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Wilmington Wildcats Football '08

Sat, Oct 25, 2008 02:00 PM @ Pentucket
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Wilmington 7 0 7 7 21
Pentucket 0 7 0 13 20
Jim Vaiknoras, Staff PhotographerMore photos

Sachems fall just short in thriller

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Saturday, October, 25 By David Willis
Staff writer

WEST NEWBURY — Pentucket coach Steve Hayden had no regrets about the decision to go for two points.

“We tried to end the game there and go for the win,” said Hayden. “We went for it and didn’t get it.”

Trailing by a touchdown with just over two minutes to play, the Sachems drove down the field and scored with 1:10 left. Pentucket then elected to go for a two-point conversion to take the lead, but the running back was stuffed just short of the goal line and the Sachems fell to Wilmington 21-20 yesterday afternoon.

“If we went into overtime we would be back in the same situation trying to decide what we wanted to do,” said Hayden. “I am proud of our kids.”

This marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that a game between the two has been decided by seven points or less. Pentucket is 8-4 over that stretch.

The Wildcats seemed to be in control when quarterback Steve Stewart connected with running back Ryan Searles on a 17-yard touchdown with 2:33 left in regulation to make it 21-14.

But the Sachems came right back. Jordan Silva, who had not completed a pass in the game, hit on three of his five passes. The last was a toss over the middle to Dylan Chase, who broke away for 47-yard touchdown to make it 21-20. But the two-point conversion came up short.

“They scored with two minutes left and we came right back and put one in,” said Hayden. “I like our persistence. You have to give Wilmington credit. Stewart is a heck of a player.”

The Sachems were without two of their top offensive weapons. Halfback Chris Modlish missed the game with an injury and fullback Dan Johanson played only the first half before leaving with an ankle injury.

Picking up the slack was backup Austin Perreault. Entering the game with just eight carries on the season, the junior rushed 17 times for a team-high 76 yards. He did his best work on Pentucket’s second scoring drive, carrying 10 times for 51 yards and the 2-yard score.

C.J. Lataille scored the Sachems’ first touchdown on a 3-yard carry set up by two runs by fill-in fullback Cam Spofford (4-19). Silva ended up 3 of 7 passing for 60 yards.

Perreault also led the Pentucket defense, making a team-high 11 tackles. Dan Dragon added nine stops and a sack and Matt Fiore made eight tackles. Fiore also showed impressive versatility, playing tackle, tight end and fullback in the Sachems’ goal line “Peabody” offense.

Evan Butters was the playmaker for Wilmington , rushing 19 times for 111 yards and caught a touchdown.

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

W — Steve Stewart 18 run (Stewart kick), 4:34

Second Quarter

P — C.J. Lataille 3 run (Jordan Silva kick), 3:39

Third Quarter

W — Evan Butters 6 pass from Stewart (Stewart kick), 4:56

Fourth Quarter

P — Austin Perreault 2 run (Silva kick), 5:53

W — Ryan Searles 17 pass (Stewart kick), 2:26

P — Dylan Chase 47 pass from Silva (run failed), 1:10

 


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: P (39-122) — Austin Perreault 17-76, Cam Spofford 4-19, C.J. Lataille 6-14, Jordan Silva 7-8, Dan Johanson 5-5; W (34-142) —Evan Butters 19-111

PASSING: P — Silva 3-7-0, 60; W — Steve Stewart 3-8-0, 33

RECEIVING: P — Dylan Chase 1-47, Perreault 1-12, John Modlish 1-1; W —Ryan Searles 2-27, Butters 1-6

2 Story Comments

0         cndfans

"HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE"....What has happened to it this year? The Sachems have not won a game in "their house" this year (0-3), however they have won every away game (4-0). On the road they have not let up a single point and all points scored against them have been at home. A combined total of six points have accounted for these three losses. "Home Field Advantage" did you ever imagine you would actually want to play on the road?....C'mon boys let's break this trend this week with Lawrence.......Otherwise the good news is.....we beat Masco.....but we eat turkey in tears..GAFFLE....

Report! #1 10/26/2008 09:16 AM

0         SachemMom

Not only are all of our losses at home, they're all squeakers! Two of the losses came down to the 2 point conversions, and the other was in overtime. So close yet so far! This week is the week to break the curse!

Report! #2 10/27/2008 08:33 AM