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Masconomet defense delivers in win over Wilmington football

Friday, October, 05 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

TOPSFIELD -- Masconomet football coach Jim Pugh didn't have a pep talk prepared for halftime. Even if he did, his team never would have allowed him the time to deliver it.

The Chieftains took it upon themselves to turn things around after getting overpowered by Wilmington in the first half last night. Masco took control in the trenches, and erased a seven-point halftime deficit for a 17-14 win.

"The gut check at halftime was what they wanted. There was no pep talk or anything. The kids were fired up," Pugh said. "They knew that was not Masco football. That was not what we're all about. They gave themselves a pep talk. I think that they were embarrassed with the way Wilmington took it to us in the first half physically. We're a big team, and we're pretty strong. It was not pretty."

The second half may not have been a thing of beauty, but Masco gladly accepted a gritty, grind-it-out performance after intermission.

The Chieftains chomped away nearly seven minutes in the third quarter with a 12-play drive that ended in Nick Salvo's 33-yard field goal to trim Wilmington's lead to 14-10. The defense then forced a three-and-out to get the ball back.

In total, Masco held the ball for nearly nine minutes, and Chieftains' sophomore quarterback Chris Splinter twice converted long third down plays on the opening drive of the second half. On 3rd-and-8, Splinter twisted for nine yards, then later connected with Dom Bavaro for 28 yards on a 3rd-and-21.

"We ran three plays (in the third quarter)," Wilmington coach Bob Almeida said. "We'd play good defense, play good defense, and then they'd pick up a first down. We were worried about containing (Splinter). He proved what a great player he is. He's a very instinctive kid."

Masco (5-0) scored the game-winner midway through the third quarter when Splinter ran a naked bootleg into the end zone to cap a 13-play drive. The Chieftains still needed to make two more defensive stops to preserve the win.

Junior Mike Fauci came up with a pair of huge plays to highlight Masco's defensive play in the second half.

On 4th-and-6 from the Wilmington 45-yard line, Fauci came off the right edge and blindsided Wildcats' quarterback Kyle Moon before he could deliver a pass.

Wilmington's final drive was seriously hurt when Fauci got into the backfield unblocked on 3rd-and-13. This time, he didn't get to the quarterback, but he pressured him into an incomplete pass.

"I saw a seam, and went for it," Fauci said. "I wasn't thinking sack. I was just thinking to stop them, but it opened up and I got there."

Masco still has a long way to go, but this win puts the Chieftains in a good position in the Cape Ann League Large division.

"It was a very tough game, but there's no giving up on this team," Fauci said. "We just knew we were going to win."