By Nick Curcuru
GLOUCESTER — The Gloucester football team just loves to play defense.
"We have a ton of pride in our defense," Gloucester senior captain Gus Margiotta said. "We are a high energy group and we bring it in practice. Our defensive practices are physical and intense."
In yesterday's Thanksgiving Day game with rival Danvers, the Fishermen showed just how good their vaunted defense could be in a 35-7 victory at Newell Stadium. Gloucester dominated the Falcons offense, as their starting team held the Falcons starters to just 34 yards of offense, allowed two first downs (one on a penalty), and did not allow Danvers to get past their own 44-yard line. Much of Danvers' offensive production and the only touchdown came with the Fishermen backups in the game.
Gloucester (11-0) clinched its second undefeated regular season in three years with the win, and now move on to the Division 1A playoffs on Tuesday, where they will play Westford Academy (time and location to be determined today).
"It was great for us to go into the postseason with a big win," Gloucester tight end/linebacker Gilbert Brown said. "The defense answered the bell and the offense did what they had to do."
What's most impressive about the Fishermen's domination is the fact that Danvers is a much-improved football team. Gloucester had a lot more trouble against last season's one-win Falcons team than it did against the now 6-5 Falcons.
Gloucester head coach Paul Ingram credited the Falcons for getting their program back on track this season.
"They have improved a lot from last year," said Ingram, whose team has defeated Danvers in five straight years. "They come to play and they have a lot of pride. (Head) coach (John) Sullivan has done a great job bringing their program back. They had a very good season and they gave us a little trouble up front early."
The Falcons defense, like the Fishermen's, came to play in the first quarter. Danvers stacked the box hoping to shut down Gloucester's running game and it worked on the opening drive of the game as Gloucester was forced to punt. A good punt from Ali D'Angelo, however, pinned the Falcons inside the 5-yard line.
Two plays later, D'Angelo came up big again as he recovered a fumble at the 10-yard line setting up the Fishermen with first-and-goal. Three plays later the Fishermen got on the board when quarterback Brett Cahill hooked up with Brown for a 5-yard score. Sal Favaloro's extra point made it 7-0.
After forcing Danvers to punt, the Fishermen got on the board again, this time it was fullback Jordan Shairs scoring on a 1-yard plunge; Favaloro's extra point made it 14-0.
The Fishermen scored again on their next possession when Cahill once again hooked up with Brown for a 55-yard score up the seam to make it 20-0, where it stood at halftime.
The Falcons moved the ball to the 44-yard line and picked up two first downs on their ensuing drive, but quarterback Greg Ladd was sacked by Gloucester's Anthony Latassa to end any threat.
While Gloucester's offense struggled to get going early, they clicked in the second quarter and had 203 yards of offense by halftime. It was the Gloucester passing game that was most efficient as Cahill finished the game with 107 yards through the air and two touchdown passes on 5 of 7 passing, all in the first half.
"We had a little trouble blocking early," said Fishermen running back Conor Ressel, who had 110 yards rushing on the day. "But we talked it over and made some adjustments and got into a groove. Brett and Gilbert were great. Brett is so poised in the pocket and he is always making the right decisions."
Gloucester's offense came out rolling in the second half as they went 69 yards on five plays to open the third quarter. A 36-yard run from Ressel, his third run of over 20 yards in the game, set himself up for a 4-yard score the very next play. Brandon Cusumano's two point conversion made it 28-0.
After stopping the Falcons three-and-out on their ensuing possession, Ingram put the backups in, and they produced. Junior fullback Marc Giacalone's 2-yard plunge combined with a Favaloro extra point made it 35-0.
Danvers got on the board on its next possession when fullback John McInnis picked up just about all of his 103 yards rushing on one play, as he raced 90 yards past the Fishermen defense for the score. Ladd's extra point made it 35-7.
With the win, the Fishermen can now turn all of their attention to the postseason.
"We got the ball rolling, now we need to keep it rolling in the playoffs," Margiotta said. "We got a little bit of rest at the end of the game which was alright, but we still need to come to play Tuesday no matter how much rest we got today."
Gloucester 35, Danvers 7
at Newell Stadium, Gloucester
Danvers 0 0 7 0 — 7
Gloucester 7 13 15 0 — 35
G- Gilbert Brown 5 pass from Brett Cahill (Sal Favaloro kick)
G- Jordan Shairs 1 run (Favaloro kick)
G- Brown 55 pass from Cahill (kick failed)
G- Conor Ressel 4 run (Brandon Cusumano run)
G- Marc Giacalone 2 run (Favaloro kick)
D- John McInnis 90 run run (Greg Ladd kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Danvers — John McInnis 7-103, Nick Valles 2-27, Clinton Lutz 8-17, Kevin Davis 5-15, Harrison Gillis 3-11, Paul Nicolo 1-6, Greg Ladd 1-0, Alex Moore 1-(-4); Gloucester — Conor Ressel 10-110, Ali D'Angelo 4-50, Ben Chianciola 8-41, Marc Giacalone 5-10, Brandon Cusumano 1-4, Santo Parisi 1-2, Mark Horgan 1-2, Jordan Shairs 1-1, Brett Cahill 1-0, Zachary Smith 1-(-4).
PASSING: Danvers — Greg Ladd 4-11-9-0-1, Paul Nicolo 1-1-7-0-0 ; Gloucester — Brett Cahill 5-7-107-2-0.
RECEIVING: Danvers — Dan Skinner 1-9, Harrison Gillis 1-7, Clinton Lutz 1-3, John McInnis 2-(-3); Gloucester — Gilbert Brown 4-89, Conor Ressel 1-18.
