Hayden Murphy Leads the Way for the Silver Bullets in Season Opener Win

HYANNIS — First-year quarterback Hayden Murphy paved the way for victory for the Barnstable Silver Bullets Div. 5 Mites, as he scored two touchdowns and collected 6 tackles from his slot at defensive end in the much-awaited Barnstable Youth Football season opener.

    The Barnstable defense allowed just 21 yards to Marshfield on the entire day, with the first wave allowing a total of 7 yards and the second defensive unit allowing just 14 yards in two consecutive series.

    Barnstable's captains Murphy, Marcus Cunningham and Conor Walsh opted to defer the ball following the coin toss at midfield and kicked off to Marshfield. The Silver Bullets' defense went to work, and boy did they work.

    On Marshfield's first play, Bullet outside linebacker Conor Walsh dropped the ball carrier for a loss of four yards to bring up 2nd and 14, with an illegal motion penalty tacking on another five yards to make it 1st and 19. Murphy then stepped in and made a vicious tackle at the line of scrimmage for a gain of only one yard to make it 2nd and 18 to go on the 26 yard line. Marshfield fumbled and recovered on the next play to make it 3rd and 21. In two successive plays, Murphy stuffed the Marshfield back to give Barnstable the ball deep in enemy territory.

    In his first offensive series of the 2004 season, Murphy handed the ball off to Walsh who barreled his way six yards to make it 2nd and 4 at the 20 yard line. The speedy quarterback then took matters into his own hands and ran a fake handoff keeper, rolled out and took off for paydirt for a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 6-0, Barnstable. Tailback Darien Kaski then got the nod and wheeled in for the two-point PAT conversion to make it 8-0, Barnstable.

    In its second defensive stint, defensive end Rob Stuart stepped into the breach first, dropping the ball carrier for a gain of only one. One 2nd and 9, Johnny Hardy then stepped in for the tackle for a gain of only three yards to make it 3rd and 6. On the ensuing play, Murphy and defensive tackle Josh Bestford converged to stop all Marshfield backfield motion to bring up 4th and 5 to go. This time, from his slot at free safety, Kaski took his turn and stuffed the ball carrier for no gain and Barnstable took possession of the ball.

    In the Silver Bullets' second offensive series, Kevin Huska took the hand-off for a gain of three yards to make it 2nd and 7. Kaski then turned on the jets for a beautiful 30-yard run and the first down. Kaski got the nod once more and this time picked up 8 yards to make it 2nd and 2. Murphy liked what he saw and rolled out on a bootleg, sprinting 25 yards for another Barnstable first down. Murphy did it once more on the ensuing play, this time racing the final 20 yards to paydirt for his second touchdown of the day to make it 14-0, Barnstable. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

    Bolstered by a 14-0 lead, the Silver Bullets' defense went to work once more. With Marshfield on its own 40-yard line, Cunningham and Walsh stepped on on 1st and 10 to stop the ball carrier with a gain of only one to bring up 2nd and 9. On the ensuing play, Stuart and defensive tackle Clyde Perry said "no thanks" and dropped the ball carrier in the backfield for a loss of two yards to bring up 3rd and 11. Perry then took matters completely into his own hands, stormed through the offensive tackle and hammered the Marshfield running back in the backfield for a loss of another two yards to bring up 4th and 13. This time, charged up by his teammates' defensive prowess, noseguard Justus Chafee fired in and stuck the Marshfield running back for another loss of two yards. Barnstable took over possession.

    With things beginning to truly click for the Silver Bullet offense, Murphy handed the ball this time to first-year running back Greg Harris who picked up 8 yards on the first play to bring up 2nd and 2. Harris got the nod once more, but a fumble cost the Bullets two yards. With good presence of mind, Kaski was hot on Harris's heels and recovered the ball to make it 3rd and 4 to go. Murphy rolled out and took off on his own for a gain of four yards and the Silver Bullet first down. Harris got the nod once more, this time sprinting 20 yards, but the ball was fumbled and Marshfield recovered to end the half.

    On its first play of the second half, Barnstable wasted no time, this time handing the ball off to tailback Matty Lambert who went 35 yards untouched for his first Silver Bullet touchdown and a 20-0 Barnstable lead. The two-point conversion failed.

    Cornerback Lee Hickey got things rolling off to a good start on defense when he hammered the Marshfield ball carrier as he attempted to break outside on 1st and 10, bringing up 2nd and 15 for the opponents as they tried to gain back ground lost and get on the scoreboard. Middle linebacker Matty Lambert then took a turn delivering punishment and dropped the ball carrier for a gain of only five to bring up 3rd and 10. Murphy stopped the next run attempt outside and stopped it cold to bring up 4th and 10. On 4th and 10, Walsh and Cunningham converged for no gain whatsoever and Barnstable recovered the ball once more.

    On Barnstable's next and last offensive possession, the ball was fumbled and lost.

    The Bullets ended the game on defense and boy did the defense continue to dominate. Cunningham made the first tackle switching out to corner, and was followed by fantastic tackles by free safety Danny Skala, linebacker Drew Lambert and noseguard Max Lambert. Defensive end Nathan Yingling wrapped things up nicely with a superb solo tackle, followed by a combination tackle with Huska.

    Other fine efforts were made on offense by offensive lineman Noah Johnson, Joel Bess, Bestford, Perry and Stuart.

    The Bullets head to Hanover next Sunday, Sept. 19, at 11:30 a.m.