Boxford — The Marblehead Magicians football team took their first loss of the season, dropping a 45-42 shootout to the Masconomet Chieftains at Bunker Field on Friday night.
“We can’t do anything about what just happened. The important thing is do we get anything out of this,” said Marblehead head coach Jim Rudloff following the loss. “You might feel foolish, you might feel bad that we just lost the way that we did, but the real fool is the person that takes nothing from this.”
The Magicians’ offense had a dream start to the game, marching 82 yards in just two minutes, 35 seconds. The opening drive concluded by Breydan Callahan who ran 32 yards untouched to put the game’s first points on the board.
The Chieftains matched the Headers stride for stride, going 81 yards on their first possession. Masco’s star back, Jack Fabiano, found the goal line from two yards out for his 24th touchdown of the season. The hosts elected to go for two, but failed to convert.
Finn Gallup made his presence known early, running 74-yards before being marked down at the one-foot line before finding Timmy Wales at the back of the end zone for a three-yard scoring reception to give Marblehead a 14-6 lead.
After forcing a Masco punt, the Magicians would once again force their way into enemy territory by way of the run. Gallup broke off another big run, this time for 39 yards, following it up with a key two-yard fourth down run to put the Magicians in scoring position.
Coach Rudloff would again elect to go for it on fourth down at the Masco 28. The gamble would pay off spectacularly with a second Callahan touchdown run to put the visitors up 21-6 with 8:30 remaining in the half.
After making a massive fourth down stop, Marblehead extended their lead to 22 when Madden Lyons took the option pitch and walked in for the fourth Magician touchdown of the game.
With the Masco offense in the hurry-up, Fabiano would run in for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 40 yards to send the Chieftains to halftime with momentum and a manageable 28-13 deficit.
After trading punts following the halftime interval, the Chieftains picked up a few quick first downs to set them up deep in Magician territory. The potential scoring chance would be squandered, however, as Masco quarterback, Drew Gustafson, fired the ball into the waiting arms of Lyons, nabbing his sixth interception of the season.
After forcing Marblehead three-and-out, the Chieftains, down 28-13, began the scoring frenzy late in the third quarter with Fabiano grabbing his hattrick score from 16 yards to put Masco within two scores.
Marblehead would follow up with a head-scratching scoring drive of their own. After working their way into enemy territory, a designed QB run with Gallup seemed to go awry. Swarmed by Masco defenders, Gallup lived up to his team’s name, pitching the ball to Owen Coyne who ran into the end zone for a trick touchdown.
Fabiano again found the endzone for his fourth score of the night with an 18-yard run to cut the Marblehead lead to 10 with eight minutes to play.
Following a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, Marblehead recovered the onside kick and took the ball at the Masco 42. After being forced three-and-out, the Magicians found even more luck, recovering the muffed punt and regaining possession at the 12. Gallup seemingly put the dagger through the Chieftains with a 12-yard touchdown rush to give the Magicians a commanding 42-25 lead with 5:30 to play.
Undaunted by the 16-point Marblehead advantage, Masco scored again, this time with a 67-yard touchdown reception to sophomore Trip Weidman to cut the lead to 10.
After recovering the onside kick, the Chieftains scored their second touchdown in 20 seconds, this time on a 42-yard reception by the elder Weidman brother, Cal, to make the score 42-38.
Marblehead, looking to ice the game, had luck fall their way when Callahan caught a tipped pass from Gallup to set the Magicians up deep in Masco territory. The Chieftain defense held firm, forcing Gallup into an intentional grounding foul and requiring the Magicians to punt.
Masco would quickly drive their way down the field to set up Fabiano for a one-yard plunge to pick up his fifth touchdown of the night to complete the comeback and give the hosts a 45-42 lead with 18 seconds on the clock.
Needing a miracle, Marblehead seemed to find it when Coyne made a 50-yard catch to put the Magicians in field goal range with five seconds remaining.
With time for one more play, the Magicians put the game on the left leg of Finbar Bresnahan. The kick sailed wide left, sealing Masconomet the 45-42 victory.
The teams combined for an eye popping 1,087 yards of offense, with running backs Jack Fabiano and Breydan Callahan combining for 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
