The Marblehead High football team (5-2) finally cracked the top 10 in the Division 4 state power rankings. On the heels of their dominating 28-3 win over the Division 2 Peabody Tanners, the Magicians went from 15 to 10 in just one week, according to the Oct. 25 seedings. They are sure to move up a few more spots when the rankings come out this week after turning in another fine all-around effort last Friday night against visiting Masconomet Regional (6-2) at Piper Field, where they defeated the Division 3 Chieftains, 21-7.
The Marblehead boys have now won five in a row. During this streak, the defense has given up only 31 total points after surrendering 65 in the first two games of the year. Meanwhile, the offense has racked up 181 points in the last five games, while scoring just 19 combined points in the first two.
Statistics like these would make any coach smile, and Marblehead’s Jim Rudloff is no exception, even though there might still be room for improvement with the playoffs looming on Nov. 8.
“We still turned the ball over twice, one which led to a Masco touchdown. That continues to be an issue for us.” Rudloff said. “But fortunately for us, we were able to force three turnovers.”
Rudloff, however, was happy to see his offense get off to a fast start. On the first play of the game, junior quarterback Finn Gallup hooked up with his classmate Rylan Golden for an 80-yard scoring strike. Scouting Masco in-person and on film might have set up that electrifying play.
“Masco has probably the most aggressive defense that we’ve seen this year. Their safeties do a
tremendous job helping out in the run game, and we thought if we could just give our receivers an extra step using play action, (this play could work),” explained Rudloff. “Finn (Gallup) made a great throw, and Rylan (Golden) did a tremendous job in getting the yards after the catch.”
Senior captain Colt Wales knows that after each win his team becomes a target for the opposition. “I’d like to think we are the team to beat. Our confidence is through the roof,” he said. “I think we now have that target on our backs.”
Wales also commented on the effects of Golden’s touchdown reception. “After that touchdown, it got everybody on the sidelines excited, which translated on the field and in the student section, as well,” he said.
The senior leader further explained the origins of that play that led to the quick start by adding: “We saw their cornerback bailing and playing off the ball on film all week long, so we knew the post would be there.”
The home team tacked on another touchdown later on in the opening stanza on a two-yard run by senior Yandel Garcia, and then put the game out of reach in the third quarter when the senior captains — Wales and Crew Monaco — hooked up for a 23-yard touchdown reception. Sophomore Finbar Bresnahan nailed all three extra points to help complete another satisfying win.
Wales credits the tandem’s history of playing together for many years to their continued success on the gridiron. “We have always had chemistry throughout our youth (football) days, and being a captain with him this year is a pleasure. I definitely like our odds when we are out there together,” he said. “I know he’s going to be there streaking across the middle every time.”
Monaco says they “have been brothers since elementary school” to further explain their innate ability to connect on the field. “We played flag football together, and have been best friends for a while,” he added. “We have a brotherhood connection on and off the field. We can take criticism from each other, but sometimes we argue with each other like brothers. But overall, I think it just makes us play super well together, and we obviously love being in the secondary and backfield at all times on the field.”
As far as Friday night’s (Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.) road game at Danvers is concerned, the Magicians know there will be plenty at stake. A win over the Falcons will secure the Northeastern Conference Dunn Division title all by themselves for one more year, while also inching further up in the power rankings ladder to get a possible first-round home game at the start of the playoffs.
With much on the line Friday night, Wales is taking nothing for granted. “Our mindset hasn’t changed,” he said. “We’re just going to keep our heads down and keep on working hard one week at a time.”
Crew rationalizes it another way. “If the last game wasn’t our biggest of the year, this one certainly is,” Monaco said. “Danvers is a good squad, and it’s going to be a great challenge as we head into the playoffs. We obviously need the win (over Danvers) to win the title outright, and right now we are hungry for that.”
Not to be overlooked by another solid win, it was also Senior Night, and Monaco won’t forget the
significance of that moment. “You only have a chance to win your Senior Night game once, and we were able to capitalize on that opportunity as a family,” he said. “This is a very special group.”
But once again, all the attention is on Friday night’s Danvers game. They of course play Danvers every year, but Rudloff sees this game differently from last year’s confrontation. “We needed to beat Danvers last year just to make the playoffs,” he said. “But this year’s game is sort of the opposite. Danvers will be the home team this time, and has a chance to share the league title with us if they beat us. They also need the win to make the postseason, and will obviously be extremely motivated. For us, we hope that added pressure on them will force us to stay focused this week in practice.”
