Moving the Chains
Matt Williams
Through three games, Hamilton-Wenham doesn't just have the best defense in its league. The Generals, statistically, are among the best in the state.
The undefeated Generals (3-0) have allowed only 13 points, an average of 4.3 per game. State-wide, only Xaverian and Millis/Hopedale (12 points allowed each) have been better defensively over the first several weeks.
Not that Hamilton-Wenham is worried about those teams — or even any team besides the one that's lining up against them tomorrow, visiting Amesbury (1 p.m.). That singular focus is one of the things that makes this Generals tick.
"We really are a week-to-week team and try to maintain that. Right now, it's just about Amesbury," said head coach Andrew Morency.
The Generals are off to a 3-0 start for the second straight season, but haven't started 4-0 since 2003. That year they began 6-0 and wound up 9-1, tying the school record set in 1967.
With every win, Hamilton-Wenham becomes less the hunter and more hunted, and that's something it's learning to embrace. "It's a challenge, but as a player and a coach it is a challenge you want," said Morency. "That's what makes football tough. We have to get through it and rise up."
It's no secret that Hamilton-Wenham has been keeping teams out of the end zone by owning the line of scrimmage. Shane Jenkins and Taylor Drinkwater have been a big part of that, but there's an unsung hero up front, too: nose guard Paul Kim.
"Paul is somebody who worked hard in the offseason. He's a 200-pound kid playing nose guard in our 3-4 scheme. He's out there taking on double teams, taking up space and just being tough," said Morency. "He's done a really good job."
Coaches will tell you that defense is a matchup problem. Both sides have 11 players, and the offense is down the quarterback because he usually doesn't block. Same goes for the ballcarrier, who can't block for himself.
Therefore, if one defensive tackle takes up two blockers ... well, if you do the math the offense simply doesn't have enough people to block every defender.
"When Paul is taking up two, we like our chances. Elliott Burr and Kevin Anthony are our leading tacklers, pretty much, at linebacker and Paul helps open things up for them," said Morency. "He knows just because he doesn't (make) tackles doesn't mean he didn't have a good day. He's a very modest, hard-working kid."
Offensively, the combination of Burr at running back and Trevor Lyons at quarterback is doing enough to keep the Generals moving. Chris Ecker has been a welcome addition at free safety and tight end, and Matt Putur is making playing on both sides of the ball.
"We've set up good field position all year. We haven't given up a short field and we've been able to pin our opponents back," said Morency. "We have veterans at every spot and fortunately, we have leadership at every level of the defense."
Next on the checklist for the defending CAL Small champions is Amesbury, a club that's 2-1 with the only blemish a one-point loss to Lynnfield.
"Amesbury is formidable. They have great running backs and fly around on defense," said Morency. "They're going to come in here with something to prove. We'll have to meet that."
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Peabody (2-0) heads north up Route 128 tonight to the not-so-friendly confines of Newell Stadium in Gloucester. The host Fishermen, who took a 26-game winning streak into this season, are struggling at 0-3 and their point differential is less than impressive with 16 points for and 102 against.
The Tanners, however, are careful not to be deceived by Gloucester's record.
"You'd have to have seen them play, or seen them in film, to understand that they're not an 0-3 team. That's still a good football team," said Peabody head coach Scott Wlasuk. "They may have have as much size or the big names of the past, but they're well-coached and are a tough, fundamental team."
Peabody would certainly get a boost if running back/cornerback Brady Doyle is able to play. Doyle missed the win over Danvers two weeks ago with an injury and is the Tanners' most explosive runner other than Nat Gaye.
"He looked good in practice. He's been running all week and he was cleared for contact (Wednesday)," Wlasuk said. "Typical of Brady he says he's ready to go, but we'll do what's best for him. It'll be a game-time decision."
The Fishermen humbled Peabody 42-0 last year and held them to just 57 total yards. This year, Peabody is coming off a bye week and is motivated by what happened a year ago, yet careful not to worry about the Fishermen's boxscores say over the first three weeks.
"I like that our players are keeping things in perspective and that comes from a respect for the Gloucester program, what they've done and what they're capable of doing," said Wlasuk. "It's a good challenge for us — one I think we're ready for."
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The combined 71 points scored in Beverly's come-from-behind 36-35 win over Lynn English last week made it the highest scoring game in the history of the rivalry, which dates back to 1915. The Panthers now lead the series 49-33-6 and have won five of the last six meetings.
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Expect host St. John's Prep and Brockton to play with the desperation of wounded animals when they meet at Cronin Field tomorrow afternoon. The Division 1 heavyweights are both off to less-than-stellar starts, with the Eagles 0-3 and Brockton 1-2.
While the Boxers have a win, they were humbled by BC High 42-0 on opening weekend and lost 31-0 to Xaverian last week. Quarterbck Paul Mroz hooked up with Jerrod Shelby for three TD passes and had a rushing TD in Brockton's win over Taunton in Week 2.
For the Eagles, the issues appear to be on offense. St. John's has just two touchdowns in three weeks for 13 total points — the program's lowest point production through three games since 1980 (16 points) and 1969 (15). Before last week's 35-0 loss to Everett, the Prep hadn't been shut out since 2007.
Playing excellent opponents is part of the equation for St. John's; the Eagles' opponents so far (Dracut, Central Catholic and Everett) combine to allow an average of just 8.7 points per game this fall.
In terms of the rivalry with the Boxers, Brockton and St. John's have played every year since 1991 with Brockton leading the series, 15-6, having won six of the last seven meetings.
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Masconomet's Casey Tines drilled a 42-yard field goal last week at Wilmington, one of the longest boots on the North Shore in recent memory. According to long-time Chieftains head coach Jim Pugh, the Masco school record remains Matt Corning's 46-yarder in 1995.
Corning, who had recovered from a devastating knee injury to return to the field, hit his 46-yarder early in the game, then converted a second field goal from 21 yards away with five seconds remaining to give Masco a dramatic 18-15 win.
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Speaking of kicking, would you believe that only ONE of the teams covered by The Salem News coverted an extra point last weekend? That honor went to Swampscott senior Nick Mennino, who booted two PATs.
As for the rest, only four teams even attempted a PAT last weekend with Beverly, Marblehead and Salem failing to convert. Danvers, North Shore Tech, St. John's Prep and Ipswich were shut out; Peabody didn't play because of its bye week; Masconomet didn't score a TD; Pingree, Hamilton-Wenham and Bishop Fenwick opted to try for two on each of their TDs.
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Moving the Chains a column on North Shore high school baseball, runs every Friday during the fall season in The Salem News. Contact assistant sports editor Matt Williams at MWilliams@salemnews.com, 978-338-2669 and follow him on Twitter @MattWilliams_SN.
