Gloucester, Masconomet in familiar surroundings
Apponequet's focus directed on Duxbury
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For the third time in the past calendar year, Masconomet will play Gloucester.
The Division 2A playoff game - tomorrow at Manning Field in Lynn at 5:15 p.m. - is a rematch of last year's postseason game, which Gloucester won, 39-0.
The teams also met earlier this season, with Gloucester prevailing, 20-13.
Playing each other so often, Masconomet coach Jim Pugh believes the squads have a pretty good idea about what the other will try to do.
"Both teams know the ins and outs of each other," said Pugh. "[Gloucester] prefers to run the ball, but in the regular-season game, we played in the box and [quarterback] Rich Gallant hurt us."
Gloucester and Masconomet rely on the running game. For
The Gloucester backfield paces the second-highest scoring team in Eastern Mass. Conor Ressel has 16 touchdowns, Ross Carlson has 13, and Taylor Burbine has nine for Gloucester, which averages 37.8 points.
Even though Gloucester has beaten Masconomet the last two times, Pugh believes the regular-season game proved his team can hang with the Fishermen.
"[Gloucester's] tight win in the regular season definitely gave us confidence," said Pugh. "This game will be tight. We know they are good, but we are good, too."
Apponequet had little time to enjoy winning the South Coast championship on Thanksgiving and ending the regular season 11-0.
The Lakers had to shift their focus to a playoff game against undefeated Duxbury tomorrow at 7:15 at Durfee.
"This is a real challenging game," said Apponequet coach Bob Lomp. "In my opinion, [Duxbury] is one of the top teams in the state."
Duxbury is ranked No. 5 in the Globe Top 20 and has a complete attack on offense and defense.
The Duxbury defense allows 7.6 points per game, and the offense is led by Sean Cross and Shane DiBona. Cross has a division-leading 19 touchdown passes, and DiBona has 14 touchdowns.
"We haven't seen a team like this," said Lomp. "They can throw; they have great receivers and a great running back."
The Lakers employ a clock-controlling running game. Both Ben Bullock (17 TDs) and Jack Gaynor (11 TDs) have more than 700 yards rushing.
"We have to play smart and make no mistakes," said Lomp. "We are going to have to play our best game of the year."
