Uhlarik, Amesbury pick off playoff spot

AMESBURY - The tumblers had to fall just the right way for Amesbury to sneak back into the playoffs.

And fall they did. Every one of them.

The most important ingredient was a rousing 22-7 win over archrival Newburyport yesterday.

"We played our best," said Amesbury quarterback Jared Flannigan, one of three Indians to find the end zone. "We played our hearts out."

Anything less and the Cape Ann League (Small) title, and playoff berth, would have belonged to Newburyport.

Amesbury (10-1) had to win and keep the potent Clipper offense from scoring 26 points.

"Our defense is what won it today," said Flannigan.

Amesbury's defense gave it the lead mere moments after it took the field.

Senior linebacker Ben Uhlarik, making his first varsity start, picked off Joe Clancy's pass on Newburyport's first play and bolted 26 yards down the sideline for the score.

"I couldn't believe it," said Uhlarik. "It was incredible. I just read it well, and my blockers made blocks for me."

The play began as a plunge into the line by tailback David Freeman, who pitched the ball back to Clancy. It was designed to catch Amesbury off guard, but the Indians weren't suckered."His first play," said Amesbury senior lineman Kyle Mroz, "and he gets a 'pick six.' I was freaking out. I saw him pick it, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, he's going.' "

Amesbury coach Thom Connors said Uhlarik earned the start after a strong showing in practice.

"Throughout the week we'd been using a couple different linebackers inside," said Connors. "Towards the end of the week, it seemed like Ben was stepping up and getting the scheme. It was really a late decision that we put him out there and started him. What a day for him."

Flannigan capped the scoring play with a 2-point toss to Ryan Dragon that made it 8-0.

The lead grew to 15-0 with 1:54 left in the half, after Flannigan ran in from the 4 to cap a drive that was fueled by a 54-yard gallop by Kevin Johnston.

Still, Newburyport, which had reeled off five straight wins after an 0-5 start, wasn't ready to fold.

"They took advantage of our mistakes," said Clippers coach Ed Guadiano. "But we battled back after that."

Newburyport got on the board after driving 50 yards in 12 plays after taking the second-half kickoff.

The Clippers appeared to be stalled when they were faced with fourth and 11 at the Amesbury 19. But Clancy kept the drive alive when he hit wide receiver Andrew Sokol with a sideline pass at the 6.

Four plays later, Clancy found wideout Kyle LeBlanc in the left corner of the end zone from the 4 to cut it to 15-7.

But the Clipper momentum was stopped cold on the first play of the fourth quarter when Johnston dove in from the 2, a score that was set up by Joseph Mejia's fumble recovery.

The Amesbury defense kept Newburyport under wraps the rest of the way.

"We got through this one," said Mroz. "We shouldn't have let it get to this point. But it was great. We really did hold them back."