Div. 5 Pee Wees Silver Bullets Shutout Middleboro, 8-0

      When running back Charlie Rice was knocked out of the game at midfield at the end of a a 20-yard kickoff return to start the second half, the 8-0 lead the Barnstable Silver Bullets Division 5 Pee Wees held over guest Middleboro looked slimmer than ever.

      But a stingy, albeit battle-worn defense, would not relent and on play after play throughout the second half (and the entire game for that matter), it was the defense that spelled the difference for the Silver Bullets. The Division 5 Pee Wees now stand at 2-1 on the season and have won two straight.

      Linebacker Dominique Tillman was the unquestionable backbone of the Barnstable defense Saturday night at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field, as he pounded and pounded away at the Middleboro running attack. All totaled, Tillman collected 5.5 tackles while defensive tackles Zach Stevens and Bob Melley each added 2.5 tackles, with Stevens' adding two sacks on the day.

      Other superb defensive efforts were turned in by Everett Walsh (3 tackles), Cam Crocker (3 tackles), Damon Blake (2.5 tackles), Kevin Ostrom (2.5 tackles), Curtis Collopy (2 tackles) and Theo France (2.5 tackles). Two of Walsh's tackles came on a kick-off return and a punt return. Cornerback Stephen Huska collected a key interception in the middle of the first half. He also had one tackle (0.5).

      It was the pressure placed on the Middleboro quarterback by the trio of Crocker, Stevens and Melley, however, that may have spelled the difference in the game. Melley and France also each recovered a fumble in the game.

      Barnstable 's sole offensive output came on its second possession on the first play of the second quarter when quarterback Damon Blake rolled left at the 11-yard line and hit tight end Everett Walsh with a pass at the two yard line; Walsh fought his defender to the end zone to make it 6-0. Tight end Nick Cincotta then ran a quick pop pass in the middle and Blake hit him with a strike for the two-point PAT conversion to make it, Barnstable , 8-0.

    Defensive end Nick Cincotta also added one tackle on the day, while linebacker Joe D'Olimpio had a superb solo tackle on a 4th and 10 play to stop Middleboro deep in their own territory. Sean Ball collected a solo tackle on the opening kick-off.

The Play-by-Play

      Barnstable started Saturday night's game at home versus Middleboro with one of its finest defensive stands thus far in the 2004 season.

      Sean Ball landed a solo tackle on the Middleboro kick-returner after Bob Melley's deep kick-off and then the Silver Bullets went to work.

      Linebacker Kevin Ostrom made the first solo tackle, followed by a hard hit from linebacker Damon Blake. Defensive tackle Zach Stevens then hammered the ball carrier to bring up 4 th and 5. With 5:32 left in the first quarter, linebacker Dominique Tillman landed a beautiful hit to stop Middleboro cold. Barnstable took over on the 49-yard line.

      Charlie Rice gained four yards on his first carry ot bring up 2 nd and 6 and then some nice blocking led to a first down run by quarterback Damon Blake. Blake carried the ball once more for a gain of three yards to bring up 2 nd and 7, but with the Silver Bullets breathing hard in the Red Zone, a fumble cost them the ball and an opportunity to score first. Middleboro took over on its own 18-yard line.

      Tillman stepped into the breach once more to stop the ball carrier cold to bring up 2 nd and 10 and on the next play nosegaurd Cam Crocker caused a fumble on a run up the gut and Melley recovered it at the 16. Barnstable had yet another chance with 1:44 on the clock.

      Rice carried the rock first, taking it 8 yards to put it on the 8 yard line and brought up 2 nd and 2. Ostrom picked up the first down on the ensuing play to make it 1 st and 10 with 0:14 left in the first quarter. Blake rolled out on a Houston pitch but bobbled the quick toss to Rice. Fortunately, Rice recovered it at the 12. Time ran out on the first quarter and the Bullets switched sides.

      On the first play of the second quarter, Blake rolled left and found tight end Everett Walsh near the goal line and hit him with a strike. Walsh caught it at the two and with a Middleboro defender on his back, pushed forward for the touchdown to make it 6-0, Barnstable . Tight end Nick Cincotta then cut inside on the PAT attempt and caught Blake's offering for two more points. Barnstable had all it would need to win the ballgame.

      Walsh collected a fine solo tackle on Melley's ensuing kick-off and on Middleboro's first play, a pass attempt, cornerback Stephen Huska stepped up and snared it for his team's first interception of the season. He carried it 10 yards to the Middleboro 32-yard line.

