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Photo Kevin Mullaney
Despite a strong showing in first half play, Nauset succumbed to Sandwich Friday night, 29-15, in its second-to-last league game. |
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Sandwich stiff-arms Warriors
By Kevin Mullaney
Banner Correspondent
Senior quarterback Connor Seymour and starring wide receiver Jon Rouillard hooked up for two touchdown passes, but the Nauset Regional football team was unable to run the ball against the stiff Sandwich defense Friday night, losing 29-15 to their Atlantic Coast league rival under windy and cold conditions in North Eastham.
Sandwich’s huddle-less offense marched upfield on its first possession, scoring on a one-yard plunge by running back Bryan Bolton. It was Sandwich’s only score of the first half and its 7-0 lead held until Connor connected with Rouillard in the corner of the end zone with less than a minute left in the half for the 10-yard TD pass. A two-point conversion by Brandon Scalley put Nauset up 8-7 at the break.
Sandwich scored twice in the third quarter, on a 33-yard run by Matt Adams and another short plunge by Bolton, to take a 21-8 lead. With three minutes left in the third quarter, Connor hit Rouillard across the middle on a slant pattern and Rouillard bolted to the end zone for a 64-yard score. Brian Niezgoda’s kick brought the Warriors within six, 21-15. Sandwich’s Bolton scored his third short TD with a four-yard run early in the fourth quarter, then ran for the two-point conversion, and Sandwich held on for the 29-15 win.
“We played a good first half,” said Nauset head coach Dave Dykeman. “But they made some halftime adjustments and we struggled to continue at the same momentum. Offensively we made some nice plays,” he said, mentioning Seymour’s 139 yards passing and his continued success with Rouillard, a junior. Seymour now has over 1,000 yards passing on the year, with six TD catches by Rouillard. “They’ve become quite a tandem,” Dykeman said, giving credit to the Sandwich defense for stopping their running game.
Defensively, Dykeman praised the play of Niezgoda at linebacker and Cody Kavanagh at cornerback. “He’s a sophomore and doing a nice job,” he said of Kavanagh. “He made a lot of nice plays,” as did defense lineman Rob Sliney, he said.
The Warriors play their last home game of the year against Whitman-Hanson Friday night, a team also struggling at 1-8. “It’s a big night for our kids,” Dykeman said of his 1-8 squad. “It’s the last home game for the seniors. It will be a memorable night.”
Dykeman said he has seen real improvement in his three years coaching, and what he most wants to see “is us putting it together for four quarters. This game is about us finishing,” he said. “We’ve held our own with everyone and I would love to see them go out with a win.”
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PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
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Nov 8th, 2007