GLOUCESTER — This one was over by halftime.
Ahead 36-8 with 2:14 to play in the first half, Gloucester head football coach Paul Ingram inserted his second and third units into a game that got out of hand quickly. Fast forward to the end of the game and the Fishermen walked away with an easy 36-14 victory over Revere at Newell Stadium. Gloucester improved to 9-0 with the win and can clinch their third straight Northeastern Conference Large title and a playoff berth with a win against Lynn Classical next week.
The game was decided in the first 20 minutes of play and the Fishermen were nothing less than their usual dominant self. Not only did they outscore the Patriots (2-7) by 28 points, Gloucester out gained the Patriots 259-45 in the opening half, with 50 of Revere's yards coming on one play. It should be noted, however, that the Patriots were playing without six starters.
Running back Conor Ressel kept up his incredible rushing pace with 150 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on just six carries, he also added two catches for 27 yards. The Fishermen scored on five of their six first-half possessions and were faced with just two third down plays.
"It was great to get the young kids in, which was what we wanted to do, put them in there and let them fend for themselves," Ingram said. "They come to practice every day and they work hard. There was no use leaving the starters in there to potentially get hurt with the game getting out of hand, it was good that we came out of the game unscathed."
As they usually do, the Fishermen got the ball rolling on their rout early. On Revere's first play from scrimmage and the game's first play, Ressel picked off a Paul Norton pass and set Gloucester up with good field position at their own 46. Seven plays later, senior fullback Ali D'Angelo scored on a 1-yard plunge for the game's first score. Sal Favaloro's extra point made it 7-0.
After forcing the Patriots to a three-and-out on their next possession, D'Angelo scored again, this time from four yards out, capping off a four-play, 35-yard drive to make it 13-0 with 3:19 to play in the first quarter.
Gloucester also used an effective passing attack on its first three drives as quarterback Brett Cahill completed all three of his pass attempts for 45 yards.
"I made it a point to come out and throw in the first two series," Ingram said. "Brett didn't get any reps last week (a 48-7 win over Lynn English) and I wanted him to stay in a groove."
After a Max Millifoglie sack forced Revere to punt again, Ressel scored his first touchdown on a quick pitch from 30 yards out, Cahill ran in the extra point to make it 21-0.
Revere, however, would answer back on its next possession as the Patriots took advantage of a rare defensive breakdown from Gloucester. Chris Adreani took a quick wide receiver screen from Norton, made one man miss and ran the rest of the way untouched for a 50-yard touchdown, he would then catch a two-point conversion pass to make it 21-8.
The momentum would be very short-lived, as Ressel took the Fishermen's next play to the house from 66 yards out to make it 29-8. On Gloucester's next possession wing back Brandon Cusumano scored on a 16-yard inside reverse to make it 36-8. The run was set up by a 34-yard scamper from Ressel.
Revere added a fourth quarter touchdown from Adreani, but the game was already well in Gloucester's hand.
Gloucester 36, Revere 14
at Newell Stadium, Gloucester
Revere 0 806— 14
Gloucester132300— 36
G-Ali D'Angelo 1 run (Sal Favaloro kick)
G-D'Angelo 4 run (kick missed)
G-Conor Ressel 30 run (Brett Cahill run)
R-Chris Adreani 50 pass from Paul Norton (Adreani pass from Norton)
G-Ressel 66 run (Jordan Shairs pass from Alex Silveira)
G-Brandon Cusumano 16 run (Favaloro kick)
R-Adreani 35 pass from Norton (conversion failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: G — Conor Ressel 6-150, Ali D'Angelo 4-21, Brandon Cusumano 4-36, Brett Cahill 2-14, Marc Giacalone 8-42, Kyle Lucido 4-39, Ben Chianciola 8-37, Matt Catarino 3-(-2); R — Quentin Wesley 12-71, Paul Norton 4-(-5), Chayon Thy 1-3, Scooby Mageza 1-0.
PASSING: G — Cahill 3-6-45-0-0; R — Norton 4-14-86-2-1.
RECEIVING: G — Ressel 2-27, Gilbert Brown 1-18; R — Chris Adreani 3-85, Wesley 1-1.