Rice took the ball on 1 st and 10 to bring up 2 nd and 7. The nimble ball carrier then picked up a first down on a 13-yard jaunt to put the Bullets on the Middleboro 16 once more. Blake then got caught in the crossfire and was taken down for a three-yard loss. A motion penalty on the next play placed Barnstable at 2 nd and 18. Middleboro then intercepted a Blake offering to regain ball control.

      With 5:19 left in the half, Tillman once again put the hammer on the ball carrier to bring up 2 nd and 15. Crocker then applied heavy pressure up the middle to bring up 3 rd and 10. Walsh and Huska then converged to bring up 4th and 10 and linebacker Joe D'Olimpio answered the call, making a superb hit to end Middleboro's hopes of advancing the ball.

      With 2:31 remaining in the half, Rice was nailed for a 7-yard loss on a sweep attempt. Finding themselves at 3 rd and 17 on the 23 with time ticking away, Blake found Walsh once more in the open flat for 6 yards but it was not nearly enough.

      With a 4 th and 11 situation, Blake took a hard sack for a loss and Middleboro took over at its own 20-yard line.

      Crocker and Tillman converged on the first play to bring up 2 nd and 11, then defensive tackle Zach Stevens stepped in and stepped in hard. Punching through the Middleboro offensive line, Stevens unloaded on the opposing quarterback for a 6-yard loss and sack. The play ended the half.

Second Half

      Charged with adrenaline and momentum, Rice took the opening kick-off and blazed down the sidelines before getting nailed in the back with an opponent's helmet, effectively taking Rice out of commission for the evening.

      The long injury time-out sucked Barnstable dry of the momentum it had built up at the close of the second half. Luckily, the Silver Bullet "D" had come to play.

      Blake took a vicious hit in the backfield on the ensuing play and a fumble and stalled play later, Barnstable faced 4th and 19. Punter extraordinaire Devin Broadley then lofted a 20-yarder to place Middleboro at its own 40.

      Blake landed the first solo hit, then converged with Stevens in the backfield for a sack to bring up 3rd and 14. Crocker then took his turn for a sack and loss of 6 yards to bring up 4th and 20 with 3:16 left in the quarter. Ostrom followed suit and once again the Barnstable defense had done its duty.

      But Middleboro was just as tough on defense. Theo France got nowhere fast for a loss of five… Blake then fumbled… and a motion penalty later and Barnstable was staring at 3rd and 20. An unsuccessful running bid later and the third quarter had expired, leaving Barnstable at 4th and 20 to start the last frame.

      Enter Broadley once more, this time with a magnificent 40-yard boot all the way to the Middleboro goal line. Walsh sped down the field and nailed the ball carrier at the four-yard line to put the Barnstable defense in the envious position of a possible safety; Melley almost got what the defense hoped for with a hit in the backfield for a two-yard loss to bring up 2nd and 12. But Middleboro found a weakness and exploited it, gaining 8 yards via the outside lane, then hit it again to gain a bundle of yards; France saved the run from being more with a speedy tackle down the opposing sideline.

      On 1st and 10 at midfield, Broadley made a fine hit but Middleboro had gained three on he play to bring up 2nd and 7. France and Cincotta then combined on the ensuing play, but Middleboro once more gained the first down.

      Melley and Tillman combined on the next play to drop the Middleboro ball carrier for a loss of 8 yards to bring up 2nd and 18. Just 3:14 remained in the game. Middleboro stood on Barnstable 's doorstep on the 28-yard-line.

      Ostrom and France then combined on the next hit, but it was late in the offering as Middleboro picked up 17 yards to bring up 3rd and 1.

      Walsh and Collopy then converged upon the ball carrier for no gain. On the ensuing play, Collopy dropped the ball carrier alone, but it was enough for a first down.

      With 1:27 left, Broadley and Collopy then combined on a good hit, but Middleboro had gained five more yards to bring up 2nd and 5. France and Cincotta then cruised in and hammered the Middleboro ball carrier for a loss of 9 yards to bring up a critical 3rd and 14. Melley closed the door for yet another loss of five yards to bring up 4th and 19 with 0:44 left. With no timeouts left, Middleboro had little choice but to throw up a prayer. It fell short of its intended receiver and the game was Barnstable 's.

      Barnstable hosts Hingham Saturday night (Oct. 2) at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field at 6:30 p.m.