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Marblehead dedicates win to principal's daughter

Monday, October, 22 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

The Marblehead football team had plenty of incentive in a 15-7 hard-fought, sloppy victory over Danvers that included eight turnovers Saturday at Dr. Deering Field. The award-winning Danvers High band was, as usual, flawless.

However, there was no trumpeting the execution in the game. Marblehead's motivation was obvious. It had dedicated the game to Jane Ziergiebel, 23, of Amherst, daughter of the Marblehead principal, John Ziergirbel, who died in a single car accident at 12:55 a.m. early Saturday on the Mass. Turnpike in Palmer when her car hit a guard rail.

"I came over on the bus. (Athletic Director) Mike Plansky had called the other coaches and informed us of the tragedy. They came separately, but arrived as soon as we did. The kids were excited on the bus ride about playing. That news deflated them," Marblehead coach Doug Chernovetz said.

The prospect of moving within two victories of its first winning season since 1992 (6-3-1), and topping the Falcons for the first time on Danvers turf since 1991 were other carrots for the visitors, as well as a plus .500 record (4-3).

"All those errors? I can't explain it. The ball wasn't slippery or anything. It was dry out there," Danvers' Mike Vinagro, a wide receiver at Peabody last season, said. "I think all the hard hitting caused those turnovers. We also made too many mental mistakes."

For the record, Danvers lost three of four fumbles (Brendan Rice, Ben Saponer, and Mike Sahagian made the recoveries) while Sahagian and Taariq Allen had interceptions for the visitors, adding up to five Falcons' turnovers. "You're not going to win many games with that many," Falcons' coach John Sullivan said.

Once again Danvers (0-7) struggled offensively, producing only one first down in the opening half and three for the game, and only netting 106 yards rushing and 27 passing, yet it still had a shot at tying it in the waning minutes. QB Eric Burgos moved the Falcons from the Danvers 42 to the Marblehead 28 after an 11-yard pass to Matt Pasquariello. Suddenly a 15-7 deficit didn't seem so imposing.

What else? | another turnover | killed the threat as Allen picked off Burgos and returned it 57 yards to the Danvers 23 to sew it up for Marblehead with 2:03 remaining.

Sahagian, who had a huge game, fumbled away to Falcon Dan Stanton at the Marblehead three-yard line and Vinagro punched it over from the three, two plays later in the early minutes. Nick Pellino toed the PAT for 7-0.

Marblehead, which completed only 1-of-9 passes but rushed for 195 yards, put up all 15 of its points in the second quarter when Nick Haller skirted the left side from 14 yards and Ian McKinley added the PAT with 2:43 showing for 7-all.

Sahagian's 72-yard breakaway made it 13-7 with 1:31 left until the break. The PAT kick attempt by McKinley typified the game. The kick bounced off Rice's helmet, went airbound and Danvers' Manny Santiago caught it and tried to return as a two-point conversion bid. He never got out of the endzone. Santiago fumbled, Sahagian recovered, and Marblehead got a two point credit.

Sahagian was the game's top rusher, 12 carries for 120 yards; scored a TD off a pick, had the fumble recovery and didn't carry in the second half. He suffered a knot in his shoulder late in the second quarter.

"We won ugly," Chernovetz said, leaving the field.

"It wasn't a precision game, was it?" Sullivan asked.