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Whittier Wildcats Football '07

Thu, Nov 22, 2007 10:00 AM @ Whittier
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Pope Francis 0 0 6 6 12
Whittier 16 8 6 19 49
Katie McMahon, Staff PhotographerMore photos

Whittier scores early, takes care of Cathedral

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Thursday, November, 22 By Steve Palladino
Staff writer

HAVERHILL — After a season of late-game setbacks, John Tricomi and his Whittier teammates wanted to take care of business right away yesterday.

"We set the tone early," said the senior linebacker following the Wildcats 49-12 rout of Cathedral that started when he took a fumble 34 yards into the end zone for an early score.

Junior quarterback Dillon Ryan passed for two touchdowns for the first time in his career, and added a career-best 173 yards for the normally run-happy Wildcats.

And the ground attack, which featured 16 different runners, was just as potent with 311 combined yards. Groveland resident Bryan Trickett led the way with 96 yards.

On Cathedral's first snap, senior Brendan Sheehy busted through the line to sack Cathedral quarterback Robert Williams, who lost control of the ball.

"We had a blitz on and Sheehy hit him (Williams) and it had a nice bounce to me," said Tricomi.

Whittier recorded six sacks on Williams and Christian Garrity grabbed two of Whittier's three interceptions. Kobie Jackson had the other one.

"We put the offense in a good place today," said Garrity, whose first interception stopped a drive inside the Whittier red zone. "I read the ball, not so much the receivers."

Ryan, who came into this game averaging 8.3 pass attempts per game, opened up the air attack and threw the ball 26 times — completing 11.

"We stated to go to the spread offense," said Ryan. "Coach (Kevin Bradley) had faith in us and we took it over from there."

The Wildcats (4-7) went to the air on 21 of its 34 first half plays, utilizing six different receivers in the process.

With Whittier ahead 8-0, Ryan found Cam Taylor (2 catches, 83 yards) on an 8-yard pass to the corner of the end zone. For as much of a pass attack the Wildcats carried in the opening half, it was a 54-yard run from Trickett that set up this score.

"We created some passes today and executed well," said Ryan. In the second quarter, Ryan engineered a seven-play drive that culminated in a 27-yard pass to Craig Eaton.

Whittier's offensive machine was still in high gear during the second half, scoring four rushing touchdowns. The second half also allowed the Wildcats to showcase it future.

"This senior class took us to two Super Bowls (Technical School and Division 3)," said Bradley. "This year we didn't make it and our goal is to get back there next year."

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