Now or Never: Fishermen capture statement win over St. Mary’s

Across the first 2 weeks, the Gloucester Fishermen and St. Mary’s Spartans’ football teams collected two wins and no losses. With both teams vying for playoff pushes, the result of their matchup could be telling for the final Division 5 rankings. 

Senior captain and starting quarterback Yaniel Belliard was injured following St.Mary’s Week 1 matchup against Swampscott. Thankfully for St. Mary’s, he was able to return to play for Week 3. With Belliard, senior Rowan Merryman, and junior Nathan Cutone, the Spartan backfield was fully healthy.

St. Mary’s received a handful of transfers from Lynn English in the offseason, bolstering an already talented team. Ahead of this game, St. Mary’s hadn’t allowed a touchdown. In the eyes of many, everything was pointing towards a St.Mary’s victory.

But when the time came to play under the lights at Newell Stadium, the Fishermen shocked the Spartans with a momentous 26-14 win.

As soon as Jaylen Severino boomed the first kickoff, the tone was set. Cole Mosley-Wynn and Connor Mahoney got in on a hard gang tackle to set St. Mary’s back behind the 25. 

A strong front seven dropped the Spartans back 8 yards behind the sticks, and Belliard barely held onto a botched snap on 3rd down to prevent a turnover. Ultimately, St. Mary’s would be forced to punt to the Fishermen.

The return brought the Fishermen to the Spartans’ 49-yard line as the offense came out. On the first play, Camryn Rodolosi hit his tight end, Gavin Bren, for a 23-yard gain. On the next play, Joseph Allen found the endzone on an outside run, extending his arm for their first score. In just two offensive plays, the Fishermen became the first team this year to score on the Spartans.

The Fishermen continued to dominate the first half, with another score on a QB sneak from Camryn Rodolosi. From there, the teams would trade scores in the 2nd quarter, with a 70-yard touchdown by St. Mary’s Tyren Hoeun and a jet sweep to Jaylen Severino, to make the score 20-7 at the half.

In the second half, the Fishermen’s secondary shone bright. Jaylen Severino and Carlos Velazquez had important downfield interceptions to keep the momentum in favor of Gloucester. Velazquez also had a handful of downfield defended passes, including two on back-to-back plays.

Ultimately, Gloucester and St. Mary’s would both score again before the end of the game, with Gloucester’s touchdown being a breakaway QB sneak for a 41-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the final nail in the coffin. 

Although St. Mary’s would get the ball back and have a chance to come back, the Fishermen’s defense proved to be too strong, and the Spartans would fall on a failed QB sweep to make the final score 26-14.

The still-undefeated Gloucester Fishermen will face the Bishop Fenwick Crusaders at Newell Stadium on Friday, September 26th. 

Gallery • 10 Photos

Aleena Brown

Sam Sanfilippo (right) and other GHS students cheer for the Fishermen post-game.