Sports 10-04-2018

From the Press Box

Defense

By: Jim Lederman

Defense was the name of the game for the Vikings Friday night at Miller Field. The Vikings trailed Lynnfield at halftime, but forced three second-half turnovers, one of them accounted for their lone touchdown in a (7-6) Vikings victory.

“We have a chance to be the first Winthrop team since 2014 (9-0) NE0 to have a winning record,” said coach Jon Cadigan.

The Vikings travel to Bertram Field in Salem (7 p.m.) to battle the (2-2) Salem Witches on Friday night. Senior Andrew Love won the ‘Blackshirt’ Award for his outstanding defensive play. “Andrew played great,” lauded coach Cadigan. He shadowed Lynnfield’s leading receiver and his punting pinned the Pioneers deep in their own territory.”

The Vikings trailed Lynnfield (6-0) at halftime. The teams played a scoreless first quarter.

Lynnfield scored with 3:02 left in the second quarter. Jaret Simpson rushed for a 2-yard touchdown. The extra point kick was wide (6-0) Lynnfield. ‘Super Soph’ Bobby Hubert intercepted a Lynnfield aerial and returned the pigskin 55-yards for a 6-0 Viking lead. Jon Applebee split the uprights and the Vikings held a slim (7-6) advantage.

The Vikings defense forced the three fumbles and senior Matt Correale recovered a Lynnfield fumble with 1:28 on the clock. Coach Cadigan praised his offensive line. Sophomore Matt Hurley started his first varsity game and played well.

We rotated three guards; junior Victor Dagama, junior Andre, OCampo and Hurley were unsung Vikings.

The Pioneers powered their way down to the Vikings nine-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Sophomore Austin Daigneault squashed the threat when he recovered a Lynnfield fumble with 8:00 remaining in the game. Austin ‘Number 33’ Daigneault intercepted a pass from Lynnfield backup quarterback Brett Cohee on fourth – and 21 and the Vikings sealed the (7-6) victory to improve their record to (2-2).

 

 

Skimming the Sidelines

Salem lost a (36-22) decision to the undefeated Swampscott ‘Big Blue’ (4-0) at Blocksidge Field on Saturday afternoon.

Quarterback Graham Inzana fired four touchdown passes, passed for 340-yards and ran one touchdown to lead Swampscott to victory. The ‘Big Blue’ held a slim (7-6) halftime lead.

“Salem is a very physical team,” said coach Cadigan. Salem handed the Vikings a (46-7) loss at Salem in 2017. The Vikings have not had a winning record during the season for four years.

The Vikings will shoot for their first MIAA playoff game since 2014.

Coach Cadigan feels “any team can beat the other in the NEC Tier 3 this year.” “We need to play four quarters to reach the playoffs.”

Jonathan Applebee was 4 for 10 and 69 yards passing. Co-captain Feedle Small rushed 15 for 33 yards. Sophomore Austin Daigneault rushed 10 for 19. Austin had a 47-yard reception. Andrew Love caught 3 passes for 22 yards.

Salem (2-2) opened the campaign with victories over Austin Prep and Essex Tech. Saugus defeated Salem (14-0) at Stackpole Field in Saugus.

The Vikings are in Division 6 North. There are 13 teams in the division. Eight teams make the playoffs. The Division 6 North teams are Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep, Bishop Fenwick, Essex Tech, Greater Lowell, Hamilton-Wenham, Ipswich, Northeast Regional, Salem, Shawsheen, Stoneham, Whittier and Winthrop.

 

 

Extra Points

The Revere Patriots won another thrilling victory over Peabody (27-25) to improve to (2-2). Darius McNeil rushed for 125 yards to lead the offense.

Revere travels to Hormel Stadium in Medford on Friday night. The Mustangs won their first game, defeating Somerville last Friday night. The Patriots play Swampscott at Blocksidge Field next Saturday, Oct. 13.

NEC Tier 3

Swampscott                4-0

Lynn English              2-2

Winthrop                   2-2

Salem                        2-2

Saugus                       1-3

Lynn English travels to Blocksidge Field to battle Swampscott Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The w inner will capture Tier 3 in the NEC.

Danvers and Marblehead are both undefeated at (4-0). The Falcons and Magicians will play a huge game at Dr. Deering Stadium in Danvers on Friday night, Oct. 19.

Marblehead has scored 128 points and allowed 20 points. Danvers has scored 134 points and allowed 24 points. Marblehead has won four consecutive NEC titles. Reminds me of the 1981-1983 Winthrop Vikings winning three consecutive titles and their 33-game unbeaten streak will never be broken!

Danvers has captured only one NEC football title in over 60 years.

It was encouraging to se a crew of students from Northeast Regional on Monday working on the ‘new’ Miller Field House.

Saugus travels to Gloucester on Friday night. I miss the trip to Newell Stadium. A trip to Gloucester always included dinner at the legendary “Causeway Restaurant.”

I enjoyed lunch at Park Lunch on Merrimack Street in Newburyport. Gus Martucci and Phil Ronan raved about the seafood.

I will travel to West Newbury to watch my grandson play on Thursday.  The Vikings defeated Pentucket in 2014 in West Newbury.

Let’s Go Vikings!

Make it two in a row!

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

On Second Thought

Just a few observations about our local pro teams. Sunday three of the Boston teams were in action.

The Red Sox finished with 108 wins. Can they win a series? Will Chris Sale and David Price win t heir first playoff games as starting pitchers?

The playoffs begin tomorrow night (Friday). Will the Sox and Yankees meet in a crucial series? Are the Houston Astro’s the ‘best team’ in the American League?

Were you worried that the Patriots Dynasty in the East was over?  The return of Julian Edelman should give the Patriots offense a big boost!

The Celtics opened practice and the return of injured all-stars Kyrie Irving and Greg Hayward, will lead the Celtics to the East Finals!

October will be an exciting month!

Let the Games Begin!

 

WHS sports years

20 years ago

Oct. 1, 1998

The Winthrop High football team proved no match for Beverly, dropping a 34-3 decision Friday night at Miller Field. The visiting Panthers jumped out to a 27-3 lead at the half en route to the convincing win. WHS fullback Keith Griffin ran for 64 yards on eight carries, including a 40 yard jaunt that set up the Viking field goal by James Coffey on his first field goal attempt of the season.

Celeste Petraglia netted the hat trick to lead the WHS girls soccer team to a 5-4 win over Lynn Classical.  Mia Lewis and Beth Simonton also scored goals for coach Gerry Giglliello’s Lady Vikings. In a 2-1 loss to Gloucester in the girls’ first-ever night game at Miller Field, Lewis scored the Winthrop goal. Senior keeper Nicole Wyatt played an outstanding game in the net.

Senior co-captains Elizabeth Lewis and Elizabeth Wallace led the WHS girls cross country team to a 25-32 victory over Swampscott. Andrea Gay, Daniella DeSantis, and Beth Delaney completed the scoring for the Lady Vikings.

In a 24-32 loss for the WHS boys cross country team against Swampscott, senior captain Tom Wallace took first place for the Vikings. Nate Nemeth, Michael Vatalaro, Jeremy Jenkins, and Adam Dartona completed the scoring for Winthrop.

The WHS boys soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Salem in the first-ever nighttime contest for the Vikings at Miller Field. Thiago DaSilva scored the Winthrop goal.

 

30 years ago

Oct. 5, 1988

Winthrop’s Patricia Brown will be inducted into the Major League baseball Hall of Fame in November. Brown played with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball team during World War II.