FALMOUTH — In lots of respects, a 120-mile street journey for a sport may be lengthy and arduous. But, it may be memorable if all goes proper.
For Joseph Allen, Saturday’s journey to the Cape was one he’ll always remember. The senior captain racked up 19 carries for 103 yards dashing, ending with 4 touchdowns as Gloucester registered a convincing 42-20 romp of Falmouth.
“It positively does (really feel nice),” Allen mentioned afterward. “Far journey, tough journey, however we got here up right here, and performed out.”
As anticipated, Gloucester (2-0) opted to show to the ground-and-pound sport early, working on 12 consecutive performs throughout the sport’s opening possession. Allen punctuated the drive with a 6-yard landing scamper, because the Fishermen seized a 7-0 lead.
Seconds later, Falmouth fumbled on its first offensive play, setting the Fishermen up with a golden alternative within the purple zone. Allen made the Clippers pay, punching in a second consecutive 6-yard landing rush. With 4:23 to play within the opening body, it appeared Gloucester was about to tug away with a commanding 13-0 benefit.
Nevertheless, Falmouth staged a rally behind some clutch play from quarterback Tre’Chaun Days. Throughout his workforce’s ensuing possession, the senior lofted a cross into the tip zone, which was corralled for a circus 25-yard landing reception by Malik Locke to slice the deficit to 13-6.
After Gloucester noticed its subsequent drive stall out, the Clippers regained possession, and Days determined to fireside one other prayer up alongside the sideline. The try was tipped and introduced in by Locke, who slipped free into the secondary earlier than taking off for a 64-yard landing reception. Days added a two-point rush with a quarterback keeper, as Falmouth jumped in entrance for the primary time with a 14-13 edge.
But, Gloucester regained its rhythm utilizing its trademark working performs. As the ultimate seconds bled away within the first half, Jaylen Severino dove throughout the objective line off a jet sweep for a one-yard landing rush, because the Fishermen took a 21-14 lead into intermission.
“That’s our workforce,” mentioned Gloucester coach Dan O’Connor. “That’s what we do. We’ve received three actually good ball carriers, if not 4 or 5 any given day. We’re going to try to preserve the ball on the bottom, and we’re going to try to grind out wins. That’s the mentality now we have. That’s the best way we’ve performed down right here for a extremely very long time. This group of youngsters actually embraces that. They embody it.”
As soon as the second half received underway, Gloucester seized management of the tempo with authority. After foiling a pretend punt try by Falmouth to start out, the Fishermen transformed as Allen jogged to pay filth for a 10-yard landing run to make it a 29-14 affair.
In the meantime, self-inflicted errors proved pricey for Falmouth. Seconds thereafter, the Clippers fumbled the ball away as soon as once more, organising Gloucester with one other brief discipline. Allen added his fourth landing of the afternoon with a two-yard rush, breaking issues open at 35-14 with 6:33 left within the third quarter.
Afterward within the remaining body, together with his workforce sustaining a two-possession lead, junior Nash Marshall sealed the deal for Gloucester. The working again pushed his means residence for a one-yard landing rush, offering the Fishermen a commanding 42-20 benefit.
Severino (seven carries, 49 yards dashing, landing) and Thomas Cribbs (13 carries, 64 yards dashing) supplied a spark as effectively for Gloucester.
Days completed 12-of-19 passing for Falmouth, ending with 183 yards and a trio of touchdowns, every of which went to Locke (six receptions for 133 yards).
As of now, the Fishermen are cruising with momentum. Nevertheless, the trek is barely anticipated to accentuate transferring ahead.
“Only one week at a time,” O’Connor mentioned. “We’ve received St. Mary’s developing this week, and that’s a giant one for us up there. That’s an important program. We’ve simply received to take pleasure in this one for a bit bit, however then get again to work on Monday.”
