Generals Open Division Play with Convincing Victory

Prior to his team’s game against Manchester-Essex on Friday night, Matt Putur told one of his assistant coaches that he was going to finish with two interceptions.

His days as soothsayer were looking good when he picked off a pass on the Hornets first possession.

While he never did get that predicted second interception, he did recover a fumble to help lead the Generals to a 35-6 romp over the host team, in the opener in Tier 4 play of the new Cape Ann League/Northeast Conference for both squads.

“I just wanted to come out and do my best,” said the senior, a two-year starter. “I really take pride in my defense. It is what I prefer, to offense.”

He said he saw the receiver “release” on his first takeaway. He made up a couple steps when the ball was in the air by quick back-peddling and a perfectly timed leap to grab Cory Burnham’s pass in the back of the end zone.

“Matt made big plays last year during our playoff run,” said coach Andrew Morency. “He’s a senior leader back there. Having him back there makes it easier on our front seven.”

The second turnover came a little more than halfway through the third quarter when he pounced on a botched pitch from Burnham to Chris Dumont. Putur was a half step quicker to the ball than the Hornets.

Hamilton-Wenham (6-0) had a 28-0 lead at the time and the cushion was pushed to 35 points on the nest play when Dakota Stevens broke through the middle of the line untouched for a 35-yard score.

The Generals generated 348 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. As it has been all season the offensive line – starters Taylor Drinkwater, Shane Jenkins, Matt Vogus, Kevin Anthony and Ryan Foringer - has been opening holes for the runners to get through the initial line, letting them do the rest downfield.

“Coach (Morency) knew (Manchester-Essex) were going to put eight (players) in the box so we practiced all week on single blocks,” said Jenkins, a senior. “We knew we could take them 1-on-1. Our running backs do a good job of seeing the holes.”

But anyone who has even seen H-W only once knows it is more than the running backs. No. 12, starting quarterback Trevor Lyons, is part of the one-two punch with starting tailback Elliot Burr. The two combined for 247 yards and three TDs, with Lyons accounting for 154 yards and two scores. Burr had 93 yards and one touchdown.

“We knew we had to contain (Lyons),” said Manchester-Essex coach Mike Athanas. “Sometimes we did and sometimes we didn’t. Sometimes we’d keep him inside but give up a run outside. If we took one away we’d give it up the other way.”

Lyons got his team on the board on the third play of the game when he sprinted 47 yards. He went inside but made a quick cut to the outside and went untouched down the sideline.

His second TD was from 14 yards out, after he broke an attempted shoulder tackle at the 11-yard line. The score was 14-0 with 9 seconds off the clock in the second quarter.

Burr found the end zone with 5:07 remaining in the half. The game was secured when Luke Wendt took in a 10-yard pass from Lyons on a slant pattern for a 28-0 bulge with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

Morency was pleased with his team’s effort. He said they were very excited for the start of league play, which will determine who goes to the playoffs, and sometimes beign too excited can be detrimental.

“Everyone was pumped to get (league play) started,” said Morency. “We all know we need these games. The kids really wanted to come out and put on a show.”