Pee Wees Hang on for Tie
Sept. 21, 2008
The Barnstable Silver Bullets Pee Wee squad enjoyed its first lead of the season and tried its best to protect it, but the Rockland Bulldogs scored a touchdown and point after in the beginning of the fourth quarter to tie the game – and that’s the way it would end.
Barnstable’s Brendan Bindig (#2) kicked off or 32 yards, while Jordan Cannon (#1) and Jordan Galvin-Jutras (#21) brought the Rockland ball carrier down almost immediately. Cannon then pressured the center and forced a fumbled snap on first down. Bullets’ Ryan Leonovich (#7) broke through the line on the next play and stripped the ball as Nick Passalugo (#77) dove on it, and the offense rushed onto the field. Charlie DiSimone (#32) got things started with a four-yard run, and Leonovich broke free on the next play for a 21-yard gain. Rockland’s defense held the Bullets on the next set of downs and quarterback/safety Mike Levitt picked off a pass intended for Colton Bergal (#11) on fourth down. Barnstable’s defense was equally effective, though, as it held the Bulldogs th ree and out and Bo Delaney (#3) returned a punt seven yards as time expired in the first quarter. The Bulldogs had the ball for most of the second quarter after recovering a fumble early. They marched down the field, making three first downs, but thanks to big plays on defense from Delaney, Bergal, Passalugo, and Tavian Miranda (#25), the first half ended at 0-0 with Rockland knocking at the door.
DiSimone returned the second-half kickoff for five yards, and the Bullets began the opening drive with Bindig up the middle for a two-yard gain. Leonovich was handed the ball on second down, and Delaney kept the ball for a run of eight yards and a first down. DiSimone gained four yards, and Binding added 10 more and another first down. The Silver Bullets fans had more to cheer about as DiSimone broke through the line on the next play and didn’t look back as he crossed the end line for the first score of the game. Delaney’s number also was called for the point after, and he was brought down as he stretched into the end zone, making the score 8-0 Bullets.
Bindig kicked for 30 yards, and before Rockland could get far Denver Bergamin (#42) brought down the receiver. The Bulldogs began by running around the end. Delaney and Bindig answered by forcing Rockland’s running back out of bounds after a two-yard gain. The next play resulted in a Rockland first down as they re-enacted a play from their first half drive, a halfback pass play to #33. On first down Joel Besse (#60) broke through the line and sacked Levitt for a loss of a yard. DiSimone and Miranda held the Bulldogs close to the line of scrimmage as a speedy third quarter ended.
The final quarter began and Rockland’s offense found its groove. On third down, Delaney tackled Rockland’s running back after a two-yard gain. Bindig then caught up with Rockland’s quarterback, sprinting up the sidelines for 18 yards and forcing him out of bounds. The Bullets’ defense was penetrated as Rockland’s #27 broke through and carried the ball into the end zone as Besse and Bergal brought him down. Rockland’s Levitt converted the extra points and the game was tied. Sonny Bissaza (#34) smothered the ensuing kickoff and Barnstable’s’ offense took the field, hoping to break the deadlock. But after three plays and losing a yard, Delaney was forced to punt on fourth. The remainder of the game saw the Silver Bullets hold back the Rockland offense with key tackles from Delaney, Bergal, Bindig, and Passalugo.
|
