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NORTH READING — Once Amesbury stifled the North Reading offense in the second overtime, the Indians figured they had the Hornets right where they wanted them.

Three plays later, Nick Croce made the strategy work with a 22-yard game-winning field goal that gave Amesbury a 15-12 victory in a Cape Ann Conference Small battle.

WEST NEWBURY — Following a lackluster first half, Mike Doud and the Pentucket defense knew something had to change.

“We were just too soft in the first half,” said Doud. “We were very passive and let (Amesbury quarterback) Tyler Lay pick us apart. We had to make a change, and we did just that.”

GEORGETOWN – An impressive opening play and a successful game-ending drive highlighted an otherwise disappointing day for Georgetown, in yesterday’s 31-8 setback to Amesbury.
Sandwiched in between a game-opening 55-yard pass and a game-ending 75-yard drive were 33-net yards of offense, three turnovers and 275 yards yielded by the Royal defense.
“The name of the game is turnovers and those were costly,” said Georgetown head coach Mark Bouchard. “You can’t do that against anyone and we are not strong enough to overcome that, offensively or defensively.  We gave them great field position in the first half.”
Amesbury (2-3) took advantage of Georgetown’s first turnover to set up at the Royal 44, midway through the first quarter. Five plays later, the Indians had the opening score on an Ian McLaughlin 8-yard run.
In the second quarter, another turnover at the Royal 23-yard-line allowed Amesbury to cash in on a four-play drive that accounted for six of its 17 second quarter points.
“Our effort was there today but we need 11 guys to execute at the same time,” said Bouchard.  We had the plays, the opportunities were there — we just have to go out and execute.”
Amesbury used over seven minutes of the clock in the third quarter to piece together a 12-play drive that upped its lead to 31-0.
Georgetown (0-4) put its best offensive performance together in the final minutes of the game and averted a shutout when Max Mangano scored from three yards out to cap a nine-play drive. Mangano got the call seven times during the drive and gained 64 yards in the process.
Quarterback Tyler Wade completed 6 of 12 for 88 yards and Mangano’s 81 yards led the running game.
Georgetown hosts Bishop Fenwick on Saturday (2 p.m.).

AMESBURY — With a fumble on the opening kickoff, Amesbury turned over the football to North Andover on the Indians’ own 25-yard line. Just three plays later, Brandon Walsh hooked up with David Foote for a 13-yard bubble screen score.