FOOTBALL
Winthrop 20, Salem 19: Needing just two yards for a first down to win the game, Salem’s rush was stopped by Winthrop. Nick Cappuccio then broke free up the sidelines for an 81-yard catch-and-run pass from Matt Noonan and George Galuris booted through the extra point as the Vikings (4-3) knocked the Witches (6-1) from the unbeaten ranks in dramatic fashion.
Salem had taken a 19-13 lead on Devante Ozuna’s fourth quarter touchdown run. Albert Pujols took an interception back for a touchdown (thanks to bone crushing block by Ozuna) in the first and Salem led 13-0 on another Ozuna score. Winthrop rallied with two long TD’s to make it 13-13 going into the fourth.
Peabody 28, Gloucester 7: Senior captain Eli Batista scored three times — On a 37-yard catch from Luke Maglione, on an electric 61-yard punt return and on a four yard rush — to power the unbeaten Tanners (7-0) at home. Batista’s punt return broke the game open in the third quarter and captain Nick Dresser had a good punt return to set up the final score. Gabe Santos led the winners in rushing yardage while Alex Jackson had a key sack after the Fishermen had scored to make it a 21-7 game in the third.
Danvers 21, Masconomet 0: It was a workmanlike performance that handed the Falcons (5-2) their fifth straight win and kept them unbeaten in Northeastern Conference play. In slick conditions, senior QB Travis Voisine was nearly perfect in going 9-for-11 for 122 yards and two touchdowns, each 5-yard passes to Logan Metivier and Mike Kasprzyk. Owen Gasinowski also scored and Kevin Ahearn had a big night on the ground with 62 yards on nine carries.
Masconomet (1-5) was shut out for the third consecutive week but got some solid play from Rhyan Goncalves and Robbie Engel.
North Reading 35, Essex Tech 0: Not much went right for the Hawks (1-6) a week after their first Cape Ann League win. Jake Gilbert led the squad offensively with 53 yards rushing and Jacoby Casinelli-Tarasuik rushed for 42.
Pentucket 33, Ipswich 0: Will Gromko ran for 51 yards for the Tigers (0-7), but it was the Panther air show as Pentucket QB Caleb Meisner threw for 342 yards and five scores.