By Cary Shuman
After turning in a rushing performance that harkened back to superstar Vikings Chucky Sullivan, Steve Staffier, and Bobby Kneeland, just to name but a few, Winthrop junior Seth Sacco received a nice gesture from the opposing coach.
Sacco had just ripped through the Gloucester defense for 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns, leading the Vikings to a 28-12 victory over the Fishermen at Newell Stadium. The win locked down a playoff berth for Winthrop, who will open at Abington Friday night.
As reporters from the Gloucester Times and the Winthrop Sun-Transcript were interviewing Gloucester head coach Dan O’Connor, he saw Seth Sacco standing nearby. He walked over to Sacco and gave him a fist bump, the coach’s way of acknowledging that it was Sacco who was the chief difference maker in the game.
Sacco had one 11-yard TD run and two 56-yard TD runs. The latter score featured a one-on-one cut downfield that Sacco used to elude that last remaining defender.
“I saw him [the Gloucester safety] and I knew he was the only player standing between me and the end zone,” said Sacco. “But it was the blocking, all the O-linemen, Will [Murphy], Desi [Desmond Cassidy] stepped up – that got us the win.”
Head coach Jon Cadigan admires the way his team has escalated its versatility in the absence of All-Scholastic Nick Cappuccio, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury.
“Seth did a very good job running the football and we talk with our running backs all the time that even if we block the play perfectly, they have to beat one guy, and Seth cut the ball back and ran past him,” credited Cadigan. “I think the last two weeks, we’ve proven that we’re more than a one-man band. We’ve been playing good team football.”
Cadigan singled out Phil Boncore, Matt Reardon, Roy Konopaska, Desmond Cassidy, Will Murphy, and Michael D’Ambroso for their blocking on Sacco’s two long touchdown runs.
Murphy athleticism
on display
Meanwhile, Will Murphy (55 yards rushing) has been the other dependable star out of the backfield who has emerged as the Vikings continue to operate without their All-Scholastic runner, Nick Cappuccio.
Murphy’s catch of a high pitchout and his ability to regroup, instantly, turn, and run for a first down on the play elicited the praise of Cadigan.
“Will has been one of our most dynamic playmakers,” said Cadigan. “On the drive to start the second half with the game at 14-12, it was fourth-and-six, and we ran a pitch play. It was windy and he made a great athletic play, contorting his body, spinning around and catching the football, and then was able to pick up the first down. We tried the QB sneak twice and then Will scored the touchdown playing fullback. It showed his toughness and strength down at the goal line.”
The Vikings’ ‘Super Sack’ by Grein and Reardon
There are sacks and then are the type of tackles of the quarterback that Gabe Grein and Matt Reardon co-executed late in the fourth quarter. Bruno Sammartino would have been proud of the emphatic sack and ending to the Vikings’ second-half shutdown of the Fishermen.
Grein excelled at linebacker and defensive lineman and earned the Vikings Black Shirt defensive player of the game award.
“Gabe is one of the hardest-working kids that we have,” said Cadigan. “We’ve moved him around on defense, and it gives us versatility moving forward. I’m very happy for Gabe and the season he’s having for our team.”
Reardon was a two-way standout in the game.
“Matt Reardon played terrific on both sides of the ball,” said Cadigan. “Earlier in the fourth quarter, he made a terrific play snuffing out a screen pass.”
Spinale was
perfect on PATS
Placekicker Dom Spinale was 4-of-4 on kicks and had a key role in the victory. Because Spinale made the first kick, and Gloucester failed on its try, the Fishermen decided to go for two on their second touchdown and the conversion was stopped, allowing the Vikings to take a 14-12 lead into the break.
Nick Correa nearly had an interception in the fourth quarter wearing the unusual defensive back jersey number 56.
Matt Noonan in charge
Noonan continues to impress as the field general for the red-hot Vikings, who will be tested by the Green Wave of Abington in their first-round playoff game.
“Matt just makes the right read and the right play consistently for us,” said Cadigan. “It was a windy night, and I thought Matt navigated the elements big-time.”