Marblehead remains unbeaten with win over Minnechaug

MARBLEHEAD – It rained at the start, in the middle, and at the end. Still, Marblehead was able to string together big plays and come up with defensive stops when they needed them in their 28-0 win over Minnechaug at Piper Field Friday night.A steady rain at the start of the game turned into heavy rain by halftime. However, a brief window of drizzle in the second quarter proved all the time the Magicians (4-0) would need to secure the win.With a little under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Magicians demonstrated their quick strike capabilities when quarterback Ian Maag found Dylan Cressy streaking down the sidelines. Cressy was able to make a leaping catch, in stride, and continue downfield for a 58-yard pick up. Two plays later, Maag rolled to his left, let the passing play develop, and from 10 yards out found Brian Daly in the back corner of the end zone. The play gave Marblehead a 7-0 lead.After the Marblehead defense forced a quick Minnechaug possession, the Magicians again found themselves the benefactors of a big play. This time, a simple quarterback run up the middle turned into a 52-yard sprint. On the ensuing play, Brooks Tyrrell took a pitch to his left, cut up field and ran 29-yard for the touchdown.As the rain started to fight its way back as a real factor in the game, Marblehead was able to take advantage of a brilliant punt return by Trey Blackmer. The great field possession led to Maag’s five-yard touchdown run with a minute remaining in the half, also giving Marblehead a 21-0 lead.”I knew we needed to get some scores in the first half,” said Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff. “I did not think that either team was going to be able to get much going in the second half on offense because of the rain.”In the second half, the track turned to slop. Both teams had a hard time getting their high powered offenses going, with Marblehead able to take advantage of some Minnechaug miscues that eventually led to a Ben Anderson one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter for the final score of the game.In the first half, whilst the outcome of the game was still in doubt and the field conditions had not badly deteriorated, the Marblehead defense played very well. Led by stout linebackers Tyler Bates and Spencer Craig, the Magicians twice were able to stop the Falcons on crucial fourth down plays. Minnechaug, running an offense similar in style to Marblehead, was unable to continue drives deep in Magicians territory.”In our first three games we had not seen an offense like theirs,” said Rudloff. “Since we see that kind of offense every day during practice we were better prepared. They are a very good football team and we would have struggled with them.”