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Ferreira, Whittier run over Archbishop Williams

Saturday, October, 10 By Jeff Hamrick
Staff writer

BRAINTREE — At Whittier Regional, it’s simply called the Tornado. At the five schools the Wildcats have routed this season, it’s an offense that keeps defenses off balance if not outright confused.
After primarily relying on a prolific passing attack the first four victories of the year, Whittier took to its rushing game yesterday and easily defeated Archbishop Williams 32-12 in a non-conference outing. Of their 53 plays from scrimmage, the Wildcats ran the ball 45 times, accumulating 267 yards and three scores.
Whittier improved to 5-0 while manhandling a traditionally strong team (EMass Division 3 Super Bowl runner-up in 2004-05).
Whittier coach Kevin Bradley said, “We want to run the ball. We’ll throw the ball, but this is one of those games that the line was safe. We got them up front.
“The pass probably would’ve been available but why take the chance of turning the ball over when you can just run it. Especially on these cold days — you have to be able to run the football.”
Whittier often direct snaps to the runner. Seven different players took snaps. Leading the way were Donald Leighton, who had a team-high 115 yards on only 12 carries, and Nick Ferreira, who scored two touchdowns and ran for all four Whittier conversions.
“We never know who’s going to get the ball,” Ferreira said. “Whatever coach calls. If we need a break, we switch out. Every time one of us is out of breath another one comes in.”
Quarterback Dillon Ryan did get into the mix with a touchdown pass to Ralph Hancock.
Archbishop Williams (2-2) quickly jumped ahead when Alex Furtado ran 73 yards for a score on the first play. But the Bishops were stymied until scoring the game’s final touchdown on a 10-yard run by Furtado with 1:13 remaining. In between those scores, Whittier controlled the action with one touchdown drive of 14 plays that consumed 6:51 and another of 10 plays that took 5:39 off the clock.
“They (the Wildcats) are very disciplined,” Archbishop Williams coach Bill Kinsherf said. “They were beating us up front and their backs are good. They execute and run that misdirection offense and it keeps you guessing.”
Whittier 32, Archbishop Williams 12
Whittier (5-0):    8 16 8 0 — 32
Archbishop Williams (2-2):    6  0 0 6 — 12
First Quarter
 AW — Alex Furtado 73 run (pass failed), 10:40
 W — Nick Ferreira 5 run (Ferreira run), 3:49
Second Quarter
 W — Donald Leighton 10 run (Ferreira run), 5:42
 W — Ralph Hancock 5 pass from Dillon Ryan (Ferreira run), 0:41
Third Quarter
 W — Ferreira 1 run (Ferreira run), 5:21
Fourth Quarter
 AW — Furtado 10 run (pass failed), 1:13
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Whittier (45-267) — Donald Leighton 12-115, Nick Ferreira 11-96, Mark Asemota 7-28, Paul Buccos 4-14, Dillon Ryan 4-14, Jack Creesy 1-2, Kobie Green-Jackson 1-(-2); AW (24-166) — Alex Furtado 18-137, Tom Fitzpatrick 3-19, Elvin Souffrant 2-14, Joel McCarthy 1-(-4).
PASSING: Whittier — Ryan 4-8-42 (1 interception); AW — Fitzpatrick 7-18-62 (0 interceptions).
RECEIVING: Whittier — Ralph Hancock 2-23, Shane Surette 2-19; AW — Zach DuRoss 3-29, Kevin Louine 2-6, Souffrant 1-15, Furtado 1-12.