Winthrop reigns again
EASTON -- Coach Tony Fucillo won championships as an assistant coach and he won without his sons on the team. Perhaps that's the reason the Winthrop leader appreciates this victory more than others.
Winthrop's 25-8 win over Wareham yesterday, the team's sixth Super Bowl win and first since 1983, caps an undefeated season (13-0), and is Fucillo's first championship as head coach. With this championship, he has both his sons, and an ecstatic town of Winthrop, to share it with.
"It's a great feeling," said a teary-eyed Fucillo. "To be able to share this with my two sons and family. It doesn't get any better than this."
Anthony Fucillo, now in college, watched while the team he led at quarterback only two years ago dismantled a much larger Wareham squad. Although size has never been Winthrop's strongest attribute, the team uses its speed to get around it.
"We knew they were bigger than us, a lot bigger than us, but speed kills in this game," said senior Jason Griffin (67 rushing yards, 1 TD). "Coming into the game, we knew they weren't going to be able to catch up with us."
Selecting from their long list of runners, Winthrop picked up 263 rushing yards and just 24 passing yards. It wasn't that quarterback James Fucillo wasn't accurate (2 for 3 passing), it was that, except for one turnover, Wareham (11-2) couldn't stop the run.
The game opened in typical fashion for Winthrop: a 72-yard drive on 11 plays that ate up half the quarter and used five runners en route to a quick score, a 10-yard Joe McDermott run.
Wareham planned to use its strength, but after only 3 yards on its first drive, quarterback Mike Laperriere lost a fumble on the Wareham 34-yard line.
It was not long before Griffin made a cut up the right sideline for a 22-yard touchdown. With little time remaining in the first quarter, Winthrop had yardage control (106 yards to 3) and led, 13-0.
A poor kick gave Wareham possession at its 42-yard line, and it was then Wareham's running game started to click, with Darryl Foote pushing his team to the Winthrop 5. But Winthrop posted its fourth goal-line stop in two games with a pass block from Anthony Giuliano .
"Everybody played their A game," said coach Fucillo. "Defense wins championships, and today proves that."
Wareham got a much-needed motivational push after forcing McDermott to fumble at midfield. Wareham used its power backs to mold a 14-play, 56-yard scoring drive, ending with a Foote score and conversion rush, cutting Winthrop's lead to 13-8.
Wareham trailed by only 5 to start the second half. Trouble found Wareham, however, when it reached fourth and 1 on its 41-yard line. Wareham stacked up its line, and Patterson took the rush. But he only found inches before Winthrop senior linebacker Dominic LaMarra hit him with the fiercest tackle of the game, forcing a turnover on downs.
With great field position, Winthrop used six plays before Matt Murray (18 carries for 120 yards, 2 TDs) scored on an 8-yard run.
"I had to step it up because I missed a lot of games [shoulder injury]," said LaMarra. "On defense, we were unbelievable. There's no other way to describe it."
Laperriere supported the fourth-down decision.
"That play is usually 4 to 5 yards every time," said Laperriere. "They were just ready and waiting for it."
Winthrop's defense was infallible thereafter, intercepting Laperriere twice and allowing Wareham only 25 yards in the second half.
