English can’t recover from slow start, loses to Wakefield

WAKEFIELD – If English takes one thing away from Friday night’s 33-8 non-league loss to Wakefield at refurbished Landrigan Field, Coach Peter Holey hopes it is this: Spotting any opponent a 21-0 first-quarter lead is a recipe for disaster.The Warriors (2-0) scored on their first three possessions to take irrevocable control. The Bulldogs (1-1) competed on equal terms the rest of the way but the early hole was far too deep to escape. “The first quarter doomed us. We had poor tackling. We weren’t physical. I’m not sure what the reason was but we missed about 20 tackles,” said Holey. “I’m very happy with the way we played the final three quarters. We got down by 21 and played out butts off. These kids showed a lot of character and we can build on that.”English went three-and-out on the game’s opening possession and the hosts covered 71 yards in eight plays. Senior bowling ball running back Brandon Panarese (165 all-purpose yards, 3 TDs) sprinted in from 37 yards and Sal Lo Brutto’s first of four successful PATs made it 7-0 with 6:03 left in the quarter.Junior Luke Martin’s 82-yard run on a toss right and LoBrutto’s kick made it 14-0 with 2:49 left in the period. After the Warriors’ John Panzini recovered a Jordan (Javier) Lark fumble at the Bulldogs’ 30, Panarese strolled in from 24 yards on a screen pass from quarterback Mike Miller and Lo Brutto’s kick made it 21-0 with 18 seconds left in the period.Game, set and match.After interceptions on consecutive plays in the last minute of the second quarter – by English’s Danny Kane and Wakefield’s O’Brien at the English 29 – Panarese’s 22-yard reception set up Lo Brutto’s 27-yard field goal on the final play of the half, making it 24-0.English marched 51 yards on its first possession of the second half. Lark completed five passes, converted two fourth downs and set up his own six-yard TD run with a 21-yard dart to junior Kyle O’Connor. Daekwon Shepard’s two-point rush made it 24-8 with 3:53 left in the period.However, Wakefield tacked on a safety on the final play of the third period and Panarese hauled in Miller’s 26-yard scoring strike from Miller with 9:55 left.Holey cited the play of senior captain and two-way tackle Chris Tinkham. Lark completed 14-of-27 passes for 130 yards but was intercepted twice, both on tipped balls. O’Connor (4 receptions, 56 yards) and Chris Lessard (4 receptions, 32 yards) were his primary targets. Wakefield swallowed up English’s ground game as the Bulldogs had three net rushing yards on 12 attempts.