On Football
GLOUCESTER — Brett Cahill is just one of those players that it seems every great team in any major sport needs to have to be successful.
To really understand what makes the Gloucester High senior football captain so special, you'd have to go beyond his skill level on the field. Although, the facts that he has tossed for 10 touchdowns and no interceptions as a quarterback, and he routinely delivers big plays and bone-crushing hits as a linebacker are certainly contributing factors to his excellence as a player.
Nevertheless, a simple moment during his team's 35-7 Thanksgiving victory over rival Danvers yesterday, truly displayed what Cahill's presence means to this group of unbeaten and playoff-bound Fishermen (11-0).
Because of the looming Division 1A playoff matchup against Westford Academy on Tuesday night, Cahill didn't play a down at linebacker yesterday so that he could be fresh and injury-free for the postseason. Despite being a senior and playing his final career game at Newell Stadium, Cahill was not upset about not playing the position that earned him Northeastern Conference All-Star status. Instead, he was constantly encouraging and helping junior Marc Giacalone, who was filling in for Cahill.
"I definitely wanted to make sure that I helped him out," said Cahill. "I wanted him to play well and avoid any mistakes, and help out the coaches a little bit."
Therein lies perhaps Cahill's greatest attribute of all — his leadership.
"He's that kind of kid," said Gloucester head coach Paul Ingram of Cahill's leadership ability. "He never says a negative word, he just does what's asked of him. He gets upset when things aren't going well and he tries to fix it."
Giacalone responded to the encouragement from Cahill, as the junior played a solid game right in the thick of a Gloucester defense that held Danvers to just 195 total yards (90 came on the Falcons only touchdown against Gloucester's second unit late in the third quarter).
While Cahill served as another coach defensively, he played brilliantly offensively with his second straight 100-yard game passing. He finished 5 of 7 for 107 yards and two touchdowns, all of which came in the first half. The second TD toss was a picture-perfect 55-yard score, as Cahill found junior Gilbert Brown (four catches, 89 yards) streaking right down the middle of the field and hit him in stride.
The game added to an incredibly efficient season for Cahill. He has now tallied 718 passing yards, completed 65-percent of his passes, and thrown 10 TDs and zero picks. You could make an argument that he could be an NEC All-Star as a QB also.
"He's so relaxed as a quarterback and that's how you have to be," said Ingram, who also played quarterback in high school and college. "He is so accurate and he just doesn't panic. That is the hardest thing to teach kids. I've been very happy with his performance."
Cahill has the perfect mentality as a passer. He knows that first and foremost, the Fishermen are a running team, and as that gets established, so then will the pass. That was evident also yesterday, as Gloucester gained 216 yards on the ground. Cahill also knows that if a play is not there, don't force the throw.
"If the play is not open, I just throw the ball away or run out of bounds, that's all it comes down to," said Cahill.
Senior running back Conor Ressel has been friends with Cahill since they were young kids. Ressel has enjoyed a tremendous season himself, and his 110 rushing yards and a TD earned him the Gloucester Fraternity Club Player of the Game award yesterday. Still, Ressel will be the first to admit how much his longtime buddy means to the Fishermen.
"I've been friends with Brett since I was in diapers," said Ressel. "I've always known what he can do at quarterback. I played with him in pee wees and he is one of the most accurate throwers I've ever seen. He is so smart with the ball and he's done a great job all year."
The next step for Cahill and his team will be to win two playoff games and capture the Division 1A Super Bowl with an unbeaten 13-0 record. But until Tuesday, the Fishermen can enjoy yesterday's win.
"We didn't want to be a team that is remembered for a loss on Thanksgiving," said Cahill.
