Week 6
Oct. 14, 2007
Hamilton, Johnson Blaze Trail of Touchdowns in 36-22 Win
Delaney’s Division 1 Midgets Silver Bullets Win Fifth Straight With Scoring Bonanza at Plymouth
SOUTH PLYMOUTH — There is something to be said about a little bit of god-given talent and about three tons of heart and passion.
The Barnstable Silver Bullets Division Midgets won their fifth straight game Sunday, defeating host Plymouth, 36-22, thanks to the three-touchdown performance of running back Rufus Hamilton and two-touchdown bid of fullback Damian Johnson.
The Bullets, now 5-1, are in second place behind an unbeaten Bridgewater team (6-0). The two face off this Sunday at Bridgewater and the way head coach kerry Delaney’s boys have been playing, it’s anyone’s guess as to just what the lengthy Bridgewater roster can do versus Barnstable’s stoic 20-man squad.
The Silver Bullets have defeated in succession Hingham, Rockland, Marshfield, Scituate and Plymouth and are poised to stage one of the most successful Division 1 Midgets’ seasons in years, even when compared to last year’s 5-4 team. Last season, Barnstable barely fell to Bridgewater, 16-8.
Hamilton paved the way again, though, with 109 yards rushing on 7 carries, including a 60-yard, sideline-to-sideline jaunt that had Plymouth reeling.
He added a two-point PAT catch the quarterback DJ Crook, under intense defensive pressure, somehow, miraculously, got to him in the
end zone.
Johnson followed with a banner day with 70 yards rushing on nine carries including a run of 33 yards. He had two touchdowns, a kickoff return touchdown of 72 yards and a 2-yard rush. Johnson would finish the day with 163 all-purpose yards and one two-point conversion rush.
Crook had five carries for 46 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry and went 5-9 passing including a long one of 16. Tevin Hill, Everett Walsh, and Jeremy Hatstat were Crook’s go-to guys in the passing lanes.
Running backs Theo France and Kevin Hardy also fared well, with France coming back after an injury to carry the rock three times for 21 yards in a solid showing.
Defensively, Walsh again led the Barnstable tacklers from his slot at middle linebacker, tallying a season and game-high 9.5 tackles.
He was followed close behind by fellow linebacker Chris Lawler who has stepped his game up considerably this season as he turned in 6.0 tackles. Johnson followed close behind with 5.0 tackles, Hill had 4.5 tackles, noseguard Sam Holway had 2.5 tackles and Chris O’Connell got the job done with 2.0.
Other tacklers included Crook (2.0), Matt Lounsbury (1.5), Zach Stevens (1.5), Ryan Desmond (1.0), Hatstat (0.5) Curtis Collopy (0.5) and Hardy (1.0).
Stevens sustained a bizarre, deep puncture wound in his bicep early in the first quarter, a cylindrical gash that went nearly bone deep and he had to leave the game. He required four stitches and will return this week to face Bridgewater.
Crook picked off a Plymouth pass and almost had a score on a Plymouth conversion attempt, recovering a fumble in the endzone and returning it 55 yards before being caught.
Hamilton sped down the field on one Barnstable kickoff and stripped the Plymouth kick returner of the ball, simultaneously recovering the fumble he had caused.
Walsh had a beautiful, juggling catch of a 12 yard Crook pass to set up a touchdown.
BARNSTABLE DIVISION 5 PEE WEE'S ROLL OVER HINGHAM 14-0
Head coach Bob Thomas left much of the offensive work to running back Ryan Leonovich and he had a huge day, scoring both touchdowns and all but one of the Silver Bullets’ six first downs last Sunday (Oct. 14) at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field, as the D5 squad recorded their first win at home.
Before the game assistant coach Joel Bess Sr.’s son Danny Bess gave the game ball a “good luck touch” for his birthday and the entire team gave the fans, especially Danny, quite a game as they held Hingham scoreless.
The Bullets received the opening kickoff and Kevin Agostinelli ran it for seven yards to start the game.
