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Cotter, Masterson lead Generals to season-ending win over Ipswich

Thursday, November, 22 By Graig Woodburn
Correspondent

IPSWICH | There was no way Hamilton-Wenham senior captain and running back Jake Cotter was going to miss his team's final game. Not against his team's biggest rivals, and certainly not on Thanksgiving.

After being sidelined for three games with an injured Achilles, Cotter jumped back into lineup and scored two touchdowns as the Generals took a 28-7 win over Ipswich Thursday.

A well-balanced rushing attack | led by 132 yards from fellow senior captain Nate Masterson and 115 yards from Cotter | mixed with two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Andrew Duval, allowed Hamilton-Wenham to close out the season with a 6-4 record and a bit of redemption.

A year ago with the Cape Ann League Small title on the line, visiting Ipswich came to Hamilton and beat the Generals, 7-0, en route to capturing the Division 3A Super Bowl title. This time, Hamilton-Wenham made sure a repeat would not happen.

"This game meant something. We dedicated ourselves to coming out and playing our best football," said Generals' head coach Andrew Morency. "Last year's game definitely played a role in our motivation (yesterday) | and we came through."

Although the loss left Ipswich with a 0-11 mark for the season, the Tigers did fight back from an early deficit to seize some momentum yesterday morning on their home field.

An interception by senior captain Chris Tolios set up a 5-yard run by junior running back Jim Cadogan to bring the Tigers to within 14-7 in the second quarter.

"It was nice to see him make that big play; he did a real nice job for us," said Ipswich coach Ted Flaherty of Tolios, who played in his final game for IHS. "It's tough when you're overmatched a little bit, but (the team's) character has been excellent."

Facing a sudden rally by the hosts and looking at a fourth down on the Tigers' 29-yard line on its series, Hamilton-Wenham got down to business. Duval (4 of 5 for 73 yards) connected with Cotter over the middle for a quick-strike touchdown from 29 yards out, pushing the Generals' lead to 21-7 at the half.

"That was a huge play," said Morency.

Cotter added a 1-yard rushing TD in the third quarter to help secure the win, and the Generals' defense held Ipswich off the scoreboard from there.

"It was great to get back with the team for my last game," said Cotter. "I would have played, no matter what."

Hamilton-Wenham had jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, thanks to a 9-yard touchdown run by Masterson and a 22-yard pass play from Duval to end Joe Hoyle. Steven Gonsiorowski successfully kicked four extra points in the win.