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Saturday recaps
(Here's an early look at some of the Globe's first-edition stories, including the football roundup. Check back tomorrow -- or pick up the Sunday Globe -- for more).
Abington up to new tricks
By Pat Ouellette, Globe Correspondent
ABINGTON - Steve Perakslis and Tyler Hitchcock have been practicing a trick play and looked forward to finding the right occasion to dig it out of the playbook.
With his team trailing by a point and facing third and 9 with 1:54 remaining yesterday, Abington head coach Jim Kelliher decided it was time. Perakslis caught East Bridgewater's defense off guard when he threw a lateral to receiver Hitchcock, who then hit Kristian LaPointe in the end zone for a 32-yard score that gave the Green Wave a 22-15 win.
Kelliher said his confidence in all three players led him to choose the play.
"Everyone did a great job on that play," he said. "All teams have these plays in the back of their playbooks and it happened to work out for us today."
East Bridgewater (4-1) broke a scoreless tie with two minutes left in the second quarter. Justin DeAndrade's returned a punt to the Abington 23. Three plays later, Greg O'Sullivan found Justin Dodge in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard score.
But Abington (5-0) responded before halftime. Tony Giannini returned the kickoff 59 yards to the East Bridgewater 31 and Perakslis (145 yards passing) threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Hitchcock (102 yards receiving). LaPointe threw a 2-point conversion pass to Hitchcock for an 8-7 Abington lead.
"After giving up that touchdown we needed good field position as well as some confidence and [Giannini] really picked us up," Kelliher said. "Steve made a great throw and we were able to go into the half ahead."
The Viking offense picked up right where it left off on its first possession of the second half. O'Sullivan was flushed out of the pocket, but completed a short pass to Brian Phillips, who made a number of cuts around defenders en route to a 75-yard touchdown. O'Sullivan's conversion pass to Jonathan Gentile gave East Bridgewater a 15-8 lead.
Later in the half, Abington was able to thwart East Bridgewater's quarterback option play, in which the fullback is faked a handoff before serving as the lead blocker for the rushing quarterback. Vikings head coach Shawn Tarpey was frustrated with his team's offensive struggles late in the game but gave credit to Abington's defense.
***
Belmont thrill for Mustangs
By James Schneider, Globe Correspondent
BELMONT - Milton Academy yesterday did what no Independent School League team has done since the last game of the 2004 season - beat Belmont Hill.
The Mustangs' 28-14 victory was Belmont Hill's first ISL loss since Nov. 13, 2004, when Governor's Academy won, 34-12, to end the season. Belmont Hill's only other defeat since came in a 2005 NEPSAC bowl, a 46-36 loss to Brunswick. Last year, the team finished 9-0.
"We've never matched up well with Belmont Hill over the years," Milton Academy coach Kevin MacDonald said. "Any time we beat them we're thrilled. It's a huge game for us."
The Mustangs established a 14-7 lead over the defending ISL champion but a long drive by Belmont Hill threatened to tie the game going into halftime. Belmont Hill started at their 28 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, and marched slowly down the field. Fourteen plays and 69 yards later, the home team faced fourth and goal on the 3, with 37.9 seconds remaining.
Belmont Hill lined up in a power I formation, while the Mustang defense stacked the box. On the snap, quarterback Alex Englert rolled right on a designed sweep play. The senior cut toward the middle at the 2 and hit a pile of Mustang defenders at the 1, stood up by the defense just short of the potential tying score.
"I just put the ball in my captain's hands," Belmont Hill coach Kevin Fleming said. "I told him I think he made the wrong choice of cutting in; I think he might have had it in the corner. It's the old expression, put the ball in your best [player's] hands."
***
Running rampant
By Matt Porter, Globe Correspondent
SWAMPSCOTT - For the Big Blue, it was one to put up on the refrigerator.
On a day when many high schoolers took SAT exams, Swampscott was put to the test by an undefeated Gloucester squad that dominated its first four games.
Swampscott, the Northeastern Small leader, may have been the toughest task yet for the Fishermen, who lead the NEC Large. But the Fishermen's running game was good enough to beat scrappy Swampscott, 21-14.
