Barnstable Defeats New Bedford, 20-6

HYANNIS, MA — Nothing tastes sweeter than victory, and for the previously winless Barnstable Red Raiders football team, the taste was sweeter than honey Friday night when it defeated the visiting New Bedford Whalers, 20-6.

    Bobby Nunes, captain Mike Noonan and Thaddeus France each scored in the second half, even though it was New Bedford that drew first blood.

    After a defense-oriented first half and a 0-0 deadlock when the two teams hit the locker room, New Bedford scored six when Marcel Canary ran back the kickoff 85 yards.

    Then the Red Raiders got busy focusing on the win.

    With a reinvigorated offense led by Nunes and junior quarterback Kevin Riley, and superlative defensive efforts by France (interception), team-leading tackler Mike Burke (fumble recovery), Mike Deluga (sack), Mike Hebenstreit (fumble recovery), Zach Wilson and defensive tackle Matt Nelson, the Raiders went ahead in the third quarter and maintained the lead through the end for the win.

    Barnstable took the lead on a Nunes to Noonan 10-yard halfback option pass and extra-point kick by Dave Wiseman shortly after New Bedford's touchdown on the second half kickoff return.

    In the fourth quarter, France gave the Red Raiders the cushion they needed when he bolted into paydirt 32 yards off tackle. Wiseman's extra-point was good and Barnstable was ahead to stay, 14-6.

    With 3:29 remaining in the game, Nunes ran it in 17 yards to make it 20-6.

Click here for 2004 BHS Red Raiders Statistics

    To see where other high school teams rank in Eastern Massachusetts, click here.