Falmouth High football team relying on seniors like Young and North for success
Falmouth QB Aiden North crosses the goal line past Evan Archer and Logan Daniels of Nauset football. (Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times).
NORTH EASTHAM -- A year ago, Falmouth High senior quarterback Aiden North exemplified one of the most desired traits in football player - toughness.
During the third game of last season, North faced a challenge that put him to the test.
"To be honest, I felt something tear and (my knee) was big and swollen, but I said I just have to play and be there for my team," North recalled. "So I came in (last season) to win games. I wanted to prove to everybody that I was a tough guy and win."
After the season was over, he went to a doctor to get his knee checked out. It was then that he found out he had played through a torn meniscus. Despite the injury, North played the entire season and the Clippers finished 5-5 after the starting 0-3.
North has showcased his leadership through his play on the field. That perseverance has led him to being a captain this season.
Cooper Young of Falmouth attempts to break past Corey Vendetti (17) and Kieran Handville of Nauset, on Friday, Sept. 30, in North Eastham. (Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times).
"I try to lead them the best I can and we worked very hard during the offseason," North said. "This season, I'm a lot better. I worked hard throwing the ball, running the ball and getting bigger and faster. I feel a lot more confident and comfortable."
Senior Cooper Young is another captain for the Clippers. Young is a playmaker on both sides of the ball at linebacker and running back.
"I just trust my guys on the line when I'm running," Young said. "They create the biggest holes for me and give me an opportunity to score. The same with the defensive line. They are are the ones fighting on the line so I get those holes to make tackles."
As a four-year varsity starter, Young has seen the difference in this year's team.
"The previous years, everyone has been separated and hasn't been a unit," Young said. "We don't always hang out after school, but once we have football, we come together as one. We're a family out there."
Falmouth QB Aiden North launches a pass over Dillon White (3) and Corey Vendetti of Nauset. (Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times).
Falmouth coach Joe Morency said that Young is the heart and soul of the team.
"I've coached him since he was a freshman," Morency said. "He has that motor and that field vision where he can make that quick cut and get north and south. He's a physical hard-nose runner."
Young, alongside North, helped Falmouth to a 14-13 win over Nauset on Friday as both scored touchdowns.
Clippers win nail-biter over Warriors
Last season when these two teams were supposed to meet, Nauset had to forfeit because the Warriors did not have enough players. This time around, both Nauset and Falmouth had a team of players ready to go.
North scored the first TD of the game in the first quarter. A few minutes later, Young intercepted Nauset's QB Brendan Peno.
"The defensive line put good pressure on the quarterback, which is how I got the pick," North said.
Quinn Mucha of Nauset breaks up a pass reception by Cole Spellman of Falmouth on Friday, Sept. 30, in North Eastham. (Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times).
Halfway through the second quarter, Young made another play, but this time on offense as he ran in for a 1-yard TD. That gave Falmouth a 14-0 lead with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
"We are a run-heavy team and we have to be tough mentally and physically, and that's how we prepared and got the win today," North said.
Falmouth was in control, until Nauset answered with six seconds left in the first half. Peno threw a beautiful over-the-shoulder pass to Dillon White in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard TD. That gave Nauset its first points of the game and cut Falmouth's lead down to 14-7 at halftime.
"We needed (that TD) and we did it last week," Nauset coach Jesse Peno said. "For whatever reason, we click in that two-minute drill. We did it in the preseason and we get into that empty set and just go. It seems to be one of those things that gets us going."
Collin Govoni of Falmouth is brought down by Kieran Handville of Nauset on Friday, Sept. 30, in North Eastham. (Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times).
The last-second TD in the second quarter motivated the Warriors in the third quarter. As Falmouth lined up for a field goal, White came off the edge and blocked it.
After that special team play, Nauset cashed in on a 51-yard TD pass from Brendan Peno to Isaiah Robinson. The Warriors failed to convert the tying extra point.
Falmouth held on to a 14-13 lead. That missed extra-point kick proved to be decisive as neither team scored again.
"At the end, we kind of let it slip, but a win's a win," Young said. "Not giving up is what keeps us in there. We could have had a better game, but we're going to watch film and and work on what we need to work on."
The Clippers bounced back after a six-point home loss to Norwood last week and improved to 2-1 on the season.
"We won no matter what and we still have a lot of work," Morency said. "We're going to get back into film this weekend and keep working. We made little mistakes, but our kids played tough as nails, and I'm proud of the way they played. They've been like that all season long."
Up next for the Clippers is a home game against Dennis-Yarmouth (2-2), who also had a win on Friday over Nantucket.
"We need to improve defensively against the passing game," Morency said. "We had a couple mix-ups in coverage today. Sometimes a couple of kids thought we were in man or zone, and they weren't communicating across the field right. The defensive line, we're getting pushed and need to use our hands more, and get off blocks. Offensively we just have to keep getting better. I know we're not the flashiest offense in the world."
Warriors still on right track
Despite the close loss, Nauset has nothing to hang their heads about. A team that was winless a season ago, came into this game on a two-game win streak after losing its first game.
"We're not happy we lost, but to be back and competing with one of the better teams in the league is a direction I hope we want the program to be in," said Jesse Peno.
Jesse Peno has done a 180 on this Nauset team so far this season. The Warriors are now 2-2 on the year.
"When we can get some consistency, we try to get a good balance," Jesse Peno said. "I think we have some guys that we can spread out and give some teams some trouble with that. We kind of killed ourselves with mistakes on drives. We have some stability there with a freshman QB. I think we're making progress."
Up next for Nauset is a matchup on the road against Martha's Vineyard.
"We have another huge game and we have to turn around quick," Jesse Peno said. "We have to get a win in the league for the first time in a long time. Every week we want to go 1-0."
