Football: Classical hopes for a treat against Gloucester

Halloween has a way of bringing out the wild streak in even the calmest of people.Ask the Classical and Gloucester football teams about wildness, and you’ll probably be told about the teams’ game at Manning Field last season.In that game, the Rams were within inches of beating Gloucester and winning the Northeastern Conference’s North Division crown.But the Fishermen stopped a fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter and then drove for the game-winning Anthony Enderle touchdown to complete a stunning comeback. That Gloucester team eventually won a Super Bowl title.On Friday night (7) at Newell Stadium in Gloucester, the two teams will get together again in a critical conference battle.The Fishermen (6-1, 1-0 NEC North) come in off a 30-12 win over Revere that saw backup tailback Gilbert Brown run for three second-quarter touchdowns. Classical, on the other hand, dropped a heartbreaking 21-20 decision at Peabody.The loss was costly in more ways than on the scoreboard, as senior back Cam Smith went down with a knee injury in the third quarter and will be a game-time decision on Friday.”Cam is not only a great player, but an emotional leader,” Classical coach Tim Phelps said. “We’re not sure if he’s going to play. But if he doesn’t, our younger kids have to step up.”Gloucester hasn’t missed a beat this season, save for the fourth quarter against Swampscott, despite graduating two-thirds of its backfield in Enderle and Andrew Fulford.Wing back Ross Carlson has helped to pick up the slack, rushing for over 100 yards in all but one game, while fullback Connor Ressel has been a pleasant surprise for coach Paul Ingram. Brown and Taylor Burbine also help to power the Fishermen’s powerful Wing-T attack.”Up there, they are outstanding. And they already are a good team,” Phelps said. “We will have to play our best game to win.”They will face a Classical defense that has allowed less than 20 points in four of its seven games. That unit has also been helped by an offense that has relied on a talented fleet of backs as well.With Smith out, the Rams’ running game will be shouldered by Kashawn Avery, Gary Sisson and Jaquan Huston. Jasper Grassa had a breakout game at quarterback in the loss to the Tanners, completing seven of 10 passes.”We have the talent to get the job done,” Phelps said. “We just have to not kill ourselves with penalties and mistakes, because they will capitalize on every mistake we make.”Revere at EnglishAt Manning Field (7), the Bulldogs (4-2, 1-0 NEC North) opened conference play with a 25-14 win over Salem last Friday. The win did come with a cost, as senior tailback Julio Arzu was lost to a leg injury midway through the second quarter.Arzu will be out Friday, but before leaving, he rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns against Salem.Revere (2-5, 0-1) will look to rebound from a 30-12 loss to Gloucester.Winthrop at DanversAt Dr. Deering Stadium (7), the Vikings (3-4, 1-1 NEC South) will look to bounce back from a heartbreaking 34-32 loss at Swampscott last Saturday.Winthrop led 19-7 at halftime but watched as the Big Blue stormed back to win the game on a Chris Cameron touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining.Chris Beranger continued his stellar play in the loss, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns while catching six passes for 60 yards. Quarterback Will Milano was 11 of 19 for 202 yards and two touchdowns to tight end Matt Moore.Danvers (1-6, 0-2 NEC South) struggled in a 28-0 loss at Marblehead last Friday.Fenwick at Arl. Cath.At Peirce Field (7), the Crusaders (3-4, 1-0 Catholic Central League/Large) opened league play in grand style with a 35-6 pummeling of Cardinal Spellman.Running back Dan Kennedy was brilliant, earning Item Player of the Week honors thanks to a 162-yard, two-touchdown effort that included a 93-yard scoring dash in the fourth quarter.Quarterback Chris Renzulli also had a solid game, throwing for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns.