Salem impresses in loss to powerhouse Pinkerton

BY MATT STOUT

Most years, a runner-up plaque is a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. On Saturday, Nov. 18, it could have represented a title in itself.

In what many tabbed to be a foregone conclusion, the Salem football team fell, 27-7, to powerhouse Pinkerton Academy in the Division I title game. A third-quarter, 96-yard Astros’ touchdown pass ensured Pinkerton’s 12-0 season and second consecutive title.

Yet, as much as it hurt to bow in the championship for the second straight year, just another victim in the Astros’ run to Division I glory, Salem coach Jack Gati and his players watched as Pinkerton celebrated their victory.

And they didn’t bow their heads once.

From the start, it was Pinkerton and everyone else in 2006. The Blue Devils, at 8-4, were the last ones standing.

“When we started this season, there wasn’t much on us, we didn’t have very high expectations,” said Salem senior captain Jared Ciriello, who pointed out that just three players on the varsity bus leaving Derry started in last year’s 7-0 loss to Pinkerton. “Everything we did this year is attributed to the team and not last year’s team setting it up. So making it to the championship was definitely great for us.

“And we all know that.”

As gaudy as the final margin was, the 20-point cushion Pinkerton built doesn’t begin to tell the game’s story. After two Pinkerton rushing scores and a blocked punt that Astros senior Dana Macleod ran in from roughly 15 yards out, Salem found itself down 19-0 less than 12 minutes in.

But the Blue Devil defense found its footing thereafter, holding running back Mike LaRocque to 11 of his 121 yards rushing in the second half, continually forcing Pinkerton into short drives, two of which ended in three-and-outs to start the third quarter.

The Salem offense, meanwhile, made good on a short field with 6:06 left in the second quarter when it scored its lone touchdown on a 5-yard halfback pass from Shane McMahon to Kevin Sledge.

Overcoming two Pinkerton interceptions late in the first half and early in the second, the Blue Devils seemed to be gaining momentum after they pinned the Astros inside their 5-yard line with less than a minute to play in the third quarter.

But then, in a way, the Salem defense proved too good. With Pinkerton still leading 19-7, coach Brian O’Reilly called for a play-action pass. Salem read the play, taking away quarterback Bryan Farris’ first option in the flat.

Seeing that, wide receiver Juan Amador changed his fly pattern into a post, cut inside to take a pass at about the 25-yard line from Farris and sprinted untouched for a 96-yard score and, more importantly, all the Astros needed to ensure the win.

“As soon as (Salem) jumped the pass, I was like, ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me,’” O’Reilly said.

“But Brian just pumped it, turned and found Juan on the inside seam and just laid it out there.”

Pinkerton ran out most of the fourth-quarter clock, but Gati couldn’t be happier with what he called a “championship effort” from his team. The coach returns most of his key players next season, including McMahon, Sledge and quarterback Hal Landers, who threw for 81 yards.

It’s the leadership many of his seniors brought that he’ll miss. Salem graduates 10 altogether, including captains Ciriello and Mark Dupuis, Dan Frasca, Ben Lawlor, Peter Emerzian, John Emerzian, Matthew Gromyko, Brent Madigan, Greg Lorenz and Greg Sapochetti.

“To get to this point and get into the championship game,” Gati said, “there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”