Roll to 26-0 triumph at rain-soaked Landrigan Field
SENIOR CARMEN Sorrentino (#2) had a 76 yard touchdown reception in Wakefield’s 26-0 victory over Wilmington on Friday night at Landrigan Field. Sorrentino also had nine tackles, half a sack and an interception on defense. (Donna Larsson Photo)
Published in the October 3, 2016 edition.
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The Warriors’ first win came in dramatic fashion with a thrilling overtime win. Wakefield’s second win was the complete opposite as the outcome was pretty much determined by the fourth quarter.
The Wakefield Memorial High football team scored a touchdown in each quarter as it rolled to a 26-0 triumph over Wilmington on Friday night at Landrigan Field.
The Warriors are now 2-2 overall with the victory, but more importantly 2-0 in the Middlesex League Freedom division.
Wilmington, meanwhile, fell to 1-3 overall and is 0-2 in the league.
Wakefield dominated in all phases of the contest on Friday night. The Warriors gained 339 total yards (152 rushing, 187 passing) and held Wilmington to just 72 yards of total offense (27 yards rushing, 45 passing).
The Warriors also won the turnover battle as they had four interceptions and a fumble recovery while not turning the ball over themselves for the second straight game.
Wakefield was led by senior RB Joe Marinaccio on the ground as he gained 100 yards on seven carries with two touchdowns, while senior RB Will Shea gained 56 yards on 10 carries.
Sophomore QB Mike Lucey had his best game yet as a starter. Lucey completed eight of 12 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior receivers Alex McKenna and Carmen Sorrentino caught the two touchdown passes from Lucey. McKenna had three receptions for 54 yards and Sorrentino had two catches for 78 yards.
Defensively, Wakefield was led by linebackers PJ Iannuzzi and Sorrentino as both players had nine tackles. Marinaccio chipped with five stops. Iannuzzi and Marinaccio each had a sack and Sorrentino and Iannuzzi combined on one sack of the Wildcat quarterback.
McKenna, who had three tackles, also had two interceptions. Sorrentino and junior DB Andrew Miller each had a pick as well. Senior lineman Joe Connell recovered the fumble.
“We’re gaining momentum,” said Coach Steve Cummings. “We have Stoneham next Friday night. Both teams are 2-0 and that will be a big test. We scored on the first drive and we wanted to do that. We focused on that.”
The Warriors forced a three and out by Wilmington then sustained seven play scoring drive which covered 75 yards to take a 7-0 lead.
Starting at their own 25, Shea ripped off a 13 yard run. Marinaccio gained eight yards before a holding penalty pushed Wakefield back 10 yards. Shea ripped off runs of nine, 10 and three yards to bring the ball down to the Wilmington 42. McKenna was given the ball on a sweep to the right side which was good for 14 yards and a first down at the Wildcat 28.
Marinaccio took the ball handoff and broke a 28 yard TD run on the left side to put Wakefield in front. Iannuzzi added the extra point to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 4:25 remaining in the opening quarter.
Wilmington started its next drive at its own 41 and a play action pass from sophomore QB Andrew Sullivan to junior receiver Tyler Roberts on second down was good for 27 yards and a first down at the Warrior 32.
Senior RB Sam Jennings ripped off an 11 yard gain for a first down and then gained two yards to the Warrior 19. On second down and eight, Jennings was stopped for no gain. On third down, Sullivan was dropped for a two yard loss on a QB keeper setting up a fourth down and 10 from the Wakefield 21. Sullivan’s pass to junior RB Jason Vallee for one yard wasn’t enough as the Warriors took over on downs.
Wakefield didn’t move the chains and punted the ball away in the first minute of the second quarter.
The Wildcats took over at their own 44 and drove the ball into Warrior territory. Junior RB Tom Robarge gained six yards. Vallee then had runs of two yards and one yard setting up a fourth down and one at the Wakefield 47. Vallee ran for seven yards and a first down at the Wakefield 40.
Robarge was dropped for a four yard loss setting up a long yard situation for the Wildcats. After an incompletion on second down, Sullivan hit sophomore RB Peter Marino with a 10 yard pass setting up a fourth down and four from the Wakefield 34. Sullivan’s pass to Jennings resulted in a two yard loss as Wakefield took over on downs at its own 36.