Bo Delaney and Leonovich then took over and began the march downfield. Leonovich ran a sweep on second down for five yards, Brendan Bindig ran for two yards and Leonovich converted 4th down with a run up the middle.The Bullets could not convert the next set of downs and turned the ball over to the Hingham offense.
Hingham drove for a first down as the first quarter wound down and on the last play of that quarter a second down sweep by Hingham had one man to beat but that defender was DeMicheal Johnson and he stopped the Hingham running back at the 45-yard-line.
The start of the second quarter saw Barnstable stop Hingham’s offense and take over after pressuring the Quarterback and causing him to rush a fourth down pass which fell incomplete.
Leonovich ran first down for three yards, quarterback Delaney kept the ball on second down and on third down and five yards to go Leonovich ran up the middle, and with outstreched arms, just made it for a first down. On that next second down, Delaney gave Leonovich the ball and the crowd watched with excitement as he sprinted past defenders, making awesome cuts, on his way to a 37-yard touchdown.
Barnstable kicked off and Delaney showed his athleticism on defense as well zeroing on the kickoff reciever and stopping him before he could gain a yard. The Hingham offense was held to three and out but their defense, led by Logan Wise, thwarted any hopes of another Barnstable score in first half as time ran out.
Barnstable kicked off and held Hingham at their 40-yard line where it received the ball. On first down Delaney stuffed Hingham’s Jack Donius with a hit that could be clearly heard from the top off the bleachers and then he teamed up with Johnson for a second down stop.
The Hingham team ran up the middle on third down and Jonathan Harrington wrapped up Donius, stopping him short of a first down, however on fourth and short, quarterback Will Vazquez pushed through the line and made a first down.
Hingham ran a sweep to the right and Joel Bess wrapped up #44 behind the line as Trevor Campinha came in to assist for the four-yard 
loss. The Bullets’ inspired defense held Hingham with two minutes left to go in the third quarter.
Barnstable took over on downs with time dwindling in the third and went right back to Leonovich for a five-yard run on first down and handed him the ball again for a six- yard run up the middle, giving the Bullets a new set of downs to work with.
Delaney kept the ball for a short gain ending the third quarter. Delaney, Leonovich and Bindig then combined to get the Bullets close to the goal line highlighted by an 18-yard run from Leonovich, bringing the ball to the two-yard line.
Delaney ran for a yard and then handed off to Leonovich for his second touchdown run of the game. The initial point after attempt was called back due to a holding penalty, putting the ball on the 12 yard line. Coach Thomas called for a pass play and Bindig ran a slant pattern.
Delaney threw a perfect pass, right on the numbers, hitting Brendan in stride as he cut through Hingham’s secondary making the score 14-0. Bindig kicked off and Delaney again stuffed the return by tracking down the receiver and stopping him at the 30 yard line.
Barnstable coaches made use of their deep roster and as the Hingham team attempted a comeback, Austin Joseph ran Hingham’s back out of bounds, before he cold turn upfield.
On second down Devan Nickerson broke through the line foiling a pitch attempt. The Silver Bullets D was relentless as they pushed Hingham back and pressured the offense, also causing them to commit a false start penalty. Hingham’s offensive squad was totally frustrated, especially when Barnstable forced a fumble recovered by Mark Monroe. Kyle Wasierski took over at quarterback and on first down handed off toSonny Bisazza.
Jacob DeDoming gave a block to Hingham’s cornerback setting Bisazza free to get a first down. Time ran out as Agostinelli ran the ball up the middle for three yards finishing a fantastic effort from the entire team. The D5 Pee Wee's host Marshfield next week.
Division 1 Pee Wees Fall to 5-1 After Tough Loss to Plymouth On the Road
The usually fired up and stoic Barnstable Silver Bullets Division 1 Pee Wees — perhaps feeling emotional with the unexpected absence of assistant coach Arty Pacheco who was hospitalized with severe kidney stones — fell to Plymouth at Plymouth South High School Sunday, 24-6.
