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Newburyport Clippers Football '08

Fri, Oct 17, 2008 07:00 PM @ Ipswich
Team Final
Newburyport 41
Ipswich 21

Big plays key Newburyport victory

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Monday, October, 20 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

IPSWICH — Big plays were just what the doctor ordered for Newburyport, which got four touchdowns of 20 yards or more in a 41-21 win over host Ipswich last night.


The Clippers (2-5) scored on their first three possessions of the second half to turn a one point hole into a commanding lead. Quarterback Joe Clancy led his troops back, tossing his third and fourth TD passes of the night, one a 45-yard bomb to Andrew Sokol and the other a bubble screen to Kyle LeBlanc, which turned into a 65-yard score.


“We kind of told them where the dog lies at the halftime,” said Newburyport Ed Gaudiano. “We came out and were a lot more intense. We did what we should’ve done in the first half.”


In all, the Clippers racked up 391 total yards. Most of them came from the arm of Clancy, who completed 9-of-18 passes for 276 yards and four TDs. That’s an average of more than 30 yards per completion, a number ballooned by the ability of LeBlanc and Sokol to turn short passes into huge gains.


“They’re a big play team,” said Ipswich coach Ted Flaherty, whose team remained winless at 0-5. “Those two wide-outs are as good as anybody in the league. I’m surprised they only have two wins, to be honest.”


The Tigers marched down the field on their first possession, with Jimmy Cadogan (23 runs, 173 yards) capping an 8-play drive with a 7-yard score.


Newburyport didn’t take long to bounce back. Clancy found LeBlanc on a short hook, which the receiver turned into a 71-yard TD.


“We marched down the field in eight or 10 plays, and all of a sudden in one play they do the same thing. That can be tough to swallow,” said Flaherty.


Clancy tossed a 20-yard TD to Sokol to give Newburyport the lead in the second, but Ipswich answered with another 67-yard drive. Cadgoan scored again from five yards out and the Tigers led 14-13 at the break.
That set up the Clippers’ big second half, punctuated by scoring runs from LeBlanc (nine yards) and David Freeman (10 runs, 91 yards) to put the game out of reach.

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