RallyNorth.net

Sat, Oct 21, 2006 02:00 PM @ Whittier

Team	Final
Tyngsborough	13
Whittier	24

Whittier Tech downs archrival Tynsboro

Wednesday, August, 29 By David Willis
Staff writer

HAVERHILL | As Whittier players strolled out of the locker room after the game toward their cars yesterday afternoon, many stopped to take a long look at the scoreboard, where the score was still posted: Whittier 24, Tyngsboro 13.

Handshakes and hugs were still being exchanged, and even a few tears were brushed away.

This was more than just another win.

The Wildcats had combined dominant defense with an outstanding rushing performance by Joel Penney to soundly defeat the archrival Tigers at Gordon Field and take control of the Commonwealth Conference Large.

It was the first win for Whittier (7-0) over the Tigers (5-2), who are headed to the Dual County League next season, since 1999. Tyngsboro also handed the Wildcats their only defeat last season, costing them the CAC Large title and a playoff berth, and had beaten them 18 of the last 22 times.

"This ranks among the greatest wins in the history of this school," said an ecstatic Whittier head coach Kevin Bradley. "They always said we were a good team. You have to beat the giant, and that's what we did. We knocked off the giant."

No one was more excited than linebacker/fullback Clint Clay, who sprinted for the sideline after the post-game handshake, grabbed the team flag and led his teammates into the stands for a celebration.

"This meant everything to us," said Clay, who had a team-high nine tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. "It's just beautiful. It's priceless. No one could take this feeling away from me right now, looking at this scoreboard."

Whittier fell behind 7-0 with 41 seconds left in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from Colin Halloran. But the Wildcats responded on the following possession, when Jay Pena ran a score in from 1 yard out and quarterback James Fournier followed with the 2-point conversion that gave Whittier the lead, and momentum, for good.

"We've thought about this for 365 days," said the overjoyed Pena who had spend two days during the week in the hospital with a sinus infection. "This means everything. This is the biggest game of the year for us."

Penney was a one-man wrecking crew for the Wildcats, rushing for an eye-popping 162 yards and a score in the second half, and 191 for the game. Thane Sanford added 114 yards on the ground.

The Whittier defense was equally as impressive, holding 2005 All-CAC running back Shawn Miller to 96 yards and allowing Halloran only 14 completions on 28 attempts for 169 yards.

"We wanted to bang their wide receivers off the line," said Bradley. "They (Tyngsboro) have a lot of skill and our job was to get some pressure on the quarterback and get the receivers off their patterns. We were going to hit them and make them earn what they got."

Despite suffering with cramps throughout the game, Pena rushed for a pair of scores and was a presence with five tackles and a pair of passes knocked down, and Sanford and Cam Taylor provided blanket coverage. Chad Hafford had four tackles and a sack.

"We had them last year and we lost it," said Clay. "This year we did it. The difference was we came out in the second half and just dominated. The feeling is indescribable."