Grey Ghosts' Defense Gives Lincoln-Sudbury Dual County Driver's Seat

It was the moment. It could have been the moment. But in the end, it was not the moment.

Despite their disparate overall records, nearly was able to replace Lincoln-Sudbury at the top of the Dual County League Large standings, but fell 38-14 in a contest as divided as their season has been to this point.

 The first half showed the flashes of brilliance that the Grey Ghosts displayed in the better moments of their opener at and their victories this season, particularly the resiliency of their , rebounding from an interception on their first drive to force a fumble that led to a score from the returning Alex Eaton, the first of two forced in the half by the Ghosts.

Eaton and opening day starting quarterback Troy Faretra, who returned from a separated shoulder injury to play wide out, may not have been at the top of their games on this evening.  However, their presence seemed to instill a sense of optimism in the Ghosts, a sense that the 14-10 halftime lead they gained could grow, or at least stick.

That’s when the other half of Westford’s season kicked in.

Because for all of Westford’s offensive prowess, in games against other vaunted opponents this year like and , the Grey Ghosts’ defense faltered to the point where their sheer athleticism on the other side of the ball just couldn’t compensate

That tale that was retold again in Sudbury, and it was retold quickly as the Warriors grabbed touchdowns on their first three drives of the second half compared to three punts from Westford, a comparison that shocked the would-be world beaters into a stunned silence.

“We just couldn’t get off the field on third downs,” said Westford Academy head coach Rich McKenna. “You can’t win football games when you’ve got them third and long two or three times and don’t get off the field and then when you get the ball and you don’t move it.”

What perhaps was more frustrating, maybe even more frustrating than the Concord-Carlisle debacle, was that the two turnovers from the first half evaporated into the same old defensive struggles, perhaps best shown late in the second half where what should have been a four yard run from Lincoln-Sudbury’s Chris Georgio became a 22 yard scamper into the end zone for their fourth touchdown of the half, an exclamation point on their dominance in the DCL.

“Offensively, they were having trouble stopping us, whether we were throwing the ball or running the ball,” said Lincoln-Sudbury head coach Tom Lopez. “Well, you knew that Concord scored 61 on them.”

McKenna couldn’t argue.

“We work on tackling all the time, I don’t know, I wish I could explain it,” he said.  “I don’t know what to say.”

With the loss, Westford Academy fell to 4-4 overall and more importantly, 1-1 in the Dual County League Large divisional standings, a game behind Lincoln-Sudbury, who remains undefeated on the season (8-0, 2-0).