RallyNorth.net

Newburyport quarterback will serve suspension against Amesbury

Wednesday, November, 21 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

Newburyport football coach Ed Gaudiano confirmed last night his team will be without the services of quarterback Joe Clancy tomorrow when the Clippers host Amesbury (10 a.m., World War Stadium).

Clancy will serve a MIAA-imposed one-game suspension that stems from a physical altercation between him and Lynnfield linebacker Nick Tropeano during the teams' Nov. 10 game.

With Newburyport leading 14-0 with 4:38 remaining in that game, Clancy and Tropeano were ejected for continuing a shoving match after the whistle. Newburyport eventually won the game, 14-0, but Clancy and Tropeano both learned last week they would be suspended from their respective Thanksgiving Day games.

"I don't think there's any way to rationalize it," Gaudiano said. "What's done is done. We need to rally around it and get another game for Joe. Asking 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old kids to do that isn't easy, but they've responded well." The winner of the Newburyport-Amesbury game will clinch a Cape Ann League Small title and earn a playoff berth. The CAL Small champion will host the Commonwealth Conference Large champ next Tuesday (6:30 p.m.).

Gaudiano said the coaching staff has yet to decide on Clancy's replacement at quarterback.

"We don't know yet," Gaudiano said. "That's a game-time decision."

Potential replacements include sophomore Kyle LeBlanc, who has been used as a tailback this season; senior Ashlyn Calcagni, who has been the Clippers' No. 1 receiver; and freshman Matt Mottola, who has yet to complete a varsity pass.

Clancy, a junior, posted one of the top regular seasons of any quarterback in program history. His 17 touchdown passes were two shy of Larry Russell's school record set in 1966. His completion percentage of 55.7 (83 for 149) was 3.3 shy of the school record set by Denis Stevens in 1976.

Russell went on to quarterback at Wake Forest, earning All-Atlantic Coastal Conference as a senior. Stevens was a star quarterback at University of New Hampshire.

In the moments following the Lynnfield game, Gaudiano said he intended to appeal any suspension the MIAA imposed. He said yesterday MIAA rules restricted him from doing so.

"There was no appeal process," Gaudiano said. "It's surprising. MIAA rules state that judgement calls have no appeal process."

There are instances in which an official can decide not to recommend a suspension if the severity of the infraction does not merit it. But the officials from the Newburyport-Lynnfield game felt the conduct of Clancy and Tropeano warranted a one-game penalty.

"I think when we left the field that day, we were in shock," Gaudiano said. "But we've handled it well since. We're looking forward to (tomorrow)."