A Peach of a talent
Hamilton-Wenham WR on record tear
Hamilton-Wenham senior wide receiver Cam Peach knows all about double coverage.
“I have seen it a lot, but once I beat the first guy then the second guy is the easiest part,” said the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder who has spent the last two seasons shredding secondaries from Amesbury to Manchester.
After a stellar sophomore campaign, Peach continued his assault on the Generals’ record book last season, breaking his own school marks for receptions (55), receiving yards (819), and touchdown catches (10).The versatile Peach also handled all the punting duties for the Generals and was a disruptive force on the other side of the ball at strong safety.
Despite his defensive prowess, however, it’s the receiver’s uncanny ability to soar above the competition and snare one highlight reel catch after the next that keeps not only opposing coaches, but coach Jim Pugh as well, shaking his head.
“He is as good a receiver as I have seen, and he goes up for it like a basketball player,” said Pugh, who has seen more than a few good ones over his 14-year tenure as the head man at Masconomet. “He’s not your typical high school receiver who just runs great routes and has good hands — this kid can really go and get it.”
After narrowly missing out of the playoffs last year with a 3-4 mark, Peach and the Generals closed with four straight wins in Pugh’s first season, including an upset win over favored Ipswich on Thanksgiving. This year with all but two starters back, the Generals appear poised to give perennial Cape Ann League Small power Lynnfield a run for its money.
“We finally put all the pieces together last year and we figured out everything,” said Peach, who has 1,453 career receiving yards heading into the season.
Suffice it to say, this Peach didn’t fall too far from the family tree on the gridiron. Both Cam’s dad, Bill, and his uncle, Steve, were standouts at Saugus High before going on to even greater heights in college. Steve Peach started at quarterback as a redshirt freshman for Syracuse before later transferring to BC, where he punted and served as the backup to Doug Flutie on the team that pulled off the Miracle in Miami. Bill Peach turned in a standout, four-year career as a flanker at New Hampshire, where he played alongside former Eagles and 49ers coach Chip Kelly.
“I would go to see my uncle and he would always show me his old recruitment letters and trophies, and I just thought to myself that one day I want to have this opportunity,” Cam enthused.
Bill Peach, who is in his second season as an assistant for Pugh, is quick to note that his son is light years ahead of where he was entering his senior year of high school.
“He’s made more acrobatic catches than I ever had an opportunity to make,” Bill said. “I was a good athlete, but he is just a freakishly good athlete.”
Peach is hopeful that freakish ability will lead to a chance to suit up for his dad’s alma mater or perhaps an FCS program next fall, but for now he’s just zeroed in on the Generals’ opener with Bishop Fenwick.
“In the offseason we kept that momentum going and this year everything is clicking and that momentum has carried on. I can’t wait to get going,” he said.