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Pentucket thwarts Amesbury rally in final seconds to win thriller

Saturday, September, 16 By David Willis
Staff writer

WEST NEWBURY — Pentucket’s Nate McGrail was focused on his assignment with the game on the line, when he heard the crowd erupt.

“I was dropped back in coverage,” he said. “Then I looked up and saw our linemen getting to their quarterback. I saw the ball come out, and I knew that was the game and we had a hard win.”

With Pentucket leading by three and Amesbury facing a fourth-and-2 with 0:47 left to play, the Sachems burst through line and jarred the ball loose. All the Indians could do was fall on it for the turnover on downs, and Pentucket ran out the clock to hold on for a 23-20 victory.

“It was a really tough win,” said Sachem co-captain Brandon Wilbur. “We knew that fourth down was the game, and we dug in and made the stop. Amesbury is one of our big rivals and a tough team, so we are very excited to get the win.”

Pentucket led throughout, but Amesbury seemed on the verge of a comeback in the final moments of the fourth.
The Indians took over at their own 20-yard line with 3:22 left, and seven plays later had advanced to the Pentucket 27-yard line with 0:57 to play.
Pentucket lineman Jacob Luke dragged the Amesbury running back down on second down, and a group of Sachems made a stuff on third to set up the game-deciding fourth down.
“The guard came out on me and I stepped up meet him,” said Wilbur. “I saw the QB roll out, and then the ball came out. It was amazing. It was a big win.”
The Sachems took the lead with 2:56 to go in the first quarter, when QB Gus Flaherty rolled out and found McGrail in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
After Amesbury responded, Pentucket made it 14-6 when Wilbur plunged in for a 5-yard score. The Indians then scored to make it 14-12 with 0:23 to go in the half, setting up a bizarre two-point conversion attempt.
Amesbury attempted a pass to tie the game, but Sachem lineman Jordan Journeay jumped, deflect the ball to himself and rumble 85 yards for two Pentucket points.
“I was crossing the backside on a jet pass to the left,” he said. “He threw it up, instinctively I tried to catch it and tipped it up. Then I caught it and was off for the races. I looked back once, then stumbled a little at midfield when I was losing my breath. But I just kept going.”
Flaherty added his second TD pass of the day with 4:19 left in the third, again McGrail for an 8-yard score.
“Our offense was really working well,” said Wilbur. “Gus threw the ball well, our receivers had a great game and all our running backs ran well. And our defense stepped up when it needed to.”
Flaherty finished the day 10-of-14 passing for 104 yards. Sophomore fullback Jacob Codair carried 19 times for a team-high 71 yards.
“Always good to beat our next-door neighbors,” said Journeay. “It was a tough game and we’re excited to get the win.”