Nauset Football Extends Winning Streak With 35-7 Rout Of Oliver Ames

NORTH EASTHAM – It’s been said that the greatest ability is availability, and the Nauset football team couldn’t agree more.

After struggling with a string of injuries during the middle of their season, the Warriors have found their footing and are on a roll.

Nauset has outscored its past two opponents by a combined 75-7, as it followed up a 40-0 beatdown of Falmouth on Oct. 27 with a 35-7 rout of Oliver Ames on Nov. 2 in a non-playoff matchup.

“We just feel like we’re getting healthy at the right time,” Nauset coach Jesse Peno said. “These guys have been battling and the difference now has been health and their attitude has been so positive and so good.”

Junior Isaiah Robinson was among the game’s biggest stars as he caught 30- and 33-yard touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Brendan Peno. Defensively, Robinson intercepted two passes, including one that he returned 39 yards for a touchdown to give Nauset a 34-0 lead.

“I was backpedaling and I saw him stop on the route,” said Robinson, a Yarmouth resident, of his interception. “I’ve been watching the film and saw they threw that little short-out route, so I jumped it. Once I got the ball, I was gone.”

Peno, who came up with an interception of his own on the defensive side of the ball, also connected with junior Owen White for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Senior Logan Daniels Julien anchored the Warriors’ ground game and set the town with a 1-yard touchdown run on the team’s opening drive.

Senior Kieran Handville made three of the four extra point attempts he booted, and also received a 2-point conversion pass from Peno.

Robinson credited the offense’s success to the work he and the other receivers have been putting in with the sophomore quarterback at practice.

“Me and Brendan go out there and pass the ball before practice, and all of the receivers are always on point when we pass at practice,” Robinson said. “That really helps when we get to the game, because we know where we need to be and where the defenders are going to be, too.”

Coach Peno agreed about the passing game, adding that it helped to get Daniels Julien rolling in the run game.

“We spread the ball around pretty well,” the coach said. “Brendan makes good decisions and then being able to get Logan going has been huge. That’s been the biggest difference the last two weeks — having a run threat to be able to run it, loosen it up a little bit, and then throw it.”

Peno was also pleased with the five interceptions his defense came up with against Oliver Ames. After suffering a heartbreaking 45-42 loss to Dennis-Yarmouth last Thanksgiving in a game that saw the Dolphins showcase their passing abilities, Peno said the team has placed an emphasis on its pass defense.

“The way D-Y ended last year, we’ve really, really harped on defending the pass,” he said. “Our defensive coaches do a great job of working ball skills, route reading and our coverage. We’ve really been drilling it and they’ve gotten really good at it.”

One month removed from forfeiting a game against Barnstable on Oct. 6 due to having just 17 healthy players, the Warriors are back at full strength and ready to finish the season strong. The team visits Apponequet at 3 p.m. Friday for another non-playoff game and then will host D-Y at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

“Credit to these guys for resetting their minds,” coach Peno said. “They’ve never gotten down. They’ve had every chance in the world to hang their heads and say, ‘Poor us,’ but the seniors and captains have led us through. They are taking every opportunity they have to finish the season strong and it’s worked out our way the past two weeks.”