RallyNorth.net

Fri, Sep 14, 2007 07:00 PM @ Ipswich

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Pentucket	20	13	9	6	48
Ipswich	0	0	6	0	6

Ipswich football has rough go of it vs. Pentucket

Friday, September, 14 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

IPSWICH | Ted Flaherty spoke nothing but facts last night.

Quotes such as "sophomores struggle to tackle seniors" and "they were better in all facets of the game" came out of the Ipswich football coach's mouth in the aftermath of his team's 48-6 loss to Pentucket last night at Ipswich High School.

The facts spoke for themselves.

A young, inexperienced Ipswich team that was also missing several players due to injury | junior fullback/linebacker Chad Leonard missed the game after stepping on a clam and cutting his foot | was no match for a hungry Pentucket team looking for its first win of the season. The visiting Sachems scored on all five possessions in the first half, building up a 33-0 cushion and cruising from there.

Senior fullback Nate Bunnell had a huge game for the West Newbury school, scoring a career-high four touchdowns on just five touches. He gained 138 yards, scoring on runs of 51, 2, 10 and 72 yards. He also blocked an Ipswich punt, setting up his second TD.

"We were just overmatched," admitted Flaherty, his Tigers falling to 0-2. "It's an old saying, but it's true: they were bigger, faster and stronger.

"And that Bunnell | he's just a bull, one of the best backs in the entire Cape Ann League."

While Pentucket used 13 running backs and had 398 yards of total offense, Ipswich had trouble moving the ball offensively.

Eventually, they got something going in the third quarter as senior quarterback Zach Gorrell (6-for-8, 63 yards) hooked up with sophomore tight end Aaron Jessen (2 catches, 47 yards) on some rollout passes. One of those, a 29-yard hookup, helped the Tigers to their only touchdown of the night, a 5-yard TD pass from Gorrell to sophomore Eli Natti.

The hosts also had a pair of blocked extra points from sophomores Nathaniel "Nippy" Bocko and Cyrus Ebinger. "Those two guys were just put on that (extra point blocking) unit this week, so for them to both block kicks was nice to see," said Flaherty.

"But overall, we couldn't stop (Bunnell). We did a good job stopping their sweep on one side, and the waggle on the other side. But that fullback trap, they executed flawlessly. That's the thing about facing the Wing-T; if you're indecisive, they'll kill you with it."

Ipswich, which travels to North Andover next Friday night, also got 50 yards rushing in a dozen attempts from junior Jimmy Cadogan.

Additional stories:

• Pentucket's Bunnell (4 TDs) scorches Ipswich