Peabody gets back in the win column

WINTHROP – After having fallen into huge holes the past couple of weeks against Swampscott and Malden Catholic, the Peabody football squad was determined not to let it happen last night against Winthrop.Peabody30Winthrop6 The Tanners spotted the Vikings a quick 6-0 lead, then Peabody utilized its running game (286 yards) and pass rush (two recovered fumbles) on the way to a 30-6 triumph over Winthrop at Miller Field.”I’m really proud of how we responded to the adversity we faced,” Tanners coach Scott Wlasuk. “Those two losses helped prepare us for tonight (the 6-0 setback).”Winthrop closed out a ten-play (each one on the ground), five-minute drive that began at midfield and ended when back Nick McCarthy (17-85) swept to the right side for his six-yard score.The Tanners (2-3) struck back right away. Halfback Brady Doyle (8-93) ran inside for 17 yards to place the ball at the Winthrop 47.Peabody eventually drove down to the 17, but were pushed back on consecutive penalties to the 28. Yet quarterback Jason Hiou gained half the yardage with a 15-yard scamper to the 13. Teammate Nathaniel Gaye picked up five to the eight to set up a fourth-and-1. Doyle worked his way for the first down ion the next play, and Peabody deadlocked the game on the first play of the second period. Halfback Danny Walor scored from the 2 to create a 6-6 tie.The Vikings (0-5) were stonewalled on their next possession, when Tanners linebacker D.J. Henrick recovered a fumble near midfield. While Peabody wasn’t able to do any damage on that drive, their defense held the Vikings to their own 10 after pinning them deep in their own territory with a punt. That set up a 13-yard score by Gaye (11-81) with a sweep off the misdirection with 38 seconds left in the half.Vikings quarterback James Barker was sacked on Winthrop’s second play, fumbling the ball away, where Peabody gathered the ball at the Vikings 46. Sean Wlasuk’s 32-yard field goal as time ran out increased the lead to 16-6.Gaye’s second touchdown less than three minutes into the second half brought a 23-6 advantage to Peabody. Doyle broke through the Winthrop line for 36 yards before being forced out of bounds at the 4. Gaye took it in on the following play.Walor added his second score early in the final period on a six-yard carry to end the scoring.