Gloucester Alumni

On Football by Matt Langone, Sports editor
Gloucester Daily Times

However, the 40-degree temperature, misty rain and cold breeze coming off the ocean didn't phase Gloucester head coach Paul Ingram when his players treated him to an early shower on the sideline.

The celebration was warranted, as the Fishermen had dismantled a good Salem team, 42-0, and in doing so clinched the Northeastern Conference Large title, maintained their unbeaten record (10-0) and punched their ticket to the Division 2A playoffs.

"It was real slippery there on the sideline, so I couldn't get out of the way," said a happy Ingram after the game in reference to his Gatorade-soaked appearance. "The players have spikes on; I don't."

It was the perfect culmination of a year of domination for Gloucester. The game marked the fourth time that the Fishermen tallied 40-plus points in a game, and it also marked the fourth time that Gloucester held an opponent to seven points or less, including two shutouts.

Of all of Gloucester's tremendous showings this fall, Friday night's win may have been the most awe-inspiring.

Salem (5-5, 3-2 NEC Large) came into the game with hopes of claiming at least a share of the conference title, and slim hopes of making the postseason. But the Fishermen had the Witches' number from the start.

Salem didn't record a first down until late in the second quarter and totaled just 74 yards of offense for the game. On the flip side, Gloucester's Anthony Enderle out-produced the whole Salem team with 122 yards rushing.

"We came out and we wanted to pound them (Salem)," Ingram said. "I really wanted to establish the physical part of the game, and like I've said before, we go as Anthony goes."

Of course, Enderle had a great deal of help from Andrew Fulford, who scored the game's first three touchdowns, and Taylor Burbine (52 rushing yards, touchdown).

Gloucester hasn't played a postseason game since 2001, which is considered a drought in a town with lofty football expectations. Thus, this year's players are very proud to be a part of the team that ended that hiatus, in very impressive fashion no less.

"It's pretty special," said Fulford, a senior captain. "It was great for the seniors to win the conference title under the lights for one last time."

Fulford's teammate and fellow senior captain Adam Quinn echoed those sentiments.

"This is huge," said Quinn, who was part of a relentless pass rush on Salem quarterback Colby Boulay. "Usually the emotions on Thanksgiving are pretty high, but this feeling blows it away."

Thanksgiving Day against Danvers (10 a.m.) is the last regular season contest that Gloucester has remaining. Conventional wisdom would say that the Fishermen will still be unbeaten going into the playoffs, as the Falcons are winless on the season (0-10) and the game will be played at Newell Stadium.

As of now, it's uncertain who the Fishermen will see after that in the postseason. If Masconomet defeats North Andover on Turkey Day, it will be the Chieftains taking on Gloucester. However, if North Andover beats Masco, then the Fishermen will see Wilmington.

Either way, Ingram isn't going to worry about something he can't control.

"We'll exchange film with the team that we are going to play and it will be fine." Ingram said. "We just need to continue to play our football game. I don't really care who we play to be honest."

Matt Langone is the sports editor at The Gloucester Daily Times. E-mail him at mlangone@ecnnews.com.
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