Barnstable Can't Convert on the Goal Line

FALL RIVER, MA -- Things did not look pretty at the onset of last night's season opener for the Red Raiders as the Barnstable boys looked for redemption from last season's home opener loss to Durfee (21-18).

     Durfee got rolling and off to an unexpected great start, posting 14 unanswered points on the board and leaving the Red & White wondering who would step into the breach and awake the beast.

    Enter Zach Wilson.

    Only a Sophomore, Wilson was pegged in the preseason to see some time at halfback and linebacker, but local prognosticators had little evidence this 6'2", 215-pounder would be counted on to pace the Red & White running attack.

    Behind 14-0 late in the fourth quarter, Wilson made succcessful plunges into paydirt from the one- and five-yard lines to help bring Barnstable to within one point of a tie, and two points from a win, 14-13.

    Instead of taking the safe bet and going for the tie and heading into overtime, the Red & White opted to go for the two-point PAT conversion. The effort failed with 2:05 on the clock as the center-quarterback exchange was fumbled.

    This was Wilson's first-ever varsity game. other outstanding efforts came from senior lineman Matt Nelson on defense (Wilson also played well from his slot at linebacker), and senior split end Rone Ferguson who reeled in a 37-yard pass from junior quarterback Kevin Riley.

    Bobby Nunes also ran the ball well for the Red & White, helping the team get into the red zone for Wilson's two scores.

    Barnstable (0-1) hosts Brockton next Friday night, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at W. Leo Shields Memorial Field. The Barnstable Quarterback Club will present the barnstable Silver Bullets youth football teams at halftime in addition to members of the undefeated (9-0) 1951 team. members of the 1951 team will present the BQC with a check to help launch its Field of Dreams Project to raise $1 million for the installation of a new synthetic grass surface, new track and locker room addition to Building M.