Indians sail past Whittier

LOWELL - It began with 5:54 remaining on the Cawley Stadium clock, a cry heard from the Amesbury sideline.

"We're going to the ship."

One voice soon became many.

"We're going to the ship."

The Indians are indeed going to the "ship," as in the Division 3A championship game, after blasting Whittier, 34-0, last night. Amesbury will face Martha's Vineyard in Saturday's Super Bowl at Bentley University.

"The best feeling in the world," said Amesbury tight end Stephen Serwon, who was a ringleader in the celebratory commotion.

"We played amazing as a team. The best game we played all year. By far."

Tailback Kevin Johnston (11 carries, 62 yards), echoed the sentiment.

"Last year we got so close," he said, referring to an MIAA semifinal loss to Greater Lawrence, the Indians' first playoff appearance. "We feel like we got robbed at the end. That makes this even better. We worked this hard, and now we got there."

"It means everything," agreed quarterback Jared Flannigan. "This is what we worked for. For four years and more."

The Indians jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, which held up through halftime.

Johnston had a big hand in both Amesbury scores. He set up the first with a 28-yard return of the opening kickoff, then scored the second when he zipped 63 yards on a punt return.

Flannigan drove the Indians 49 yards in eight plays on the opening series, which was capped by Jesse Burrell's 10-yard run. William Medvitz's extra point made it 7-0 with 5:53 gone in the period.

The Whittier offense fizzled on its first possession, and was forced to punt.

Johnston fielded the kick at his 37, bounced off several defenders near midfield, then darted to the end zone.

"I crashed down to the left," said Johnston, "and I knew I was gone, so I turned it to the right. I got a nice block from Ben Uhlarik on the last guy and just ran into the end zone."

Flannigan said once Johnston got a little wiggle room, there was no catching him.

"He's a great player," Flannigan said. "He's always a threat. He's one of the fastest guys in the state. Once he hits open field, he's dangerous."

Amesbury had a chance to open a three-touchdown lead late in the first half, when Flannigan drove the Indians to the Wildcat 38, before his pass was picked off by defensive back Kobie Green-Jackson.

That gave the Wildcats hope heading into intermission.

"We were going to get the ball," said Whittier coach Kevin Bradley, "and all we had to do was come out and put one in. Then we've got a whole new ballgame. But it just didn't happen."

Instead, Whittier went three-and-out on its opening series of the second half. Amesbury responded with a punishing 11-play, 71-yard drive that chewed up 5:29, Flannigan finishing it with a 9-yard run.

"We won the battle of the line of scrimmage today," said Indians coach Tom Connors. "We knew that's where it had to be won."

TD runs by Burrell (10 yards) and Ryan Dragon (11) finished the rout.

By then, it was all over but the chanting.