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Danvers Falcons Football '07

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 07:00 PM @ Danvers
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Saugus 6 8 12 0 26
Danvers 0 0 0 14 14

Positives to be found in Falcons' loss to Saugus

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Friday, November, 02 By By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

DANVERS | Accentuate the positive.

In what has been a difficult season for the Danvers High football team, the players and coaching staff are continually looking for strong individual and team efforts that will help the squad improve in the long run.

So while the scoreboard at the end of last night's game showed another setback | this one a 26-14 defeat at the hands of a much improved Saugus team | there were things the Falcons will be able to point to as positives.

First and foremost on that list would be the sheer determination of captain Chris Martin. Playing in his final home game, the senior fullback and linebacker scored his team's first touchdown on a terrific individual play, absorbing a crushing head-on hit from a Saugus linebacker only to somehow remain on his feet and keep moving forward, eventually bowling his way to paydirt from 13 yards out.

"Chris is a tough kid who willed his way into the end zone on that play," said Danvers head coach John Sullivan afterwards. "He's a guy who plays his heart out both ways, and did everything he could to help us be successful. That's why he's a good leader both on and off the field.

There were other hallmark performances by the hosts as well. Senior wideout Matt Pasquariello went up in a crowd and snared a 44-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Greg Ladd with 2.9 seconds remaining, keeping his eye on the football after it was tipped.

Senior Mike Vinagro had a terrific night punting the football, averaging over 41 yards a boot on five kicks | one of which travelled a season-high 57 yards. Sophomore safety Steve Hennessey, sophomore defensive end Kell Falite and two-way junior lineman John Gikas continued to raise their own level of play as well.

But in the end, Danvers (0-9) couldn't slow down a speedy Saugus team that move the ball successfully thanks to plenty of misdirections and options on offense.

Quarterback Bret Reid not only moved his downfield adroitly, but he also scored a pair of touchdowns (from 1 and 6 yards out) as the Sachems built up a 14-0 halftime lead and led, 26-0, after three quarters. Senior Paul Sullivan and junior Dylan Tillas were the two rocks that anchored the Saugus line up front, opening huge holes all night.

"Their quarterback (Reid) is a pretty talented athlete," said Sullivan. "I thought going into this week that his option selection was pre-determined, but it wasn't. He made a lot of changes at the line by reading the plays well."

Saugus, which snapped an eight-game losing streak against Danvers going back to 1999, improved to 5-3 on the season. That's the most wins in one season since 1998, and it guarantees the Sachems their first non-losing season in 10 years.

"Getting an interception (on the game's second play) was big for us," said Saugus coach Mike Broderick, whose team also received an 8-yard scoring run from Nick Ortega and a 31-yard fumble return for a score by Gilson Fernandes. "We talked all week about getting a turnover early and making it pay off, and that's exactly what we were able to do."

Danvers finishes its season with a pair of road games, playing at Swampscott next Saturday (noon) before meeting arch rival Gloucester at Newell Stadium in their annual Thanksgiving Day contest (10 a.m.).

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