By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
Taylor Burbine scored the first three times he touched the ball as Gloucester overwhelmed visiting Lynn Classical, 49-6, at historic Newell Stadium, a unique locale situated below sea level along the Annisquam River.
A deflected punt gave the Fishermen excellent field position at the Rams 22-yard line to ignite the scoring in the first quarter as quarterback Ross Carlson tossed a 10-yard pass to Burbine for the first score.
Gloucester then exploded for 21 points in just under four minutes in the second quarter.
First came a dazzling 88-yard run by Burbine who made cutback moves and zigzagged his way in for a score. The Fishermen then stopped the Rams on consecutive fourth-down tries and scored on each ensuing possession, including a Conor Ressel 14-yard sweep and a pass from Carlson to Burbine who juked his way in for a 33-yard scoring play.
"We don't just depend on one person or two but at least three that can carry the ball and make something happen," Gloucester head coach Paul Ingram said. "This year we have Giacomo Romeo, Ressel, Carlson, Burbine, Gil Brown and Marc Alves. But our runners don't just go in and out to carry the ball. It's what they do when not carrying the ball, especially blocking, that I look at."
The dangerous offense has been buoyed by strong play on the lines.
"This may just be as good an offensive and defensive lines I ever had," Ingram said. "They are team players and don't care about accolades because they alll work so well together."
Dylan Morrissey, Gus Margiotta, John Fosberry, Robbie Lowe, Rom Morrissey, Tom Malloy and Brian Anderson are the primary components up front.
A win this week against Lynn English would clinch a Northeastern Conference Large title. Swampscott of NEC Small snapped an 18-game Fishermen win streak earlier. But in the past 16 years Gloucester has won or tied for the NEC title 10 times, qualified for six Division 2 or 3 playoffs, won four Division II or III Super Bowls and own a 153-34-3 record.
Ingram says it doesn't take a long speech to keep his squad motivated to return to Gillette Stadium for another chance at a Division 2 Super Bowl title.
"I just tell them that there is nothing better than repeating and not to take anybody for granted," Ingram said.
Cross Leads Duxbury Air Show
Duxbury went airborne to dismantle Whitman-Hanson, 31-6. The hosts were well-prepared for Duxbury's running attack led by Shane DiBona, its 6-foot-2, 225-pound major college prospect running back, who ran for just 13 yards on six carries.
But it was the pinpoint passing of quarterback Sean Cross to sure-handed wide receiver Ian Whitney that resulted in an easy win. Cross and Whitney linked up in three long-distance scoring strikes of 49, 78 and 59 yards, respectively, all in the first half.
"We can put teams in a tough predicament," Duxbury head coach Dave Maimaron said. "They have to stop DiBona but we have the capability to score over the top, too. And they were on the same page tonight. Ian had missed three games but is now at full speed and Sean was right on target."
DiBona, who's visited Iowa and is being looked at by several other Division I colleges, is considered one of the top running backs in New England.
"He has the speed to break it and has a real strong lower body," Maimaron said. "The first guy rarely brings him down and is extremely explosive after his first step."
Schools have been looking at other players, too, the coach confirmed, including Shields, Gilbody, Whitney and Cross. Quinn Cully, a renowned lacrosse player, has already committed to Notre Dame in that sport.
But it is defense that has forged the way for the Dragons. After shocking Division 1 power Xaverian, 27-24, to open the season, the first team defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown. Among players Maimaron praises for exceptional defensive play are Kyle Gavoni, Mike Gilbody, Will Shields, Aaron Kramer, Hakeem Lecky and DiBona.
As one of the state's few remaining undefeated teams, the Dragons face Silver Lake this week to determine the champion of the Patriot League Keenan Division. Hanover, Rockland, North Quincy and Middleboro, all with identical Fisher Division 4-1 records are all in contention in the other half of the league.
"We are a balanced team with a core of about six or seven seniors who started when they were sophomores," Maimaron said.
Remaining on the teams' schedule is a traditionally-tough Thanksgiving Day affair against Marshfield.
Notes
* Ryan Carter completed only one pass, a 39-yard strike to Matt Barnes, to rally Tyngsborough past previously unbeaten Bedford, 27-26, in Dual County (Small) action.
* Acton-Boxboro and Lincoln-Sudbury both won to set the stage for a Dual County (Large) League confrontation this week between the two unbeaten league foes. In a 28-0 shutout win by Acton-Boxborough against Waltham, Trevor Jeanson gained 130 yards and scored three TDs. Derek Lowe scored two TDs rushing and hauled in a pass from Mike Antonellis on a 55-yard scoring play to spur Lincoln-Sudbury past Westford, 41-14.
* Jonathan Cardoso and Josh Carrington each had a touchdown run and Jean Lotin added a 26-yard field goal to help O'Bryant get past Dorchester, 16-8, and remain undefeated. O'Bryant is all alone of first place in Boston South and has allowed just 46 points overall in its seven wins.
* St. John's (Shrewsbury) elevated its standing among Bay State Division 1 squads by knocking off Xaverian, 19-7, in a non-conference game. With the undefeated Pioneers scoring all their points in the second quarter, quarterback Zak Kofos led the way by rushing for 115 yards, featuring a 61-yard touchdown. Albert Mitchell and John Vassar also scored. The Pioneers now play Leominster and Wachusett Regional.
* Cameron Brigham, Matt Pedone, Gary White and Keith Chesna each scored a touchdown for Wachuset Regional, which improved to 7-1 with a 28-13 victory over North Middlesex.
* Putnam and Sci-Tech continue unbeaten in the Intercounty League. Putnam defeated Greenfield, 41-14, as Justin Reid rushed for 15 and 32 yard TDs and quarterback Sergey Gordievsky passed for three more scores, including two to receiver Andre Lester. Ksharn Gilbert rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns to spark Sci-Tech to a 44-22 victory over Belchertown. Teammate Tiereem Brown added a pair of TDs for the Cybercats.
* Easthampton, behind two TDs from Evan Duso, improved to 6-2 with a 40-14 win over Franklin Tech. Nate Santana also ran back an interception 44 yards for another score.
* Cam Collins rushed for four touchdowns and had 29 points overall as Westfield moved into second place behind Longmeadow in the AA Conference with a 35-19 win over Minnechaug Regional. Collins and teammate Josh Kopeski combined for 351 rushing yards. Minnechaug QB Drew Schwendenmann, who passed for two TDs and completed 20 of 39 passes for 248 yards, now owns Minnechaug's single-season record for passing yardage with 2,354.
* Brad Bell had three rushing scores for Suburban League leader South Hadley, which combined a strong rushing offense and a stingy defense to beat Ludlow, 46-14.
* Longmeadow stayed perfect by handling Amherst, 34-0, on TD runs by Niko Sierra and another score by Alex Scyocurka, who rushed for 153 yards.
