RallyNorth.net

Fri, Oct 27, 2006 07:00 PM @ Amesbury

Team	Final
Masconomet	29
Amesbury	6

Masco's Bunker Brothers monumental in win over Amesbury

Wednesday, August, 22 By Jon L'Ecuyer
Staff writer

AMESBURY | Amesbury fought a valiant, uphill battle against Masconomet's Bunker brothers at Landry Stadium last night but ultimately the Indians' gutsy performance against the mighty non-league opponent came up short as the Chieftains desperate to make a statement on both sides of the ball came out aggressively, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives en route to downing the Indians, 29 to 6.

Masconomet's (7-1) leading rusher, senior captain Eric Bunker, was banged up heading into yesterday's duel but showed no signs of it as his brother, senior co-captain Craig Bunker (11-13-95-2-1) completed two touchdown passes (six and 43 yards, respectively) to Eric in the first half quickly putting the Chieftains up, 13-0.

"It's unfortunate when you look at the score because it (isn't indicative) to how we played," said Amesbury coach Thom Connors. "We brought them to third down in almost every series and made a few great stops on the goal line. The offensive turnovers killed us.

"It's a game of inches and it just didn't fall our way. You can't afford those mistakes against a team like (Masconomet) because they will almost always capitalize," Connors added. Speculation was that Masco would not start Bunker, opting rather to let him rest and prepare to seek revenge in next week's contest against league rival Pentucket (who beat Masco last year 35-7), but the gamble certainly paid off as he solidified himself as the play-maker of the game with two touchdown receptions and a third touchdown in the third quarter on a 13-yard sprint to the end zone.

Amesbury (3-4) a team that was eliminated from the post season last week still played with the focus and heart expected of a such a top class organization.

"Our effort was very good, we had a very good week of practice, there is no quitting this monster here," Connors said. "I thought we were very well prepared for them and overall there are a lot of positives to take out of this game."

Down 13-0, the Indians brought the ball all the way down to the Masconomet 11 with about five minutes to go in the second quarter before Marion Wilder fumbled the ball allowing Masconomet to recover. The Indians held Masconomet for the first time, making the Chieftains kick the ball away on fourth-and-17. However, when the Indians got the ball back on their own 47, great field position and another decent opportunity to score was squandered when Dominique Houston's pass to Eric Bunker fell short and was intercepted at the Masco 45-yard line at the two minute warning.

The Chieftains' second chance ultimately led to a 36-yard, Nick Salvo field goal, which sent the teams to the locker room with a 16-0 score on the board.

Masconomet scored another touchdown to end the third quarter; Rob Modoono recovered a blocked Amesbury punt in the end zone for six and Salvo capped the score with a good kick to put the Chieftains up, 23-0. Masco quickly got the ball back with an interception and Bunker ran 25 and 13 yards, respectively to score Masco's final TD of the night. The lone offensive highlight for the Indians came when its second string offensive unit hit the field.

Senior Tyler Davidson ran the ball 51 yards on four carries, and scored the Indians only touchdown off a six yard jaunt up the middle and through the pile for six points. A fumbled snap cost Amesbury the extra point and the Indians would never regain possession of the ball in the final minutes of the game.

Four turnovers were the difference in a game in which Masconomet wanted to make a statement. "A lot of people are saying Ipswich has the best defense, but we feel our defense can play with anyone in the league, and we showed that tonight," said Chieftains head coach, Jim Pugh.

Amesbury will look to get a division win next week when the Indians take on North Reading while Masconomet will look to continue playing well on both sides of the ball to pick up the victory at Pentucket.