Magicians net win over Fishermen

GLOUCESTER — With Gloucester celebrating Senior Night at Newell Stadium, Marblehead flipped the script as its upper- classmen led the charge to earn a key victory last night.

Thanks to a 30-point outburst in the first half — capped by a 37-yard field goal as time expired for senior Mason Poisson — Marblehead upended Gloucester, 37-12, in a Northeastern Conference crossover tilt.

“I didn’t expect this at all,” said Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff. “I never in a million years imagined that this would happen. Our kids just responded tonight.”

Senior Chris Gally took hold of the reins in the first half as he accounted for 226 yards, with 167 yards through the air — including a 16-yard strike to junior Ryan Freiberger to make it 7-0, and a 23-yard touchdown pass to junior Sean McCarthy as Marblehead (6-0) that made it 13-6 at the end of the first quarter.

“Chris was a complete player today,” said Rudloff. “He looked very calm and very even-keeled, and that’s the big thing.”

Gally finished 10-of-14 passing for 167 yards, while rushing for 106 more and a 6-yard score to close out the Magicians’ scoring.

Junior Tim Cronin had two touchdowns for the Magicians in the second quarter, scoring on runs of 10 and 5 yards. The second score was set up by a McCarthy interception at midfield.

“Sean has been big for us,” Rudloff said. “He’s not a big dude, but no one works harder than him in the weight room. Everything he gets on the football field he has earned. He did a nice job tonight.”

After Gloucester (5-1) punted the ball away with 1:33 to go in the half, Marblehead marched downfield as Gally connected on 4-of-6 passes to set the stage for Poisson’s 37-yard field goal.

For the Fishermen, two long scores accounted for all their points. Marc Smith scored from 72 yards out to make it a 7-6 deficit in the first quarter, and a 47-yard burst for Jan Pena-Ortiz finished off the game’s scoring.