Whalers respond with upset

By Bob Hanna, Standard-Times staff writer

NEW BEDFORD -- Don't count the New Bedford Whalers out of this season just yet.

Given up for dead by some after losing their first two games, the Whalers came to life big time last night, with Clinton Dunston providing the lightning, as they shocked previously unbeaten Barnstable, 33-24, at Walsh Field.

In his first start of the season after spraining a knee in a pre-season scrimmage, Dunston rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

He also caught three passes for 27 yards and had a 53-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty. Oh yeah, he also played defense and had an interception.

"I'm not tired at all, I'm ready to play," said Dunston. "I expected our offense to do whatever it had to do to win. The offensive line did an excellent job blocking.

"Everybody did their job. It was our intensity that kept us going. We played as a family. That's what got it done."

His touchdowns came on runs of 30 yards and three yards. He rushed for 73 yards in the first half and 136 in the second half, including a 60-yard run that set up his three-yard score. That TD came with 2:38 left and sealed the win.

"Clinton had a great game," said New Bedford coach Wayne Hamlet. "And we didn't play him every down. We spot-played him."

Hamlet also ran him out of both tailback and fullback as he rotated Dunston, Josh Gomes and Jeff Britto at fullback and tailback.

Gomes scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 21-yard run up the middle that with Tommy Koska's two-point conversion gave New Bedford a 25-24 lead with 6:53 left.

"I thought all three alternated very well in the backfield," said Hamlet. "Josh not only had some nice runs, but he did a helluva good job blocking for the other two guys.

"And (quarterback Tommy Koska threw some nice passes, and the offensive line came through tonight."

So did the defense after a shaky start, which saw the Red Raiders score on their first two possession to take a 12-7 lead with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

"Our favorite defense is the 4-3, but because of the offensive sets those first two teams gave us, we couldn't use it," said Hamlet. "But after those first two series tonight, we decided to go with it.