IPSWICH — Three years felt like an eternity for the Ipswich High football team.
Finally, the wait is over for the Orange and Black.
The Tigers held off a furious Hamilton-Wenham comeback bid to earn a magical 14-13 victory on Thanksgiving morning at newly named Jack Welch Field. It was Ipswich's first triumph in 31 games, dating back to its triumph in the 2006 Super Bowl.
"Spectacular, unbelievable," Tigers head coach Ted Flaherty said moments after the win. "I just mentioned to the team that the last time I had this moment was in Quincy after the Super Bowl in 2006 — and it's exactly the same, if not sweeter.
"To see these guys, the senior class, not win and bust their (tails) in practice every day for three years — I can't imagine anything being harder than that. And when you sit there and you weigh the emotional feeling of a victory compared to the low of a loss, the gap is enormous for these guys."
The win, secured in front of 1,455 fans, wasn't assured until the Tigers stopped Generals senior quarterback Andy Duval's two-point conversion try with 1:21 left.
"You know, we persevered till the end and ended up coming out on top," Ipswich senior Nippy Bocko, after winning his first game in high school, said. "Our class will be remembered most for that fight we showed 'til the end. That's what we've always been known for.
"There's no better feeling."
Showing his warrior's spirit and playing through a separated shoulder, Duval threw for 192 yards and a touchdown as H-W mounted a 13-point comeback.
In the end, the victory starved Tigers (1-10) were finally fed.
"I've seen a lot of Beverly vs. Salem (Thanksgiving showdowns) and been around a lot of games," said H-W (2-8) head coach Andrew Morency, a former BHS quarterback. "This is one of the best games I've ever seen. It was just exciting. It had everything: running ... passing ... comebacks. It's a tribute to the kids to be able to execute at that level.
"Just being a part of this is something I'm really humbled by. Hey, it's Thanksgiving football."
Ipswich's senior backfield tandem of Bocko (12 carries, 49 yards) and James Riel (9 carries, 41 yards) helped propel the offense.
Early in the second quarter, Bocko found a seam up the middle and hit paydirt from 10 yards out. The scored capped a 52-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 27-yard strike by senior quarterback Brendan Gallagher to junior fullback Jake LeBlanc.
LeBlanc, whom Flaherty had a designed several sets around, was injured on the next play and did not return.
"As soon as (LeBlanc) went down, BAM!" explained Flaherty, "We just go back to what we do. We rode our two seniors, Bocko and Reil."
It remained a seven-point margin until the fifth minute of the second half, when Gallagher (3-for-6, 58 yards, TD, INT) connected with senior tight end Aaron Jessen over the middle for a 15-yard score.
The Generals responded with a seven-play, 77-yard drive to cut the deficit to 14-7. Duval (8 carries, 48 yards) scrambled 24 yards into the end zone, but hurt his shoulder on the play.
"A gladiator," Flaherty said of Duval. "He's so valuable. As soon as he steps back with the pass look, everyone vacates to try and cover (the receivers), because he's got such a great arm. And then all of a sudden, he scores. The hurt ankle, the hurt shoulder, to kind of 'will it' was huge for them."
Hamilton-Wenham junior split end Jim Love (5 catches, 56 yards) and senior wingback Eric Buckley (3 catches, 49 yards) each gathered two receptions on the drive.
"This is a team where, it's kind of in their mantra the second half of the season, where they fight till the end" Morency said of his Generals. "Coming back from 14-0 midway through the third (quarter), it's really courageous the way they came back."
Hamilton-Wenham took over with 2:56 left 31 yards away from the tying points. Five completions later the Generals found the end zone, culminating with a 27-yard pass into the hands of junior Dylan Keith in the right side of the end zone. The decision was made to attempt a two-point conversion.
"(Duval) is such a big game player," Morency said. "That last two-point conversion, he looked me in the eye and, you know, it's just something you came a little short."
Ipswich 14, Hamilton-Wenham 13
at Jack Welch Field, Ipswich
Hamilton-Wenham0076 — 13
Ipswich0077 — 14
I- Nippy Bocko 10 run (Brendan Gallagher kick)
I- Aaron Jessen 16 pass from Gallagher (Gallagher kick)
HW- Andy Duval 24 run (Tucker White)
HW- Keith Dylan 27 pass from Duval (Rush failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: HW — Andy Duval 8-48, Elliott Burr 3-10; Ipswich — Nippy Bocko 12-49, James Riel 9-41, Brendan Gallagher 7-39.
PASSING: HW — Duval 14-20-192-1-0; Ipswich — Gallagher 3-6-58-1-1.
RECEIVING: HW — Jim Love 5-56, Eric Buckley 3-49, Dan Beckett 3-37, Dylan Keith 2-37, Jake Prince 1-13; Ipswich — Jake LeBlanc 1-27, Aaron Jessen 1-16, Jim Ross 1-15.
