Sports
Late Rally Falls Short As Wilmington Falls To Marblehead 24-17
The Wildcats scored 17 unanswered points in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 24-0 halftime deficit.
MARBLEHEAD, MA -- Despite a late rally, Wilmington's playoff run under first-year football coach Craig Turner came to an end Friday night, as the Wildcats fell to Marblehead (9-0) 24-17. Marblehead moves on to play top-seeded Melrose, which beat North Reading 27-26 Friday night, in next weekend's Divsion 4 North final. With the loss, Wilmington fell to 7-2 on the season.
Wilmington almost made an improbable comeback that started with a rally in the third quarter. A one-yard John Kenney run made it 24-6. Wilmington recovered an onside kick, which lead to a 40-yard Justin Fraser touchdown reception. With the two-point conversion, Wilmington trailed 24-14 at the end of three.
Wilmington pulled within one touchdown when Adam Bishop kicked a 47-yard field goal with 5:49 to play. On Marblehead's next possession, the Wilmington defense came up big, allowing the Wildcats to take over on downs at their own 21 with 3:34 to play. On fourth and 16, a Tim Cronin interception for Marblehead seemingly wrapped up the game for the Magicians with 1:16 left, but the play was called back on a roughing the passer penalty. Marblehead finally ended Wilmington's playoff run with a Seamus Keaney interception
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Phelan Tinti-Kane's 32-yard field goal for Marblehead had broken a scoreless tie with 5:31 left in the first quarter. The Magicians opened the second quarter on the Wilmington 24-yard line. On the very first play, Cronin scored on a 24-yard touchdown run. With the extra point kick by Tinti-Kane, Marblehead had a 10-0 lead. With 7:20 left in the half, Marblehead quarterback Andy Clough added a six-yard rushing touchdown to make it 17-0 after the extra point.
Marblehead capped off the first half with a 99-yard drive that ended with Cronin's second touchdown on a 22-yard run. With the extra point, the Magicians had a commanding 24-0 halftime lead.
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Dave Copeland can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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