Marshfield rushes past N. Quincy
Teams with the ability to wear down opponents and remain fresh can reap the benefits come November.
No. 8 Marshfield (8-0, 7-0 Atlantic Coast) sustained a steady attack with four backs rushing for touchdowns in its 26-7 win over North Quincy at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"The backs all did a great job today," said coach Lou Silva. "Brad Poirier is our outside threat but they loaded up and did a good job of containing him. We just try to use a lot of kids. They are all similar. We don't really have a featured back. It's running back by committee."
Leading, 14-7, late in the third quarter, the Rams took advantage of great field position after pinning the Red Raiders on their 1. From the North Quincy 21, Marshfield needed just four rushing plays before Poirier (65 yards on 11 carries) found the end zone from 5 yards out.
"We settled down on defense and began to pick up the speed of their backs [in the second half]," said Silva.
North Quincy (4-4, 3-3) gave the ball right back on a turnover and a different back, Denis McCarthy (92 yards on 11 carries), went to work for Marshfield. The senior received three of six snaps on the drive, rushing for 41 yards, including his 25-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach with 6:56 to play.
McCarthy was forced into a greater role after Luke Poirier (25 yards and a TD on 8 carries) left in the first half with a nagging leg injury. In the first half, Marshfield won the toss and Luke Poirier took the opening kick 55 yards. The Rams, working from the North Quincy 35, used their ground attack to take the lead, sophomore Bob MacNeil scoring from a yard out at 6:03.
North Quincy was able to respond. On second down from its 37, senior Jon Cahill broke a 26-yard run into Marshfield territory. Three plays later, facing a third and 9 from the 38, Dennis Martin lofted a pass toward the end zone into one-on-one coverage. Sophomore Paul Reamer ripped the ball away from Brendon Fleming and held on after a nifty juggling act.
The Rams continued to pound the ball on their next drive, rushing 13 times on 16 plays. Luke Poirier ran six times for 38 yards and scored from a yard.
Division 1A
Bay State: Natick 28, Braintree 14 - Theo McCummings ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the Redmen.
Division 2
Bay State: Norwood 14, Needham 6 - Zack Foley carried 18 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Walpole 29, Brookline 6 - Ryan Izzo tore it up with three TD runs, a kick return for a score, and a 37-yard field goal for Walpole.
Hockomock: Franklin 30, Oliver Ames 0 - Eloma Johnson torched the Tigers with two touchdown runs.
Middlesex: Wakefield 6, Reading 0 - Junior tailback Martin Hyppolite scored on a 1-yard run in overtime to hand Wakefield the win.
Division 3
Catholic Central (Large): Arlington Catholic 35, Cardinal Spellman 8 - Justin Cerra caught 9 passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns.
Archbishop Williams 16, Austin Prep 8 - With the score tied, 8-8, and 40 seconds remaining, Matt Mahoney threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Zach DuRoss to give the Bishops the win.
Bishop Fenwick 33, St. Mary's 22 - Fenwick's Bobby Tarr took four runs into the end zone, including a 34-yarder in the third quarter.
Northeast Conference (Small): Swampscott 23, Saugus 19 - Peter Kinchley tossed two TD passes to help Swampscott edge Saugus.
Division 3A
Commonwealth: Greater Lowell 21, Whittier 20 - Paul Leakeas had 60 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard kick return.
Southeastern 14, Bristol-Plymouth 0 - Southeastern's defense held B-P to 20 yards total offense, including just 3 in the first half. A.J. Goucher and Richie Joyner scored for Southeastern (7-1).
Division 4
Catholic Central (Small): Pope John 44, Matignon 22 - Rob Kelly and Brett Mayo (one passing touchdown) each had a pair of rushing touchdowns in the Pope John rout.
Marian 41, Lowell Catholic 0 - Tim Gazard ran for a touchdown and threw for three more as Marian cruised.
NEPSAC
ISL:
Belmont Hill 20, Rivers 0 - Dan Regis had 184 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
BB&N 48, Middlesex 0 - Nico Pappas scored twice and Phillippe Panico kicked a 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for visiting BB&N (6-0).
Milton Academy 19, Governor's Academy 6 - James Keefe, Josh Scott, and Alex Harris scored to hand GA its first loss.
