Cohasset holds on to earn tie with Spellman

By KEITH PEARSON
For The Patriot Ledger

BROCKTON - The Cohasset High School football team found itself in a familiar position Saturday. - NFL Football -

For the second week in a row, the Skippers walked off the field after 40 minutes with neither a win nor a loss following a 14-14 tie, this time coming against Cardinal Spellman in nonleague play at Potvin Field.

The game had been delayed one day because of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis concerns.

The game was a defensive struggle with the Cardinals owning a 222-141 advantage in total offense. - NFL Football -

The decision not to play overtime had one coach satisfied and another wishing they had continued.

‘‘We have 39 players on the roster, playing an extra quarter could be too much. (Not playing overtime) is something our entire league agrees with,'' Cohasset coach Tony Rolfe said. ‘‘I stand by the decision completely.''

‘‘I wanted to play overtime, but they don't do it in the (South Shore) league,'' Cardinal Spellman head coach Peter Ambrose said. - NFL Football -

Spellman (0-2-1) had a shot to break the deadlock in the final seconds of the game, driving to the Cohasset 45. Quarterback Mike Dowd looked for his favorite target, Sean Jackman, with a desperation pass, but Nick Zappalo made sure Cohasset would not go home losers with an interception at the 5-yard line.

The Cardinals tied the game midway through the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run from Chris Young and the ensuing two-point conversion from Justin Murray (20 carries, 74 yards). The touchdown capped a 13-play, 63-yard drive as Spellman pushed the smaller Cohasset defensive line off the ball.

Shane Dorian (13 carries, 65 yards) had given Cohasset (1-0-2) a 14-6 lead with 2:45 left in the third quarter, taking an option pitch 22 yards for a touchdown. - NFL Football -

Cohasset had a 7-6 lead at halftime with both teams exchanging second quarter touchdowns.

After starting slowly while trying to establish a running game, it was the Cohasset passing game that allowed the Skippers to put an offensive drive together. They found success rolling Anthony DiPaolo to the right and throwing on the run. During the drive he was 3-for-3 for 60 yards. The eight-play, 75-yard drive was capped when he connected with Zappalo for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The pair also hooked up for an 18-yard completion on a third-and-10 earlier in the drive.

Spellman also found success with their passing game. They were able to throw short passes for short gains. With 1:31 left in the half at the Skipper 35, Dowd pump faked a pass to the right flat and lofted a high spiral to the back corner of the end zone and Jackman ran under it and made a diving grab to bring the Cardinals within a point at 7-6. - NFL Football -

Dowd finished 10-of-21 passing for 111 yards with a touchdown and an interception thrown.

The Skippers defensive front stuffed Murray on the two-point attempt to hold onto a one-point lead. - NFL Football -

Cohasset will continue their nonleague slate Friday when they host Scituate.

Copyright 2005 The Patriot Ledger