RallyNorth.net

Clukey, Astros roll

Friday, September, 12 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

MANCHESTER, N.H. — An unlikely prime-time performer stood out among the usual stars last night. Shawn Clukey, the kicker, shined brightly during Pinkerton's 41-6 blowout of Manchester Memorial.

"I don't know what finally got into him," coach Brian O'Reilly said. "He was unbelievable."

You'll be hearing plenty more about junior running back Eric Guinto (6-129, 3 TDs) this fall, but give the 5-foot-10 inch, 165 Clukey his due. The junior made 4 of 5 extra point tries, booted two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, and boomed several big punts, including a 51-yarder in the third quarter.

The wet conditions at Chabot-McDonough Field didn't bother Clukey, who missed most of last season with a broken plant-leg.

"He hadn't been kicking like that until this week," said O'Reilly, whose club pounded the Crusaders from the coin flip. "That's what he does. That's all he does. He'd better be good. He did a nice job."

Clukey suffered fractures of his tibia and fibula in the Astros' win over rival Londonderry last October. The injury occurred in a pile after a blocked field goal.

"I went to cover the ball," he said, "and just collapsed."

Now he's just excited to be in the mix.

"I'm really just happy to be back," he said. "I'm feeling a lot better."

All the action he saw wouldn't have been possible without Pinkerton's rushing attack, which produced 316 yards. All six of Guinto's carries came in the first half. He took his first touch of the evening to paydirt, making one cut and sprinting 36 yards untouched into the end zone.

From then on, Pinkerton never looked back. Guinto, who struggled with cramps in last Friday's loss to Division 2 champ Bishop Guertin, added a 69-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

"He's amazing," senior defensive lineman Ben Proulx, who sacked Memorial quarterback Chris Hynes for a 6-yard loss in the first quarter, said of Guinto. "He never stops."

Speedy senior back Christian Diaz spelled Guinto effectively, chipping in with 65 yards on nine carries. He scampered in for a 5-yard touchdown that put Pinkerton (1-1) up 27-0.

In the end, like the rest of his teammates, Clukey had a big smile on his face. If Guinto continues to roll in the next few weeks, he'll have even more chances to show off his powerful leg.