Update post publication:
North Reading defeats Bishop Fenwick 24-14 (Nov. 3)
Published November 2, 2023
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
NORTH READING — Last Friday evening, the North Reading Hornets, winners of four straight, suffered their first defeat since mid-September, dropping a 49-41 decision to Cape Ann League Kinney champion Newburyport. It marked the first Hornet loss to the Clippers since 2015.
Knotted at 35 apiece at the end of the third quarter, Newburyport claimed a lead after successfully executing a faked punt and subsequently adding points off a turnover. The Hornets, to their credit, battled to the bitter end, scoring with seconds remaining but ran out of time to extend the rally.
In the MIAA Power Rankings, released Sunday afternoon, North Reading fell short in the hunt to revisit the post-season and defend last year’s Division 5 Super Bowl crown. Instead, the Hornets advanced to the consolation round and will travel to face Bishop Fenwick on Friday night.
“That’s a Newburyport team that has 20 seniors and a lot of good athletes,” said North Reading Coach Ed Blum, as he acknowledged his 8-1 opponent. “In comparison, we have just a few seniors and a lot of underclassmen. They battled and this was a great experience for them.”
Blum took the lion’s share of the blame for the single play that led to a substantial momentum shift as the fourth quarter got underway. On a 4th-and-8 at midfield, the Clippers deployed their punting team, but to everyone’s surprise, kicker Phil Spinolla sprinted for a fresh set of downs. Newburyport was soon in front, 42-35, on a QB Sean Miles keeper.
“We should have been more prepared for that fake punt,” said Blum. “In that situation, in a tie game, you try to think through all the scenarios.”
QB Jason Berry put the Hornets in front on the first possession of the game, finding Brandon Eng for a 48-yarder. Berry threw for 267-yards on 20-of-27 with four TDs, including a 13-yard floater to Eng to later recapture a 14-7 lead.
With a shootout fully underway, Newburyport scored three unanswered to move ahead, 28-14, but the Hornets would have the last say in the first half as Berry combined with Gavin Brady for a 25-yarder.
The Clippers made short work of the first series after the break, as tailback Kaleb Souza took it in from the 5 to restore the two score lead, 35-28, but the Hornets soon answered on an Otto Indelicato 1-yard plunge. Eng delivered on the game-tying series, rushing for a 20-yarder to reach the red zone and hauling in a Berry pass to put Indelicato in range.
“It’s hard to believe that Eng was the fifth or sixth option last year,” said Blum of the Hornets leading receiver, who caught 8 throws for 128-yards and two TDs. “He has become the leader that we needed and is a role model for the younger kids, both on and off the field. He’s certainly getting an opportunity to show how dynamic a player he is.”
Trailing 42-35 with 3:51 remaining, North Reading was handed a raw deal not once, but twice, by the officials. Facing a 3rd-and-goal on the 1-yard-line, QB Miles lost the handle on a keeper. The ball was recovered by the Hornets defense but they were forced to relinquish it when the officials insisted that the runner was down by contact before the ball came loose. The officiating crew raised the ire of the North Reading faithful once again when they claimed that Miles, on a 4th-and-goal, had broken the plane when he was, in fact, stopped shy of the goal line.
Down two scores, Indelicato notched his second of the night but time ran out on the rally.
“We had a 5-6 hour meeting last week to prepare for this game” said Blum, whose record is currently 4-3 overall. “That’s the expectation – to put the time in to prepare. It makes it sting a little more when the results don’t go your way. And as coaches, we feel as though we let the team down. But the kids have to be proud of what they did tonight. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.”
North Reading travels to face Bishop Fenwick on Friday at 6:30 p.m. In an interesting twist, Fenwick played well enough this season to qualify for the tournament but due to an MIAA suspension for neglecting eligibility rules, the team will not be allowed to take part in postseason competition.