Playoff Bound: Fishermen to host Auburn despite regular season finale loss

On a windy Halloween night, the Fishermen engaged in a low-scoring brawl against Winthrop. To the Fishermen’s demise, Gloucester would fail to make their final push of the season in a nail-biting loss to the Vikings, 6-7. 

The play that ultimately decided the game would be a Jaylen Severino Hail Mary connection to Cameron Olsen for a 50-yard gain. Unfortunately for the Fishermen, Olsen would be tackled just short of the goal line as the clock expired.

Even after the crushing loss, Gloucester retains the number seven seed in Division Five, securing both a playoff birth and a guaranteed home game in the first round. This game will mark the program’s first home playoff game since 2018. 

Looking to put last Friday’s loss in the past, the Fishermen have shifted their focus to their first-round opponent, the Auburn Rockets. Auburn is a historically successful program, led by head coach Jeff Cormier. Cormier is a long-tenured head coach, having been on staff for nearly two decades as of 2025.

Cormier leads a talented squad full of depth. The team is highlighted by premier sophomore running back Brayden Belanger. Belanger, despite nursing an injury, looks to hopefully return to action for the Rockets’ first playoff game. Quarterback Jayden Ortiz is a dangerous dual-threat player who can thread the ball fairly well while being effective on the ground. 

Despite the explosive potential of Auburn’s offense, the Gloucester defense was the biggest highlight of last week’s loss. The Fishermen stymied the Vikings’ offense for nearly the entire game. The only Winthrop score would come off a kick return to open the second half. Linebackers Thomas Cribbs and Cole Mosley-Wynn would pave the way with a handful of solo tackles for both of them. However, the defensive line certainly cleared the way for the former to make plays, led by Kaleb Allen and Max Thomas.

The Fishermen will play on Friday at Newell Stadium at 7:00 PM.