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Masterson helps lead Generals past North Andover

Saturday, September, 15 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

HAMILTON | It was hard to tell who had worked harder, sweat more or was more exhausted at game's end.

On the one hand, you had Nate Masterson. A senior captain for the Hamilton-Wenham football team, Masterson scored two touchdowns, booted a 40-yard field goal and scored all 16 of his team's points against North Andover.

Then there was his head coach, Andrew Morency. The ultra-fiery second-year Generals' head man coaches as hard as he expects his players to perform on the gridiron. He's as passionate and serious about his job as a mother is of protecting her young child.

What we do know after their 16-13 victory over the Scarlet Knights is this: both player and coach were a big reason why the Generals prevailed | and are sporting a 2-0 record thus far in the young season.

"We know we have the ability. The players know it and the coaches know it," said the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Masterson. "If we play up to that ability, we feel like we can beat anyone."

Nothing they've done thus far this season has gone against that theory.

As members of the Cape Ann League's Small division, Hamilton-Wenham has played a pair of CAL Large teams to begin the year. They have defeated both, going on the road on a 90-degree day to outlast Pentucket, 32-20, in their opener before holding off visiting North Andover.

One theme certainly runs true in both victories: stout second half defense. The Generals didn't surrender a point over the final 20 minutes of play against Pentucket, and allowed only a touchdown (but no extra point) with 28 seconds to play against the Scarlet Knights while playing a prevent defense.

During the second half of those same two games, Hamilton-Wenham's offense has produced 12 and 10 points, both enough to secure them wins.

"Our kids fought and fought and didn't give an inch," said Morency. "We knew what North Andover had: a senior quarterback (Steve Boudreau), a couple of good wide receivers and a balanced running attack. But (defensive coordinator) Jack Jones did a nice job getting our kids ready for that, and they really responded, especially after they scored on their first series of the game."

After North Andover scored on their first drive | Boudreau capped an 11-play, 61-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper | Hamilton-Wenham forced three punts and picked off a pair of passes on their next five defensive stands. Sophomore cornerback Zach Gaucher and senior safety Jake Cotter came up with the interceptions, while the Generals' front four, led by junior tackles Corey Daff and Jeremy Walton, applied near-constant pressure.

One week after watching his backfield mate and fellow captain, Cotter, score five touchdowns against Pentucket, it was Masterson's turn to take center stage on offense. His first touchdown, a 12-yard run over left tackle, saw Masterson run over a would-be North Andover tackler and stretch the ball just over the goal line. A missed extra point made it 7-6 North Andover at the half.

But Masterson would make up for missing that point-after. On the final play of the third quarter and with the wind at his back, he blasted a 40-yard field goal with plenty of room to spare to give his team a 9-7 lead that they'd never lose.

"I was definitely nervous, but it helped that I had the wind at my back and we got the kick off (before the quarter ended)," Masterson, 17, said. "It was a great snap by Dave (Littlefield), a great hold by Jake ... and I got some leg behind it."

Masterson, who finished with 92 yards rushing on a dozen carries and 147 total yards of offense, then put his piece de resistance on the afternoon. On 2nd-and-6 from the Knights' 44, he took a toss right, followed his blockers, cut against the grain twice and sprinted to paydirt. This time, his extra point was good, and Hamilton-Wenham suddenly had a 16-6 lead.

"A close game always seems to come down to something like (Masterson's touchdown)," said North Andover coach John Rafferty, whose team fell to 0-2. "We made a few mistakes that really hurt in the end."

Masterson and Cotter (17 carries, 63 yards) worked well off of each other. Their presence also allowed H-W's sophomore quarterback, Andy Duval, to complete 6 of 8 passes for 110 yards, mostly on screens and pop passes over the middle.

"(Duval) is savvy for a young guy," said Morency, "but it's Jake and Nate who are the pulse of our offense. We have a nice mix with them; Nate being the between-the-tackles inside guy; Jake the guy who breaks it to the outside. It's a nice mix for us to have. They give us that offensive balance we want to have."

Now with a bye week, the Generals will have two weeks to prepare for one of the CAL's best teams, Masconomet. Masterson says his senior class has never beaten the Chieftains; they'd like to change that this year.

"They're going to be a huge challenge for us," he admitted. "But we'll be ready."