By Cary Shuman
The Winthrop High football team played strong defense, but for the second week in a row its offense produced only one touchdown in a tough 14-7 defeat to Northeast Regional Saturday morning at Breakheart Stadium in Wakefield.
Senior captain Seth Sacco (9 rushes, 75 yards) scored the Vikings’ TD on an explosive 58-yard touchdown run with 4:19 left in the second quarter. Junior placekicker Dom Spinale converted his lone PAT attempt to tie the game at 7-7.
Michael D’Ambrosio and Nicolas Correa combined for the defensive play of the game late in the first half when D’Ambrosio intercepted a pass at the goal line that had been broken up by Correa.
Northeast attempted an onside kick to start the third quarter, but Charlie Ferrara alertly directed the football out of bounds. The Vikings were unable to carry the D’Ambrosio-Correa momentum into the second half, failing to produce a first down on its opening possession.
Linebacker Nick Romano made two excellent defensive plays on a tackle on a double handoff and a sack of the quarterback, ultimately giving the Vikings great field position.
The key sequence of the came later in the the quarter. In a well-strategized play, Sacco had two steps on his defender, but the pass was underthrown and intercepted by Northeast, who converted that turnover into the go-ahead touchdown.
Led by the tandem of Nick Romano and Sean Dolen, the Vikings advanced the football to the Northeast 18-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but the drive stalled on a fourth-down-and-one play.
Coach Jon Cadigan said the Vikings offense is “a work in progress.”
When you lose the starting linemen that we’ve had in previous seasons and we’re young up front – we’re getting better, but we’re certainly struggling right now offensively.”
Assist to Correa
If it were ice hockey, Nicolas Correa would have received an assist on Michael D’Ambrosio’s first career interception.
“Nic made a great play. He was the backside corner and the quarterback rolled away from him and his job is to run as fast as he can because the quarterback doesn’t run one way and throw all the way back, so he made a great hustle play deflecting it and then Michael picked it off right before the half,” credited Cadigan.
Desmond Cassidy is off to a strong start for the Vikings. Cassidy batted down a pass that could have been a potential Pick-6. “It was a very athletic play,” said Cadigan.
The Vikings came close to blocking two of Northeast’s punts in the game.
Romano repeats as
Black Shirt winner
Nick Romano earned his second Black Shirt Defensive Player of the Game honor.
“Nick had another very good game,” said Cadigan.
Comments from Northeast head coach Donny Heres
Coach Heres was pleased with his team’s defense.
“Winthrop plays disciplined football, they’ve played together for years, they have a great system and a great coach, so to hold them to seven points with everything they do is pretty impressive,” said Heres, who is a Viking football alumnus and has assistant Michael DeFelice on his coaching staff. “I’m very happy with our defense today.”
Heres said of the Knights’ natural grass field, “This is the ultimate home field advantage. Playing on this field and playing at 10:30 a.m. – many people aren’t used to playing at that hour.”
The brand-new Northeast Regional Vocational High School will open for the next school year. The current school will be demolished, and a new field will be built on that site. “The new school will be all-grass, no turf,” said Heres.
Opening the path to Winthrop’s TD
On Sacco’s touchdown run, Coach Cadigan said Riley Moccia’s trap block was the pacesetter, along with ensuing blocks from Chris Messina, Chris Beshere, and Roy Konopaska, and downfield assistance from Nick Romano. Sean Dolen drew the attention of the defense on a neat play-fake.
Next up: Defending state champion Shawheen
The Vikings will travel to Shawsheen Tech in Billerica Friday for a game against the defending Division 5 state champions. The Rams were undefeated last season and have been impressive in their two wins this season, defeating Bedford, 20-13, and routing Lynnfield, 41-6.