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IPSWICH — Hard to believe, but the Ipswich team that snapped a 31-game losing streak just last Thanksgiving can realistically consider itself a playoff contender one season later.

Moving to 4-3 with a dominating 41-14 victory over Georgetown last night at Jack Welch Stadium, the Tigers are Cape Ann League Small contenders.

IPSWICH — Pentucket quarterback Mike Doud had mixed feelings about sitting out the entire fourth quarter last night in the Sachems’ 41-2 Cape Ann League romp over Ipswich. “It’s good and it’s bad,” said Doud. “I like to be in there all the time, but it’s great to play so well that you can sit back and watch the JVs play. That was great for (sophomore) Ben Meuse.” Meuse scored the last of six Pentucket TDs in the fourth quarter as the Sachems dominated from the get-go. Pentucket scored on the third play of the game on a 40-yard dash by Paul Treado (8 carries, 70 yards) as he, Jeremy Krugh (11-85, two TDs) and Sean Brennan (5-70, TD) ran at will. As a result, the Sachems (3-2) scored the first four times they had the ball, built a 27-2 halftime lead an coasted after intermission. Although Doud wasn’t quite as productive, he was involved in two of the prettiest offensive plays of the night. In the second quarter on a 3rd-and-17, he rolled left and then abruptly threw it across the field to the right for a nifty 25-yard screen pass play to Brennan. The, after intercepting an Ipswich pass and returning it 20 yards, he directed an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a beautiful 34-yard lead pass to John Modlish. When he first let go of the ball, it looked like he might have overthrew Modlish, but he ran under it in perfect stride for the score. “It felt great coming out of my hands and I’m lucky that John go under it,” said Doud. “I don’t get too many of those, so it’s definitely one to be proud of.” Defensively, Pentucket held Ipswich — which was missing its starting fullback and split end due to injuries — to four first downs and just 62 rushing yards. Among the Pentucket defensive standouts were linebacker Nolan Dragon and lineman Braedon Leach.

NORTH READING —  Disapointing. North Reading football coach Jeff Wall summed up his view of his Hornets 22-7 loss to Ipswich in just one word.

“We got everything we wanted in the first drive of the game,” said Wall. “But everything changed after that.”