RallyNorth.net

Career day for Spears, Esposito

Saturday, November, 01 By David Willis
Staff writer

GEORGETOWN — A fan looked on in disbelief after another big play by Georgetown sophomore Jaymie Spears.

“He’s a football player?” she asked. “He’s so tiny!”

After yesterday, Hamilton-Wenham would agree the 130-pound Spears can play some football.

In his first career game at receiver, Spears used his outstanding speed and stellar hands to help quarterback Joe Esposito throw for a career-high 272 yards and lead Georgetown to a 39-6 romp over Cape Ann League small rival Hamilton-Wenham.

“One of our receivers went down with an injury, so Jaymie learned all of the plays in practice this week,” said Esposito. “He is so athletic. You can’t ask for much more as a quarterback than to be able to throw to a guy like him.”

Entering the game with just two career reception, Spears made six catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. He had five grabs for 125 yards alone in the first half as the Royals built a 19-point lead.

The performance was the area’s top receiving game this season, besting the 123 yards by Phillips’ Luke Duprey. Esposito’s 272 yards were also an area high this year, topping Andover’s John Hennessy (255 yards).

“I was excited to play receiver,” said Spears. “But I was also very nervous. I was just learning the position, so this was a very busy week. But after I made that first catch I started to get the jitters and bugs out and just started to let it go.”

Also the backup quarterback, the 5-foot-9 speedster received a snap and took off for a 50-yard score. He finished with five carries for a team-high 62 yards rushing.

Spears’ most impressive catch came late in the third. Esposito seemed to overthrow the star point guard, but Spears dove backwards to haul in a 34-yard grab that set up Georgetown’s second touchdown of the day.

Hamilton-Wenham entered the day set on stopping the run. Playing seven players in the tackle box, they held prolific Esposito to just 54 yards rushing on 20 carries. So the senior went to the air.

Esposito was 13 of 23 throwing for his career-best 272 yards. His previous career high with 270 yards against Chelsea in his sophomore season. He connected with Spears on one score, and with Anthony Conte on a second touchdown. Conte finished with four grabs for 73 yards.

Esposito now has 822 yards passing for the season. He also rushed for two short touchdowns and kicked a 19-yard field goal.

“They (Hamilton-Wenham) are a very good run defense,” said Esposito. “But they were giving us the pass today and we took advantage. I think it was a statement. We showed that we can do anything. We have that extra threat of throwing the ball.”

The defense also shined, allowing the Generals to advance past the 50 only twice, once in the final two minutes of the game. All 49 of Dan Beckett’s rushing yards came on the final drive.

The Royals now sit at 7-0, 4-0 in the CAL small, and have crucial matchups with division rivals North Reading and Newburyport in the next two weeks.