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Playoff football notebook: Masconomet hopes are bright for the future

Tuesday, November, 27 By Matt Jenkins and Matt Langone
Staff writer

Masconomet's season may have ended on a sour note in its 39-0 loss to Gloucester yesterday, but it didn't stop the Chieftains from feeling good about their future.

The Chieftains return five starters on each side of the ball, plus several other underclassmen who saw extended playing time yesterday. Sophomore quarterback Chris Splinter and sophomore running back Evan Bunker figure to be a feared duo for years to come.

"They're going to be awesome," Masco senior captain T.C. Mannetta said. "We had such a young team this year, and it's going to be almost the same team next year.

"We're going to lose a few guys, but just like every year coach (Jim) Pugh will get some younger guys to take their place and they'll be well prepared."

The game had been over for less than 15 minutes when Splinter started thinking about what it will take to return to the playoffs.

"It's all about the offseason," Splinter said. "We have to lift and do a lot of weight room stuff, and we have the 7-on-7 camp in the summer. We have to work hard to try to get back to this point again."

The Gloucester game will be a good measuring stick for the future, according to Pugh.

"It shows them we have to do a little more work," Pugh said. "We work hard in the offseason, they lift year-round and go to camps, but at this level it's going to take a little harder work."

The Chieftains waved goodbye to six senior starters. Teddy Reed, Mike Nazzaro, Daniel Wendt, Dom Bavaro, T.C. Mannetta and Eli Vollmer have been the leaders in a very strong class that made two trips to the postseason.

"They were the backbone of this team. Teddy Reed, Naz (Mike Nazzaro) and T.C. Mannetta, they really held us together," Splinter said. "It's going to be a big loss next year." Mannetta, who was Masco's most productive offensive player yesterday with 41 yards on 10 carries, was pleased with the legacy his class will leave behind.

"It's been a great run," Mannetta said. "I hoped we could have made it better, but a lot of these guys I've been playing with for 10 years and it's been a great way to end it besides tonight."

Gloucester's Anthony Fulford had a dynamite two-way game, especially on offense. He was barely touched on all five of his touchdown runs and, evidently, was so quick on defense that the officials couldn't see him. Fulford got away with a clear penalty that would have negated one of the Fishermen's two interceptions.

In the second quarter, Masco had a second-and-7 from the Gloucester 27 trailing 24-0. Splinter dropped back to pass and when Bunker ran past Fulford at least 10 yards down the field, Fulford turned around and pulled Bunker back by the shoulder pads with his left hand.

Splinter's pass was intended for Kevin Anderson, but instead Gloucester's Taylor Burbine came down with the pick.

Even when Gloucester made a mistake yesterday, it seemed to still work out in its favor.

That was evident in the third quarter, when Fishermen senior lineman Adam Quinn was unintentionally on the receiving end of a two-point conversion.

Quinn was pass blocking on the conversion attempt when junior quarterback Rick Gallant dropped back and fired a pass. The throw was batted up into the air by Masco's Reed and landed directly into the hand of Quinn, who ran the short distance for the conversion.

"I just happened to look over as the Masconomet kid jumped up and blocked the pass," said Quinn. "Then I just grabbed it and ran it in."

Splinter may have struggled in yesterday's loss, but Gloucester players are still very impressed with the young signal-caller.

"Containing Splinter was basically our game plan coming in because we knew he's a great quarterback," said Gloucester senior Anthony Enderle, who had five tackles and three sacks in the game. "Coach (Paul) Ingram stressed stopping Splinter all week in practice."

Splinter finished the contest just 4 of 11 passing for 36 yards and two interceptions. He was also held to negative-5 rushing yards.

Additional stories:

• Fulford scores five touchdowns as Gloucester advances to the Super Bowl