RallyNorth.net

Sachems drop heartbreaker

Saturday, October, 02 By David Willis
Staff writer

NEWBURYPORT — For a moment, it appeared to spectators — and Newburyport quarterback Ryan O’Connor — that the pass may sail high and a Pentucket defender could have a play on the ball.

But it was not to be for the Sachems.

Pentucket, leading by five, forced the Clippers into a four-and-8 from the Newburyport 42-yard line with 2:27 left in the game. But O’Connor lofted a pass to Brett Fontaine who hauled it in for the 58-yard touchdown pass and Sachems could not answer with a last-minute drive and fell 21-18 last night.

“This one hurt,” said Pentucket head coach Steve Hayden. “We put them in a fourth-and-8, but we had a breakdown and they completed the long pass. They stepped up in the end when they had to.”

The Sachems had dominated this series against Newburyport over the last decade, having won 10 of the last 11 meetings dating back to the 1999 season, including the last three matchups.

Pentucket seemed to gain control of the momentum midway through the second quarter.

Kevin Dunn recovered a fumble by the punt returner, and four plays later Paul Treado scampered 20 yard for a touchdown. Quarterback Mike Doud ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Sachems an 8-7 lead.

A possession later, Treado again struck with a 25-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half. Then, on the first play of the second half, Doud picked off a pass that set up Jeremy Krugh’s 35-yard touchdown run and an 18-7 lead.

But the Clippers capitalized on a block punt for a score with 29 seconds left in the third, and after a 10-play Sachems drive stalled at the Newburyport 34-yard line, the Clippers notched the game-winning score.

After going three-and-out, Pentucket had once last chance to get the ball back, but Newburyport managed one final first down on third-and-5 to run out the clock.

“Pentucket is a great team,” said O’Connor. “This is a great rivalry that has seen so many games go down to the wire, like last year’s 3-2 (Pentucket) win. I thought I overthrew the pass, but when I saw (Fontaine) reach his hands out I knew he was going into the end zone.”

Fullback Krugh led the Sachems offense with 69 yards rushing on eight attempts and the touchdown.

Breakout freshman Chris Croteau was again a bright spot for the Sachems. The 142-pound linebacker tallied a team-best nine tackles and knocked down a pass. Kyle Nickerson and Tim Porter each added four stops.

Pentucket was hurt by the loss of starting fullback/linebacker Nolan Dragon, who left the game near halftime with an apparent ankle injury. He had made four tackles and rushed for 20 yards on three carries before leaving the game after catching a 10-yard screen pass.

“We played tough,” said Hayden. “Tougher than we have in recent weeks. But we have to get rid of the mistakes and play better, which we will do.”