RallyNorth.net

Royal Heartbreak

Saturday, October, 31 By Conor Clancy

HAMILTON — Things can change in a heartbeat. 

After looking poised to score with just over a minute and a half left in the fourth quarter in a tie game against Hamilton Wenham, a costly Georgetown fumble gave the ball back to the Generals who marched down the field in just six plays to kick the game-winning field goal with just five seconds left.

Becuase of a stout Hamilton-Wenham defense and poor execution on its own part, Georgetown had struggled all game to sustain any drive before late in the fourth when a fourth down stop put the offense back on the field at its own 16-yard line with just under seven minutes left. Quarterback Chris Espositio, who had been held to just 19 yards rushing at that point, led a furious drive down the field, carrying the ball eight times for 37 yards to the General 34. Then on a crucial fourth and long at the General 34-yard line, he connected with wide receiver Bryce Moker for 12 yards and the first down.

With momentum on its side, Georgetown again gave the ball to Esposito but after picking up ten more yards, the ball popped up in the air and Hamilton-Wenham recovered. Many Georgetown players protested that Esposito had been down when the ball popped loose but the call was upheld and Hamilton-Wenham took over on offense on it's own 22-yard line. 

"I didn't get a good angle on the play," said Georgetown coach Matt Bouchard. "I just saw the ball come out."

With a 1:06 remaining, the Generals then marched back upfield on the arm of senior Quarterback Andy Duval who completed three of four passes while also running for seven yards and stopped the clock with 11 seconds to play at the Georgetown 20. The Generals then brought on kicker Tucker White to attempt a 36-yard field goal and while the ball fluttered for just a second in the air, the ball passed between the two uprights as Hamilton-Wenham celebrated. The ensuing kickoff was taken by Georgetowns Tyran Harrigan but after alluding a few tackles and reversing his field, was tackled and the game over.

"We didn't take advantage of our oppurtunities, plain and simple," said Bouchard. "I thought our defense played great the entire game, but we had too many mistakes to overcome on offense."

The first three quarters was a game of field position as each team played exceptional well on defense while struggling to find it's groove on offense. Espositio finished with 66 yards rushing, 47 of those comming on Georetowns final drive. 

Earlier in the game Hamilton Wenham had driven twice into the red-zone but tough defensive play by Georgetown led by Michael Wooten (8 tackles) and costly penalties resulted in turnover on downs. 

Georgetown fell to 1-6 while Hamilton Wenham improved to 2-5.