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Ball-hawking Central outlasts Haverhill

Saturday, October, 18 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

LAWRENCE — The will and desire exhibited on the run were admirable, the athleticism and balance at times brilliant. 

Unfortunately, the Haverhill High football team again couldn’t cash in on the effort, falling to aggressive, ball-seeking Central Catholic, 24-13, here at Veterans Memorial Stadium yesterday.

All afternoon, Hillies Isiah Ocasio and Danny Triplett clawed, spun, leaned and rolled for extra yards, grinding out the real estate with Haverhill’s relentless veer attack.

Like a good football team should, Central Catholic made the Hillies pay for the overzealousness, stripping away the football four times.

“Even when you think you’re tackling Triplett he gains four yards, and (Ocasio) is a pain in the neck too,” said Raider coach Chuck Adamopoulos, whose club moved to 3-3, 1-2 in MVC play. “The kid (Triplett) runs a lot like (1990s Central great) Joe Uliano. He just doesn’t go down.

“We tell the kids, try to come in and strip the ball. We did catch some turnovers, and had the huge one down here (by Zac Borrelli).”

The three lost fumbles were huge, setting up both of the Raiders’ first-half TDs and blunting a Haverhill march at the Central 6.

Still, until Zack Latrell landed the knockout blow, a 44-yard TD run with 11:36 left, this one was absolutely up for grabs.

Borrelli , a junior linebacker with 13 tackles yesterday, had the immense swipe of the football, with the Hillies trailing 17-13 in the third quarter.

“This was a bang-up game,” said Borrelli. “They run the ball hard, and Triplett is a big dude. (The fumbles) are about effort, and we just came out hard defensively.”

Senior Walter Gillis pounced on that one, and the Raiders did their best offensive work late, playing keepaway by rolling up 147 of their 206 rushing yards over the final 15:51.

Latrell (8 carries, 85 yards) and QB Shain Jowett (15-77) both moved the chains effectively with the Hillies wearing down.

“I was proud of the line and how we ran the ball,” added Adamopoulos. “That was the best we’ve looked with consistent blocking.”

The senior Jowett threw for one first-half TD, a perfectly executed 29-yard screen and run, then accelerated up the middle for a 10-yard TD dash.

Kicker Cam Walsh was perfect on three PATs, plus a 23-yard field goal. Latrell also recovered a pair of fumbles, splitting 20 tackles evenly with Zak Adamopoulos, who chipped in a forced fumble of his own.

For Haverhill, Ocasio worked the edge on the option and straight quarterback sneaks with similar success.

Erupting for a 69-yard TD in the opening quarter, the senior led all rushers with 149 yards on 21 tries. Triplett banged his way to 104 yards on 18 tries, and Noel Figuereo scored the other Hillie touchdown from a yard out.

”As much as the fumbles, what it comes down to is tackling,” said Hillie coach Jeff Briggs. “You have to tackle. Tackling is courage and confidence, and sticking your face in there. That’s what we need to do.

Additional stories:

• Ball-hawking Central outlasts Haverhill