Sparked by a breakout performance from running back Cam Martin, the Winthrop High football team defeated Gloucester, 32-0, in the Northeastern Conference South Division opener Friday night at Miller Field.
Martin rushed for 193 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings raced to a 25-0 halftime lead over the Fishermen. Martin had a 56-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
“Cam has been our main back all year, and he’d showed some flashes in other games, but this is the kind of performance we expect out of Cam,†said Winthrop head coach Jon Cadigan.
Junior quarterback Robert Noonan opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown. Following Martin’s 56-yard YD scamper, Noonan connected with senior Mikey Chaves for a 28-yard touchdown pass.
Juan Sanchez booted a 24-yard field goal before Evan Rockefeller scored on a 1-yard run. Rockefeller also had a 2-point conversion in the game, finishing with 39 yards on eight carries.
Cadigan was pleased with the team’s effort in all phases of the game.
“We’re starting to get healthy,†said Cadigan. “This was Victor Marquez’s second start at guard this year and he’s rounding into shape [after a pre-season injury).
Offensive line opened the door for Martin
Leading rusher Cam Martin benefited from a strong effort by the offensive line, notably center Kyle Testa, right guard Ryan Harris, right tackle Pete Jurovich, left guard Victor Marquez, left tackle Chuck Dassau, and tight end Ian Harris.
“Ian was exceptional blocking all game long,†said Cadigan. “He had the highest blocking percentage on the team.â€
Running backs Welvis Acosta, Evan Rockefeller, and George Galuris were Martin’s partners in the backfield.
Jurovich stands tall on defense
Pete Jurovich, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound senior, was the Vikings’ defensive player of the game.
“He’s just becoming a dominant force for this team,†said Coach Cadigan. “Wherever we put him on offense, we know he’s going to block very well, and wherever we put him on defense, if you don’t double-team him, he’s going to wreck the game for our opponent.â€
Jurovich introduced himself on Gloucester’s initial possession when he broke through the line and sacked the quarterback. “It set the tone that we were going to do what we wanted to do up front,†said Cadigan.
Jurovich is on the radar of college football programs.
Winthrop is in the playoff picture
Winthrop was ranked 14th last week in the MIAA Power Rankings and will likely move up after its 32-0 dismissal of Gloucester. The top 16 teams in each division make the playoffs.
Winthrop (2-3, 1-0) is tied for first with Salem in the NEC South, but many observers believe Friday night’s matchup against Peabody will go a long way to determine the NEC South Division champion.
“I think whoever wins this game has the inside track in winning the league title,†said Cadigan.
Dedication ceremony
Friday at 4:30 p.m.
There will be a dedication ceremony Friday at 4:30 p.m. at which time two of Winthrop High’s Hall of Fame coaches, Tony Fucillo (football) and Pat McGee (track and cross country) will be honored for their incredible coaching careers in the school’s athletic program.
The fieldhouse at Miller Field will be named the Tony Fucillo Field House. The track facility will be named the Pat McGee Track.
Several of the coaches’ former athletes are expected to attend the ceremony.
We remember Tony Fucillo’s back-to-back Super Bowl teams and the undefeated Super Bowl championship team that was quarterbacked by his son, James Fucillo, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Vikings.
And we remember the great Pat McGee watching and hoping as Kenny Sirianni took the baton on the final leg of the meet-deciding mile relay event with the title on the line. In dramatic fashion, Sirianni blazed ahead of the Beverly runner right at the finish line, and the Vikings had their undefeated Northeastern Conference championship.