READING OVERTURNS MINUTEMEN 19-14
By James Baldwin
Reading, MA. 9/21/18. Despite a defense that allowed Reading just six points in the second half and an offense that could move the ball, the dreaded turnover bug bit Lexington last Friday night resulting in a tough 19-14 loss to the host Rockets.
“We had opportunities to win this football game, we just didn’t take advantage,” Lexington coach George Peterson reflected.
Down 19-8 midway through the third quarter, Minuteman senior quarterback Tony Bianchi was intercepted on three consecutive offensive possessions (three of Lexington’s four possessions in the second half) by the alert Rocket defense; each one ending drives that looked promising.
“We just didn’t take care of the football,” Peterson said. “We put ourselves into situations to do things but not taking care of the ball hurt us big time. We moved the ball offensively but we forced it, made some ill-advised decisions, and that’s what happens.”
Still, the Minuteman defense held Reading scoreless after each turnover and with 4:38 left the Minutemen took possession on their own 37, started their best drive of the half and got back in the game.
A Bianchi keeper gained nine yards to the 46. Then the co-captain found senior receiver Gabe Van Emon down the right side for 34 yards to the Reading 20. Two plays later Van Emon won a jump ball at the Reading four. It took the Minutemen three plays to score with Bianchi bulling his way into the end zone over left tackle. Lexington’s two-point conversion attempt (they really miss injured kicker/receiver Duncan Hewitt) was no good, but with 3:24 left the Minutemen were within striking distance down 19-14.
They would not get another possession.
Reading covered Lexington’s ensuing on sides kick at their own 46 and dawdled their way through three running plays to kill the clock. With 1:56 left they faced fourth down and foot to go for the first down that would end the game (the Minutemen were out of time outs), or potentially give the ball back to Bianchi and friends with too much time left.
Reading attempted to draw Lexington’s defensive front off sides, but the Minutemen held fast. Then, Rocket wide receiver/punter senior Pat Conroy ran out of punt formation for six yards around the right side plowing his way for the first down that finally ended Lexington’s hopes.
Conroy did most of Reading’s damage even though he touched the ball only seven times for the game. In addition to his critical game ending carry, the 6’2” 210 pound wide receiver opened the scoring on his first carry, an end around from 12 yards out.
He followed that with an impressive grab of a senior quarterback Matt Sannella’s 16 yard pass in traffic and carried several Minuteman defenders into the end zone for Reading’s second score.
For the Minutemen, Sophomore running back Mason Hatfield, who is emerging as a versatile offensive weapon, ran for 65 yards on 10 carries, caught three Bianchi aerials for 36 yards and even completed two passes.
Bianchi ran for 67 yards and both touchdowns giving him eight on the season. He was 14 for 26 passing for 181 yards with the three unfortunate picks.
Van Emon had four catches for 88 yards.
For the Rockets Sannella carried 12 times for 101 yards and his running back, senior Domenic Masucci, carried 16 times for 68.
“I always say that they’re the measuring stick in our league,” Peterson concluded. “If you can hang with them, you’re in pretty good shape. So, I still feel good about us going forward, but this was a tough one to lose.”
Next up for the Minutemen is a trip to Winchester where they’ll face the revitalized and unbeaten Sachems Friday night at 7.