A late fourth-and-1 conversion by Andrew Fulford, who ran for 98 yards on 17 carries, sealed the victory with less than two minutes remaining.
"We never really worried," said the Fishermen running back. "We knew that we could keep pounding it and put the game away."
Gloucester (5-0) kept charging on the ground, and Swampscott (4-1) had its hands full with Fulford, Anthony Enderle and Brian Harnish throughout the game. Enderle bulled his way to 65 yards on 11 carries, and Harnish added 81 yards on nine carries.
The three backs traded carries on Gloucester's opening drive, leading to a 7-0 advantage. Enderle drove up the gut for a gain of 8 before Fulford carried 19 yards to the Big Blue 16. Fulford then took a pitch in the backfield and sneaked by the Swampscott line for the score. It was Fulford's 38th career touchdown, breaking the school record held by Adam Orlando.
Swampscott quarterback Peter Kinchley found big wideout Trevor Wheeler for 37 yards. But a few plays later, he pass glanced off the hands of teammate Justin Mitchell. Stationed in the end zone, Fulford snatched the ball for a touchback.
Following a sack by John Celata that forced a Big Blue punt, Gloucester got creative. Eschewing the run, they brought out tight end Cameron Marston for their first - and only - passing play of the game.
At their 32, the Fishermen line broke to the right, and Marston broke to the left. Rich Gallant found him near the sideline and Gallant outraced a sea of blue, galloping 68 yards to the end zone. Celata added his second of three extra points to make it 14-0.
Swampscott didn't quit. Justin Mitchell returned the kickoff to the Big Blue 49, and Kinchley went to work. The senior completed three passes and snuck ahead for a pair of first downs.
After a holding call brought the Big Blue to the Gloucester 12, Swampscott set up with an empty backfield. Kinchley found wideout Stephen Moran in the back of the end zone with six seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to 7.
Gloucester went back to the ground in the second half. Enderle ran seven times on their next scoring drive. On fourth and goal from the 1, Fulford slammed past the right side of the line for his second TD of the day.
***
Izzo not half bad as Walpole rolls
By Ricky Popolizio, Globe Correspondent
Ryan Izzo had his work cut out for him yesterday.
The Walpole sophomore had just one half to help his teammates before he would have to take leave to attend his brother's wedding.
Izzo ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, and Walpole (4-1) cruised to a 35-15 victory over visiting Newton North (2-3).
"We were telling him before the game, you have to give us 21 points before you leave," joked coach Danny Villa. "He is incredible. I think on one play he was tackled three or four times [before he went down]."
Izzo, who is among the Division 2 leaders with 11 touchdowns, has benefited from the improved play of an offensive line that includes several juniors.
Walpole senior Niccolo Mastromatteo ran for 100 yards and a TD, and returned an interception for a TD.
Division 1
Greater Boston: Cambridge 30, Malden 0 - Ray Doucette threw for four TDs.
Nonleague: Dracut 23, St. John's Prep 16 - John Rivera had two rushing touchdowns.
Xaverian 24, Salem (N.H.) 20 - Matt Gray ran for two TDs for the Hawks.
Division 2A
Patriot: Hingham 49, Middleboro 26 - Chris Constantine scored five touchdowns.
South Coast: Greater New Bedford 21, Case 14 - Genri Fletcher ran for two touchdowns.
Division 3A
Mayflower Large: Southeastern 32, Tri-County 15 - Vincent Cardona capped the Southeastern (5-0) win with two TD runs.
Nonleague: Georgetown 21, Shawsheen 14 - Joe Esposito ran for two TDs in the fourth quarter to hand the Rams their first loss.
Division 4
Boston City South: Dorchester 24, Hyde Park 0 - Eric Lott scored three TDs for undefeated Dorchester.
Nonleague: Blue Hills 14, West Bridgewater 13 - Jose Santiago had two TDs for Blue Hills.
Pope John 35, North Shore 6 - Brian Alesandro had three TD runs.
