If eight points allowed through two games is any insight as to how good the Pentucket defense might be, than opposing teams may have to pitch shutouts against the Sachems just to have a shot.
However, coach Steve Hayden's reluctance to go overboard with praise may be more of an indication of the opponents his team has faced — Lowell Catholic and North Reading — and the reciprocal point that the Sachems are only two games deep into the season. Wins are what's most important, and despite allowing four points per game, all the Sachems have to show is a 1-1 record.
"We're still trying to get kids organized an into the right positions as well as staying healthy because we already have a couple of players banged up — starting defensive back Connor Harrison won't play (tomorrow)," Hayden said. "But no matter what we run out there, our defense is predicated upon protecting your area and then getting to the ball."
Hamilton-Wenham, playing host to the Sachems tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., should be quite comparable to the Sachems' first opponent, North Reading. Possessing great team speed, a stout offensive line, and a running attack that likes control time by pounding the ball right up the middle, Pentucket will have a formidable task trying to stop the Generals — a team with aspirations of winning the CAL Small to earn the school's first-ever playoff berth.
Although small in stature, the Sachems have been adept at swarming ball-carriers with speed, according to defensive back Jordan Silva.
"We have so much speed at linebacker and in the secondary that we get to the ball very quickly," Silva said. "We try to get 11 hats to the ball every time, but that all depends on reading the play quickly as well."
One player who has been a major-impact newcomer is starting middle linebacker Cam Spofford, who had played soccer last year but switched to knocking players to the ground instead of knocking in goals despite never having played organized football before. What started as a project looks like genius, as the 5-foot-10-inch, 205-pound junior looks like a natural.
"He brings a lot of good things to the table," commended Hayden, who said his linebacker's technique for shedding blockers and making tackles has improved steadily. "He's a total team player, his intensity; he's just so polite and intelligent that he's the type of kid you like to coach.
"Now he is being dumped into the offense, too," added Hayden, who said Spofford will be successful whether he teaches or goes into business because he is such a great people person. "He's going to be a tight end even though we only moved him there a couple of weeks ago and he doesn't have a lot of experience."
Defensive linemen Matt Fiore said Spofford's play has motivated his teammates.
"He's a pretty big, athletic, solid kid that hustles and goes hard every play," Fiore said. "He motivates everyone because no one wants to get outdone by him since he played soccer last year."
And if everyone on the Sachem side of the ball continues to improve and play as hard as their new middle linebacker — the goal for every Hayden-coached team each season — then Pentucket will remain one of the top defenses in the CAL this season.
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