RallyNorth.net

Boxers KO Astros with 54 points

Saturday, October, 13 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

DERRY | This is the kind of new experience veteran Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly could live without.

"I've been coaching 33 years and we've never given up 50 points," said O'Reilly after the Astros (6-1) got spanked, 54-19, by perennial power Brockton (5-1) yesterday afternoon. "That's something I'd remember.

"It's humbling. They were the better football team, but there's no way we should be giving up 54 points."

The loss snapped a 20-game Astros' winning streak, their last setback coming two years ago at home against Brockton. It was a satisfying result for the Boxers (5-1), who were dominated by Pinkerton, 34-14, last year.

"We were embarrassed by them last year," said Brockton coach Peter Colombo. "They had a good team, but it hurt and we wanted to respond to that. We talked about it in practice, and we also talked about their winning streak."

The Boxers certainly responded, but they didn't make a definitive statement at first. In fact, after quarterback Pinkerton Peter Mazzola intercepted a second-quarter pass and knifed down the sidelines for a 39-yard touchdown, the score was tied 13-13 with only two minutes left in the half.

But that's when the roof caved in.

One play after the ensuing kickoff, talented Brockton back Josh Marsh (17 carries, 191 yards) went around the left side for a 67-yard touchdown, making it 20-13. Then, after a quick three-and-out series by the Astros, Brockton struck again.

Third-year Brockton quarterback Vaughn Askew completed a 50-yard pass to Sharrief Hall and then threw 10 yards into the end zone to John Resende for another score, with just 16 seconds left before halftime.

"That was definitely the turning point," said Colombo. "It must have been discouraging for them. I'm sure they thought they were going into halftime tied."

O'Reilly agreed with that assessment, but the Astros took the second-half kickoff and quickly marched 80 yards for a touchdown, an 18-yard scamper by Eric Guinto, to make it 27-19.

The Astros could not respond again, however, and Brockton, which rushed for 354 yards and passed for another 118, scored the next four possessions and held Pinkerton to a lone first down the rest of the way.

For Pinkerton, Mazzola was not sharp passing the ball, but he rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries and played a strong defensive game. Lineman Josh Lane was impressive on both sides of the ball.

The victory puts Brockton ahead in the series, 8-4.

"Coming up here is never easy, and it's a great rivalry," said Colombo. "We have a lot of respect for them."

O'Reilly agreed. "I have no issue losing to Brockton. We love playing them, but I'm not happy with the way we played today. I have to make sure we respond in a positive way, like two years ago. Brockton beat us pretty good that year and we came back to win the state championship."