RallyNorth.net

Pinkerton ousts Owls

DERRY — As much as the regular season home loss to Timberlane Regional stung, it was the 31 Owls points that night three weeks ago that stuck with Pinkerton Academy all the way through the final whistle in Saturday afternoon’s Division 1 State Quarterfinals.
“They moved it on us last time, but this is all about the fight,” said Astros linebacker James Tulley, who again played an heroic role in the Astros win. “We had to contain (Owls QB Jason Hughes) — he’s great inside or on the scramble, and we did that. We had to. It’s the playoffs. You’re playing for your life.”
Tulley and the Astros forced a pair of turnovers, allowing only a 41-yard Hughes field goal in the second half, to close out Timberlane, 23-17, and avenge one of just two blemishes on the Astros’ regular-season slate.
Saturday at 1 p.m., top-seeded Pinkerton will host East Conference champion Exeter High for a shot to play in the Division 1 state title game.
“That was two really good football teams on the field today,” said Timberlane coach Kevin Fitzgerald. They made a few more plays than we did, that was the difference today. We had trouble finding things consistently on offense. It just was not enough today.”
It certainly looked like two evenly-matched squads that saw Pinkerton leap to a 13-0 lead early, only to have Hughes turn the corner on a scramble and race to the pylon for a TD on the final play at the half, slicing the margin to 20-14.
Timberlane had the ball coming out of halftime, too, with all kinds of momentum.
But neither defense wanted to budge after the break.
Timberlane’s Hall Twins, Austin and Travis, stood tall against the rush, while the name, Zach Thibeault echoed repeatedly from the announcer’s booth, after nearly every thunderous collision.
Pinkerton had its answer guys, too. Joe Lydick (11 tackles, 1 interception) and Mike Curley were all around the football, chasing, harassing and forcing ill-timed cutbacks smack-dab into the heart of the Astro pursuit.
Each team surrendered a field goal, leaving the margin at six points late when Timberlane, one of the surprise teams in the state all season, took its final shot.
Hughes authored one miracle with about a minute left, heaving a 38-yard bomb that Brendan Frezza (3 catches, 99 yards) corralled on his knees at the Astros’ 29.
That came on a 4th and 26.
But that’s where the end came.
After killing the clock on first down, Hughes couldn’t connect on the next three throws, sealing the deal for the Astros, who are looking to repeat as state champs.
The key on the whole day was the attention Pinkerton paid to Hughes, who was held to 12 carries for 12 yards after riddling the Astros in the regular season (20 carries, 103 yards).
“He’s quite an athlete, the most difficult quarterback we’ve had to deal with all year,” said Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly. “He just keeps making plays with his feet. They’ve got a lot of good players, he’s the difference maker.”
Pinkerton 23, Timberlane 17
Division 1 Quarterfinals
Timberlane (7-3):      0 14 0 3 — 17
Pinkerton (8-2):     13  7 0 3 — 23
First Quarter
 Pink — Brett Dattilo 15 run (kick blocked) 8:26
 Pink — James Tulley 13 pass from Ryan Albrecht (Kyle Cantalupo kick) 2:50
Second Quarter
 Timb — Tyler Furey 2 run (Jason Hughes kick) 11:54
 Pink — Nico Buccieri 8 run (Cantalupo kick) 1:39
 Timb — Hughes 3 run (Hughes kick) :00
Fourth Quarter
 Pink — Cantalupo 19 field goal, 8:38
 Timb — Jason Hughes 41 field goal, 6:57
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Timberlane (41-181) — Jake Post 8-57, Tyler Furey 18-80, Jason Hughes 12-12, Kyle Faucher 3-32; Pinkerton (40-146) — James Tulley 13-45, Brett Dattilo 12-50, Nico Buccieri 5-9, Mike Curley 4-14, Ryan Albrecht 6-28
PASSING: Timberlane, Hughes 5-17-1, 113; Pinkerton, Albrecht 6-9-0, 142
RECEIVING: Timberlane, Brendan Frezza 3-99, Furey 1-7, Elijah Sorenson 1-7; Pinkerton, Tulley 4-72, Dattilo 1-21, Kayden Baillargeon 1-49