NORTH READING — The Marblehead football team started its postseason with a 27-7 win over North Reading in Division 4 North Friday night.
Offensively, the Magicians had their share of big plays. Defensively, Marblehead progressed and locked down as the game went on.
The Magicians held a 27-0 lead late in the game before the Hornets punched one in.
Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff was pleased with his team’s defensive improvements.
“We were too high, tackling, straight up, we got lower as the game went on, credit our defense, North Reading played hard, but we held them off,” Rudloff said.
The Magicians weathered a storm on the Hornets’ first drive of the game. The Magicians forced Hornet quarterback Brian Heffernan to toss a couple of incomplete passes, and then he was sacked, making it fourth and 22. The Magicians defense held, and that was as close as North Reading would get to the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Tim Cronin scored early in the second, with the first of Eli Feingold’s three PAT kicks putting Marblehead up to stay. Cronin scored again, this time on a 7-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Josh Robertson to make it 14-0 with 5:52 left in the half. Marblehead gambled and won, going for it on fourth and three from the Hornet 19, keeping the drive going, with Cronin securing the first down on a three-yard carry.
The second score started with an interception by Cam Janock, who picked off Heffernan, with a little help from Cronin, who deflected the pass. Marblehead scored its third touchdown with 26 seconds left in the second, this time Robertson kept the ball and ran it in from the 12. Janock also was key in that score, grabbing a fumble on a muffed punt by North Reading. Janock said preparation was the key.
“The coaches did a great job getting us prepared to play, and the guys made the plays, Tim (Cronin) tipped the pass to me and (Dylan) Klocker made a great punt,” Janock said.
Robertson connected with A. J. Russo from 23 yards out for the final Magician score. Marblehead travels to No. 1 Melrose next Friday (7) in the semifinal round.
