Marblehead Outruns Masconomet 19-7

The last of three touchdown runs by Marblehead High running back Brooks Tyrrell sealed the deal against Masconomet Friday night at Piper Field propelling the Magicians to the next round of the playoffs with a 19-7 win.

Brooks' 45-yard cut-back and dash to the end zone came at a pivotal moment, and, this being a playoff game — the season.

There were about four minutes left in the game. It was 4th down and 2 yards to go for the Magicians on the Masconomet 45 yard line. 

Marblehead called a timeout to consider its options. 

To have punted the ball would have conceded that the team wasn't winning some battles on offense that it should have been winning, Marblehead Coach Jim Rudloff said after the game.

Had Marblehead won by punting and stopping the subsequent Masconomet drive — basically stumbling their way to the next round — it would not have bode well for the team chances in future playoff games, the coach said.

"Going for it there was a way of saying to the team — 'This is the playoffs,'" the coach said.

On the Marblehead sidelines during the 4th down timeout the coaches called the Brooks Tyrrell running play. 

Before the offense took to the field, player Spencer Craig told his teammates that this was what they had worked out for all summer long, this one play, the coach said.

The team went for it. And the Brooks Tyrrell touchdown broke open the game.

It made the score 19-7 and Marblehead's defense stopped Masconomet on their next possession. 

Marblehead then kept the ball for the rest of the game, running the ball closer to the Masconoment goal line then taking two knees to kill the clock.

Marblehead's D had also stepped up on a 4th down play of its own earlier in the 4th Quarter.

And it too came at a pivotal moment.

Masconomet had gained late-game momentum from a 63-yard touchdown pass to close within 7 points — 13-7. 

Then after a Marblehead turnover, Masconomet was threatening to score. It was halfway through the fourth quarter. They had the ball on Marblehead's 15 yard line. It was 4th down and inches.

Marblehead's defense had prepared for the moment, the coach said.

"You could tell there was not a look of panic on any of the kids' faces," he said.

The Masconomet running play went nowhere and Marblehead took over on downs.

Marblehead now moves on to the Northeast Div. 3 finals next Friday.

They will play the winner of Saturday's Tewksbury and Gloucester game.