By TYM BROWN
WILMINGTON — Wakefield football had a dominant game last Friday night against the Wilmington Wildcats to pick up their fifth win of the season. This win came on the back of an incredible defensive effort from the Warriors, allowing only three points all game while holding Wilmington to just 120 yards of total offense in a 16-3 Wakefield win.
Although they did allow points on the first drive of the game, there were signs that the Wakefield defense had control of this game from the beginning.
Wilmington’s offense was based in the running game for most of the night as they started with five straight running plays.
The Warrior defense caught on to this pattern, forcing a 4th down with three yards to gain on the second set of downs for the Wildcats. The home team branched into the passing game as Wilmington quarterback Michael Lawler connected with Connor Lovell for 15 yards. A 13 yard scramble from Lawler and 1-yard 4th down conversion by senior running back Nick Iascone set up the Wildcats in the redzone. The defense stepped up for Wakefield as a tackle for loss from freshman Jaden Fullerton and a sack from junior defensive lineman Jackson Fitzpatrick brought up 3rd and long. Lawler looked across the middle on third down, but threw wide of his target as sophomore Myles Sanchez narrowly missed on an interception. The Wildcats settled for a 37-yard field goal from Hunter Sands to take the lead after a nine minute drive to begin the game.
The Warriors’ first offensive drive went poorly with a three-and-out on consecutive run plays and a punt by senior captain Mark Letchford. The defense stepped up though, forcing the Wildcat offense off the field in three plays as well with a tackle for loss by Letchford to close it out.
The second Wakefield drive was much more productive than the first as the offense ran from their own 36-yard line, deep into Wildcat territory. Highlighting this drive was a 10-yard run by junior Matt Beaver out of the quarterback position on fourth down just past midfield. A fumbled snap three plays later brought up a 4th and 3. Sanchez was handed the ball on fourth down, but was stuffed in the backfield as the Warriors turned it over on downs.
The defense once again stood like a steel curtain for Wakefield as another three-and-out was forced.
With just over three minutes left in the half, Beaver looked to pass for the first time of the game on the second play of the drive. The junior targeted senior receiver Declan O’Callahan deep down the middle of the field, drawing a pass interference penalty as O’Callahan’s defender blindly swatted at him. This gained 15 yards for the Warriors, bringing them across midfield. The big plays kept flowing from there as Fullerton broke out a 12-yard run and O’Callahan powered forward for 10 yards, tagging an extra 15 yards on to the play with a facemask penalty. With a new set of downs just 12 yards from the end zone, the Warriors were stuffed on three straight runs. On fourth down the Warriors sent out the field goal unit for a 25-yard attempt. Mark Letchford sent the ball perfectly through the uprights, tying the game 3-3 at halftime.
The Warriors received the ball to start the second half and the offense hit its stride. The visitors marched their way down the field with 14 consecutive runs spanning 74 yards, only being confronted with one 4th down and converting. The drive ended with a run by Sanchez as he cut under Matt Beaver for the handoff and charged to the right for an 18-yard touchdown run. The extra point from Letchford gave the visitors a seven point lead with three and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
The Wakefield defense forced another punt after three plays, giving the offense the ball back as the third quarter came to a close.
On this drive, Wakefield attempted to diversify the offense with some passing plays. After a rush for no gain on first down, Beaver looked short to O’Callahan but it fell incomplete. Fullerton followed that with a three yard run to bring up 4th and 7. The Warriors went for it, setting up a screen for Fitzpatrick that would’ve picked up the first down if not for a holding call forcing a punt.
Fitzpatrick got his revenge to start the Wilmington drive as he picked up his second sack of the game which drove the Wildcats back 10 yards. Wilmington QB Michael Lawler stayed focused despite the huge loss, as he picked up 15 yards on a scramble the next play. Lawler then connected with senior receiver Christian Febbo for 11 yards to convert on third down. Lawler tried to run again, but was stuffed by senior captain Joe LaMonica for a loss of two yards. On the next down, Lawler threw deep downfield to his receiver Febbo, but came up much too short of his target as junior corner Ian Christie stepped up to intercept the ball. Christie sprinted down the Wakefield sideline, returning the pick 46 yards to the Wilmington 10-yard line. Letchford recognized the great defensive effort by the team, as well as Christie’s play after the game.
“That defense was locks,” said Letchford. “Ian Christie with the huge play at the end of the game to seal it, c’mon man.”
In just three plays, Beaver was able to score his first rushing touchdown of the season to give the Warriors a 16-3 lead.
The Warrior defense was tasked to shut down Wilmington one last time to end the game with five minutes left in the final quarter. The drive started off strong for the Wildcats as they moved 21 yards in the first four plays. This quickly turned around as a false start and the third sack of the game for Fitzpatrick dropped the home team back 9 yards bringing up 3rd and 14. Lawler completed a pass to Lovell for 8 yards on third down, bringing up a game deciding 4th and 6. Lawler looked to do nothing more than gain the first down as he completed to a receiver just two yards away from the line to gain, but junior John Fitzgerald stepped up in the Wakefield secondary to stop the Wildcats two yards short of the first down. The Warriors then ran out the clock to seal a huge 16-3 victory.
Wakefield senior captain Joe LaMonica was expressive about the condition of the team after this win and heading into the final part of this season, saying “We’re feeling great. We got some key players out right now but we came in and we got the job done. That’s what we do.”
With this game in the books, the Warriors hold a 5-2 record going into the final week of the season. Wakefield is currently on the outside looking in at the Division 4 football tournament. The tournament is a 16 team bracket and prior to this game, the Warriors held the 19th position in the power rankings.
Although their win over the Wildcats will likely move them up, Wakefield will need to find another win to give themselves a chance when they travel to take on Stoneham for the final regular season game of the year this Friday at 6:30 pm.