Regardless of the score, it was a tempestuous affair as the guest Silver Bullets stuffed Plymouth on its first offensive set, followed by a march down the field into paydirt for an early, 6-0 lead.
Halfback Rob Stuart paved the way with a 30-yard run, followed by a Marcus Cunningham plunge to the goal line that set up quarterback Hayden Murphy’s pristine pass to tight end Derek Estes to make it 6-0.
In spite of being tackled from behind on the ensuing two-point PAT attempt, tight end Nathan Yingling made a valiant effort to catch Murphy’s pass attempt.
But Plymouth capitalized on five Barnstable turnovers woven painfully throughout the remainder of the game (two interceptions, three lost fumbles), and each time had excellent scoring position to put Barnstable behind at the half 18-6, and for good, 24-6.
Plymouth stands alone atop the Division 1 standings, now, at 6-0, heading into this Sunday’s game at home versus Marshfield. Marshfield and Barnstable are tied in points scored in the standings, both at 5-1, but Barnstable remains alone in second place after having beaten Marshfield earlier in the season.
Danny Skala played outstandingly at safety for Barnstable in the second half, making three solo tackles.
Estes had two nice receptions for Barnstable, including a huge, 12-yard reception on third and long for a first down as Barnstable headed into the red zone, but a fumble on the ensuing play dashed the Silver Bullets’ hopes of a comeback.
Murphy and Stuart each had one sack in the game.
Darien Kaski added a couple of nice runs and had a 42-yard kick return.
Middle linebacker Conor Walsh played outstandingly with 7.0 tackles on the day and a critical fumble recovery on the goal line as Plymouth came knockign at Barnstable’s door early in the second half.
Defensive linemen Luke Fitzgerald and Mike Vazquez played a solid game, as did linebacker Colby McWilliams.
Sadly, Barnstable immediately fumbled and returned the ball into Plymouth’s hands as it scored its 24th point of the day.
The Barnstable defense did, however, stop all of Plymouth’s two-point conversion plays, including a nice play by Stuart and Kaski early in the game.
Barnstable heads to Bridgewater (1-4-1) this Sunday and hopes to get back on track.
Division 1 Mites Fall to Plymouth, 20-6
In spite of solid efforts turned in by running backs Tyler Shibles and Nathan Balthazard, the Barnstable Silver Bullets Division 1 Mites could not solve the complex offense of host Plymouth and fell, 20-6 last Sunday at Plymouth South High School.
Balthazard had Barnstable’s sole score of the day.
Once again, Sean Ford and Tavian Miranda provided the fireworks for the Barnstable defense, making routine stop after stop, but it was on three plays that Plymouth could not be kept from paydirt.
Division 5 Midgets Win Fifth Game of Season
On the immediate heels of a touch loss last week to Scituate, the Barnstable Silver Bullets Division 5 Midgets came back with a 20-6 victory over guest Hingham last Sunday at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field.
No further information about the game was made available to the press.
Silver Bullets Notebook:
• The Old Colony Youth Football League will host the Division 1 Playoffs (Mites, Pee Wees and Midgets) on Sunday, Nov. 4 at W. Leo Shields Field in Hyannis beginning at 11:30 a.m. This year’s Division 1 Super Bowl will be hosted by Scituate at Scituate High School the following weekend on November 11.
• This year’s Barnstable Silver Bullets Annual Postseason Awards Banquet will be held Sunday, Nov. 18, at 5:00 p.m. at The Four Points Sheraton in Hyannis.
• Divison 1 Pee Wees assistant coach Art Pacheco, a former Barnstable High School Red Raider captain and the all-time greatest kick returner in school history, has been under the weather of late. If you get a chance, stop by and say hello and wish him well.
n There is no BHS Red Raider High School game this evening... the Red Raiders head to Bristol Voke Tech on Saturday, Oct. 27, for a 1:00 p.m. start to face Taunton... the next Barnstable Home game is on Friday, Nov. 2, versus Bridgewater at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field, 6:00 p.m.
