LOWELL - They spent summer mornings pounding the sand at Good Harbor Beach. They spent fall afternoons grinding up the sod at Newell Stadium. And they spent last week tuning up on the turf at Endicott College.
All the training paid off, because last night, the Gloucester Fishermen ran up and down the turf at Cawley Stadium.
From the moment Andrew Fulford took the opening kickoff all the way to the 9-yard line, Gloucester dominated. Fulford and his running mates breezed through mile-wide gaps, defensive linemen Anthony Enderle and Adam Quinn terrorized the opposition's backfield, and after three quarters, the Gloucester starters celebrated on the sideline.
The Fishermen advanced to their first Super Bowl since 2000, destroying Masconomet, 39-0, in a Division 2A EMass semifinal.
It would be easy to name Fulford the star. After all, the senior scored five touchdowns, carrying 12 times for 119 yards. But the reason for all that running room was the offensive line, which helped the Fishermen gain 247 yards in the first half alone.
"One of the linemen could have been running through those holes," said Fulford. "It was unreal. They don't get enough credit, but without those holes I wouldn't be running anywhere."
"We were just determined," said senior captain Mario Peritore, part of the Fishermen's offensive wall along with Adam Quinn, Sal Taormina, Rob Lowe, and Dylan Morrissey. "They were bigger than us, but we played so hard. There was no way they'd be able to stop us today."
After Fulford's 76-yard return got things started, the senior scored his 30th touchdown of the season at 8:13 of the first.
On third and 4 from the
The Fishermen were called for a 15-yard personal foul, and Rich Gallant, trying to make a play on first and 25, was sacked by Eli Vollmer. But on third and 23 from the Masco 35, Gallant found tight end Cam Marston for a gain of 29. Fulford punched it in to put Gloucester ahead, 12-0.
Masco's Evan Bunker returned John Celata's kick 51 yards to the Gloucester 31, but dropped passes on third and fourth downs put the ball back in the Fishermen's hands. The Chieftains forced a fumble to grab it back, but on third and 18, Marston and Enderle blew past their blockers and planted Splinter to the turf.
After the punt, the Fishermen went 87 yards in three minutes. Fulford and Brian Harnish (6 carries, 100 yards) ripped off gains of 15 and 26 yards, then Fulford hit paydirt from 6 yards out.
Masco punted again, and it took the Fishermen just over two minutes to go 45 yards. Fulford put his team ahead, 24-0, with a 5-yard run.
Splinter's first completion of the day was a 30-yarder to Dom Bavaro, but when he tried to hit Bavaro again, Taylor Burbine picked off the pass.
Splinter came back to intercept a pass intended for Burbine. But Gloucester's defense dominated again, as Quinn cut through the Chieftains to drop Splinter in the backfield. Masco then tried a reverse but fumbled, and Gloucester recovered to end the half.
The Fishermen put it away quickly in the second half. Fulford ran in his fifth score, and Burbine ran for 43 yards for a touchdown on the next drive.
"A complete football game," said Gloucester coach Paul Ingram. "We put a lot of pressure on them. We're quick and physical."
