead score, Chase rushed for three first downs and passed to Adam Payne for another to set it up.
In the backbreaker (for Newburyport) third score, Chase converted three 3rd downs while still on the Pentucket side of midfield. Passes to Will Sutton and CJ Condon kept the sixteen-play drive going.
The beauty of the third score for Pentucket was that it cleared 10 ½ minutes off the 4th quarter clock while giving them a two-touchdown advantage.
Adam Payne celebrates Chase’s third touchdown
The Clippers were left with a little over a minute of game-time and a fourteen-point deficit.
“They took the wind out of our sails in the second half,” said NHS coach Ben Smolski afterwards.
“They established a good ground game by winning in the trenches,” Coach Smolski added.
“Their defense gets after it,” said Coach Smolski. “They get eleven guys to the football. They always have that relentless effort.”
Johnny Igoe (20) with the ball
Pentucket started with the ball in the first half and put points on the scoreboard. Chase passed for first downs to Che Condon and Adam Payne before plowing in from a yard away.
Henry Hartford added the extra point as Pentucket led, 7-0, at 6:57 of the first quarter.
The Clippers responded with their own touchdown. Finn Sullivan was key in the seventy-yard drive.
Henry Hartford kicked 3 extra points
Finn opened space for himself with well-executed fake handoffs. His speed and elusiveness created big gains for the Clippers.
Finn passed to Grant Mosesian for the final nine yards.
“Finn went for the initial read and didn’t see it there and popped it into Grant,” said Coach Smolski of the scoring play.
Finn added the extra point with Chris Salvatore holding.
It was Finn’s eighth touchdown pass of the season and Grant’s second touchdown catch.
Chris Salvatore and Iyobosa Osazuwa tackle Chase Dwight
The Clippers started three other first-half possessions in very good field position: Newburyport 49, Pentucket 46, Newburyport 42. The upgraded Sachems defense, however, did a better job of containing Finn Sullivan and so punts ended each opportunity.
In both of Chase Dwight’s second-half touchdown, the Sachems were close to the goal-line. There was no mystery as to who would carry the ball. The mystery was, in which direction will he run.
Chase carried a defender into the end zone on the second touchdown (six yards). On the third score (two yards), he went left and into the end zone still standing.
Luke Stallard pregame
“Chase (Dwight) is just a hard-nosed kid,” said Coach Smolski. “He is mentally and physically tough. He’s hard to bring down.”
Chase is a baseball pitcher so I knew that he could throw a ball. On most of his throws, he was on the move.
What caught my attention about Chase was his speed. I also noticed that he wasn’t shy about lowering his head on potential tacklers.
Chase Dwight: “There was a lot of excitement going into this week. Newburyport is a good team, so we had some nerves, but we played to our potential. We kept pounding today. We kept confidence in ourselves.”
Peter Osazuwa tackles Chase Dwight from behind
The Sachems were winless last year. I asked Coach Hayden what the difference has been this season: “Our seniors have stepped forward.”
Pentucket’s blocking was very good today. “The guys up front did a good job,” said Coach Hayden, “that includes; John Smith, Remo Pezzi, Bryce Winter, Ethan Drummond, and Chris Tineo.”
Chase is also a very talented baseball pitcher. “He has several options for next year,” added Coach Hayden.
Chase’s three TDs today give him six for the season.
William Pessina (26) strips the ball from Jack Sullivan (22) on the second half kickoff
A key missing piece for Newburyport is Luke Stallard. Luke had four TD receptions and may well have been Newburyport’s best defender.
“Luke is out for the season with a broken collar bone,” said Coach Smolski.
Newburyport (3-2) had won three straight.
Two years ago, Pentucket defeated Newburyport, 35-7.
I was impressed with Haverhill’s Trinity Stadium. There are plenty of seats and there is room behind the team areas.
It was senior day for Pentucket, and twenty-one students/cheerleaders were honored.
Chris Tineo signals Chase’s touchdown
AD Dan Thornton has PA announcer skills!
(All the pictures should enlarge significantly if you click on them.)
Will Sutton’s interception ended Newburyport’s last chance
Chase Dwight
Chase Dwight tries to avoid Will Walsh (88)
Eamonn Sullivan and Chris Salvatore converge on Chase Dwight
Trevor Ward (21) scored three times for Newburyport
Finn Sullivan had three TD passes and ran for a score
(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.
QB Chase Dwight fumble
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 Ward’s first touchdown
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.”
Dylan O’Rourke (22) had eleven carries for thirty yards
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 Stallard celebrates a TD catch
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.
Jack Hadden gets a sack
“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.
Late game scrum
Trevor (5 catches – 64 yards including 2 TDs) gets behind Will Sutton
Trevor Ward tries to escape from Joe Lynch
Dylan O’Rourke surrounded by Clippers
Nick Petty (80) set to tackle Chase Dwight (10 carries – 41 yards)
Andrew Melone looks for room
Finn Sullivan (12-for-18 passing for 127 yards) rolls right
Dylan O’Rourke loses his helmet
Finn Sullivan (15 carries – 169 yards) finds a huge opening
Trevor Ward recovers a fumble
Finn Sullivan (10) into the end zone
Henry Walsh returns an interception
Jacob Buontempo (10 carries – 38 yards) has many blockers
McClelland Miscellanea 