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Hornets dominate North Shore, cruise to victory

Monday, November, 05 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

With most of their games this season being decided in the final minute of play, the Manchester Essex football team was looking to finish off North Shore Tech much earlier in the game yesterday.

As it turned out, the Hornets got just what they were looking for in a dominating 33-6 win over the Bulldogs at North Shore Technical High School's Barry Field.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 7-2, while North Shore Tech fell to 0-9.

"We played a good second half," Hornets head coach Mike Athanas said. "We came out a little flat and got too many penalties in the first half but we came out in the second half and fixed our problems. It's nice to come out with the win."

As Athanas pointed out, the first half was a competitive football game. After a scoreless first quarter, the Hornets were able to get on the board first on running back Brian Ciccone's 10-yard run to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs, however, would answer right back on the next drive when quarterback David St. Pierre scored on a 7-yard run to tie the score at 6-6. St. Pierre's run was set up when he hit Cameron White for a 46-yard completion.

After a failed drive from each team, the Hornets would score on their last drive of the half on a 9-yard run from Ciccone to put Manchester Essex up 12-6 at halftime.

The Hornets were hurt with penalties in the first half, recording four for 35 yards. None was more costly than a hold that wiped out an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown by Ben Kekeisen.

But in the second half, the Hornets made up for their mistakes.

On their first drive of the second half, the Hornets pounded their way to an 11-play, 79-yard drive that was capped off by Matt Ortin's one yard run giving the Hornets an 18-6 lead.

The Hornets would then put the game away on North Shore Tech's next drive when senior captain Phil Gillette scooped up a Bulldog's fumble and ran 52 yards for the score. The Hornets would add a two-point conversion to give them a 26-6 lead. Ortins would add another touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 33-6.

The Hornets offensive attack, which is normally pass-oriented, was led by their running game. Ciccone (35 yards), Ortins (53 yards), fullback Jack Bishop (35 yards) and quarterback Pat Orlando (66 yards) led the way for the Hornets, who racked up 233 yards on the ground.

"It's always great to establish a good running game," Athanas said. "When we run the ball well it opens up our passing game more and chews up the clock; making our offense more effective."

White led the Bulldog's offense with 108 total yards (31 rushing, 77 receiving). St. Pierre also had a good day for North Shore Tech with 122 passing yards and a rushing touchdown.