Barnstable Comes from Behind for Second Straight Victory, 16-8

 

      The Barnstable Silver Bullets Division 5 Mites upped their record to 2-0 Sunday afternoon, in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory with special thanks to the running exploits of Matt Lambert and an incredibly stoic defense that made but one mistake on the day.

    Down 8-0 at halftime, the Silver Bullets D5 Mites came out fired up and ready to roll and roll they did when running back Matt Lambert took the ball and rambled 48 yards for the Bullets' first touchdown to make it 8-6. Lambert got the nod again on the two-point PAT to make it 8-8 and that was all the momentum the Barnstable squad needed to forge ahead.

    On Barnstable's seventh defensive stint of the day, linebackers Marcus Cunningham and Conor Walsh combined for two solo tackles apiece to stop the Hanover offense at midfield. Barnstable took over on downs at midfield and Lambert went to work once more, this time picking up eight yards on his first carry to bring up a 2nd and 2 to go. Staged on the Hanover 30-yard line, Lambert then bolted once more, busting through four would-be tacklers up the gut before breaking into daylight and touchdown. Sadly, Lambert's second score was called back due to a clipping penalty.

    The penalty mattered little to quarterback Hayden Murphy who took things into his own hands and sprinted 28 yards into paydirt. The score: Barnstable 14, Hanover 8. "Murph" got the nod once more from the two-yard line on the two-point PAT attempt and he did not disappoint the crowd, punching it in to make it 16-8.

    On Barnstable's ensuing defensive stint, defensive end Nathan Yingling and defensive tackle Matt Tracy combined on the first play to drive Hanover back. Middle linebacker Johnny Hardy and cornerback Kevin Huska then combined to bring down the ball carrier to make it 3rd and 5. Outside linebacker Kristian Luchichinsky then made two solo tackles to keep Hanover at bay.

    Charged up and ready to put a dagger into Hanover's heart, Tracy and cornerback Colby McWilliams combined to stop the ball carrier once more to bring up 3rd and long. Defensive tackle Tim Omerzu then busted through the front line and hammered the Hanover running back for yet another loss. A fourth down desperation pass went incomplete, and Barnstable had finished its work for the day.

    On offense, Lambert collected 58 yards and one touchdown (1 PAT) rushing on three carries. Murphy tallied 44 yards and one touchdown (1 PAT) on 11 carries. Walsh collected 10 yards on four carries, followed by Darien Kaski (6 carries, 13 yards), Cunningham (3 carries, 14 yards) and Huska (1 carry).

    On defense, Cunningham led the way with 3.5 tackles, Walsh and Murphy followed with three tackles apiece, Lee Hickey had 2.5 tackles, Rob Stuart (2.5 tackles), Luchichinksy (2 tackles), Omerzu (1), Huska (1) and a number of others with combined tackles.

    On Hanover's touchdown run -- a 95-yard jaunt -- Barnstable had actually pushed Hanover backwards some 30-plus yards before relenting on fourth down.