RallyNorth.net

Pentucket tops North Reading in runaway

Monday, October, 15 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

Of all the game plans North Reading head coach Jeff Wall mapped out, it's doubtful many included the Hornets having an early 14-point lead.

Faulty special teams play by Pentucket led to a quick 14-0 deficit. But as the Cape Ann League Large Sachems gradually pulled themselves together, the CAL Small Hornets came apart under a barrage of 42 consecutive points, eventually dropping a 49-21 decision in a matchup of 4-1 teams.

A fumble of Brendan Lutz's booming game-opening boot was recovered by the kicker at the Sachem 10-yard line, with Josh Robinson (41 yards rushing) finding the end zone two plays later from 8 yards out.

After a Sachem punt and facing fourth-and-13 at the Pentucket 38, senior quarterback James Campbell (4 of 8 for 79 yards) threw a perfect pass that junior Darren Hartwell corralled at the goal line for a surprising 14-0 Hornet lead just 7<1/2> minutes into the game.

"I don't think we came out mentally ready to play," Pentucket head coach Steve Hayden said. "North Reading came out and ran on us, then threw deep on fourth-and-a zillion when we knew (Campbell) could do that."

"We've never started a game like that," said Wall, who is in his fifth year guiding the Hornets. "We were telling the kids to play like it's a 0-0 game. But there were little letdowns here and there, and not from a lack of effort. Everyone was trying to overplay and handle other player's responsibilities.

"Pentucket's a very disciplined team. It was just a matter of time (for them to turn things around)."

Despite suffering four turnovers, Pentucket eventually found its way with a proven offensive commodity in fullback Nate Bunnell (100 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving, four touchdowns) and a productive second option in junior quarterback Jordan Silva (103 yards and a TD on the ground, 5 of 7 passing for 115 yards and two more scores).

In all, the Sachems rolled up 408 yards of offense.

The back-breaking score of the day came from Bunnell and the defense. After Bunnell's 22-yard scoring run and 45-yard TD grab tied the game in the second quarter, he deftly plucked a Hornet fumble at his own 49 and swept down the left sidelines untouched to give the Sachems the lead to stay.

North Reading, with just 27 players in uniform, continued to falter, finishing with nine fumbles leading to three turnovers. Also, occasionally poor punt and shotgun snaps lost the Hornets 40 yards and hampered an offense which was held to 163 total yards.