Junior RB Ryan Fitzpatrick gained two yards on first down, but on second down a bad snap resulted in a 14 yard loss. On third down and 22 from the Wakefield 24, Lucey fired a quick wide receiver screen pass to Sorrentino on the left side. Sorrentino got a couple of key blocks then outraced the Wilmington defense for a 76 yard TD reception to put Wakefield in front, 13-0.
The extra point attempt was blocked but the Warriors were in front by 13 points with 4:20 left in the first half.
“On third and long Sorrentino caught the short screen pass. He caught the ball in open space and he took the ball the distance,” said Cummings. “He played an unbelievable game. On defense, he had a pick and set the edge. He played the outside linebacker position like it should be played.”
Wilmington started its next set of downs at its own 33 and picked up a pair of first downs on a two yard run by junior RB Kyle Penney and a nine yard reception by Roberts. A 15 yard facemask penalty on Roberts’ reception moved the ball to the Wakefield 35. But two sacks by Iannuzzi and Marinaccio resulted in a pair of six yards losses as Wilmington eventually punted the ball away.
Wakefield took over at its own with 1:54 remaining in the second quarter. The Warriors elected not to sit on the lead but try to get more points before halftime.
Sorretino caught a two yard pass and then McKenna caught a short pass for a loss of a yard. Fitzpatrick caught a 33 yard pass for a first down. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Wilmington moved the ball down to the Wildcat 31 yard line. Lucey had an incompletion on first down and then a holding penalty on Wakefield pushed the ball back 10 yards. Marinaccio caught a 22 yard pass for a first down at the Wilmington 19. After Lucey spiked the ball to stop the clock, Wakefield had second down and one last chance to run a play. The sophomore QB was sacked by Vallee for a nine yard loss as Wakefield went to the locker room with a 13-0 advantage.
“We would’ve like to have scored points on the two minute drive,” said Cummings. “I thought it was a little too far away for PJ to try a field goal.”
Wakefield got the ball to start the third quarter and went three and out as it punted the ball away. Two plays later, the Warriors got the ball back when Sorrentino intercepted a pass. An illegal block penalty was called after a five yard return which resulted in a Wakefield first down at the Wildcat 47.
Shea gained 12 yards, but Marinaccio was stopped for yard loss on first down and gained just four yards on second down setting up a third down and 11 from the Wilmington 32. After an incompletion, Lucey was sacked by Marken Nerestant for a three yard loss as Wilmington took over.
The Wildcats went to their bag of tricks as Robarge tried a halfback option pass. McKenna wasn’t fooled and he intercepted the ball at the Wakefield 42.
Fitzpatrick caught a screen pass for a three yard loss on first down and then gained five yards on second down. On third down and eight, Lucey found McKenna over the middle with a pass which resulted in a 56 yard touchdown reception.
The PAT attempt was no good as Wakefield was in front, 19-0, with 3:15 left in the third quarter.
“Lucey keeps getting better,” said Cummings. “We’ve been able to add more to the offense and he is getting more comfortable back there. The game is slowing down for him and he is seeing things faster. That is going to help us for the playoffs.”
Wilmington’s next drive began at the Wakefield 27 after a 46 yard kickoff return by Marino on the ensuing kickoff. Jennings gained six yards and four yards to move the chains. But then senior then lost a yard on the next two plays setting up a third down and 12. Sullivan’s pass was intercepted by McKenna in the end zone as Wakefield took over at its own 20.
The Warriors were unable to capitalize on the turnover and punted the ball away early in the fourth quarter.
Wilmington picked up one first down on its next drive but the Warriors once again took the ball away as Miller intercepted senior QB Rob Ducharme at the Wakefield 40. On the first play, Marinaccio took the ball in from 60 yards away for Wakefield’s final TD of the night.
Iannuzzi added the extra point for a 26-0 lead with 6:08 remaining in the game.
After that both teams put in back ups and Connell recovered a fumble on Wilmington’s next possession as the Warrior defense posted the shutout.
“Offensively, we didn’t execute as well in the second half. Wilmington made some adjustments to take away our outside game,” said Cummings. “Defensively, we intercepted four balls and pitched the shutout. Our defensive line played great. Defensively, we were solid. We want to build on this and get ready for Stoneham.”
Wakefield faces Stoneham, which is also 2-0 in league play after its 28-19 win over Burlington and undefeated overall at 4-0, this Friday night at 7 p.m. at Landrigan Field in a battle for sole possession of first place in the M.L. Freedom division.
