Thu, Nov 27, 2014
10:00 AM @
Lowell
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Final |
| Haverhill |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
| Lowell |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
Hillies denied by inches
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Thursday, November, 27
By Hector Longo
LOWELL — Already committed to Syracuse University, Lowell High's Shy Cullen has exhibited the potential to go on to greatness.
He'll never make a bigger play then his one completed pass yesterday here at Cawley Stadium.
Trapped at its own one-inch-line and facing a 3rd-and-long with about a minute to play, Cullen took a handoff, faked forward then jumped and lobbed a strike to Nicolau Coury for 19 yards and the upset-clinching first down as the Red Raiders held of Haverhill, 8-6, on the snow.
"Just a great play," said Hillies' coach Tim O'Connor. "I thought we had tied it, though, at 8-8. I thought we had gotten the safety on (both first and second downs)."
Cullen's connection halted a wild fourth-quarter sequence, which saw the Hillies march 69 yards — all on the ground — only to be stopped by a fumbled snap on fourth-and-goal from the Red Raiders' 1.
"Mistakes," lamented Hillies coach Tim O'Connor. "The lesson I hope we learn there is that you need to finish."
The sour ending spoiled a pretty spirited effort by a Hillies team that had been clobbered by the injury bug.
One captain (Samie al-Ziab) remains on crutches awaiting knee surgery. Another, Pat Yale, were a walking cast as he nurses the torn ligaments in his ankle.
Yet, the Hillies fought. And rallied from an 8-0 hole with a huge second half.
"I thought we played really well today," said O'Connor. "We fought the elements, we fought tough calls at times. "It's a testament to the progam. A lot of kids underneath stepped up. We had a lot of young kids playing today. We bring eight back on offense, seven back on defense next year. So we'll see how that goes."
Down 8-0 at halftime, the Hillies held Lowell to only 21 second-half yards (19 coming on the Cullen dagger).
Offensively, the going was tough, but Haverhill got into it the hard way, sending both Ian Kessel and Pedro Santiago right up in the firing line between the tackles. Every yard gained in the snow had to be earned.
"They both ran hard and did the best they could under the conditions," said O'Connor.
Kessel, who led all rushers with 118 yards on 24 tries, cut the lead to 8-6 midway through the third on a four-yard TD burst. His earlier 29-yard dash off-tackle set up the score. Kessel closed a fine junior campaign with 852 yards and eight TD's on 148 carries.
But the conversion was stuffed, leaving it at 8-6.
Neither team managed much of anything until Haverhill took over at its own 30 with under six minutes to go.
The march was impressive, and the Hillies had their shots.
But on third-and-goal Kessel pushed the pile for two yards, tumbling just short of the line, to set up the fruitless fourth down miscue.
Defensively, the Hillies got just work inside especially from linebacker Phil Panici, who wore al-Ziab's No. 39 jersey to honor his fallen comrade.
Tackles Abraham Kann and Elias Gaetano found the snow to their liking as they devoured the Lowell inside game with penetration. Captain Matt Haskell anchored a Hillies offensive line that owned the trenches when it had to.
"This one hurts, but we'll bounce back, we'll re-evaluate things and go from there," said O'Connor. "I'm happy with the growth of the program, and disappointed with how it finished (with two losses). We're 7-4, MVC small champs, and it's something to build off of. Hopefully, we come back hungry."
Game Statistics:
First Quarter
L — Lucky Sisay 5 pass from Kevin Lynch (Lynch to Nicolau Coury pass) :45
Third Quarter
H — Ian Kessel 4 run (rush failed) 7:09
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: H (55-219) — Ian Kessel 24-118, Pedro Santiago 18-78, Broghean McGovern 11-22, Luc Chretien 2-1; L (24-63) — Shy Cullen 13-29, Kevin Lynch 9-39
PASSING: H — McGovern 0-5-0, 0; L — 8-16-0, 72
