Swampscott quarterback Colin Frary hooked up with receiver Sean Lahrizi last week for three touchdowns. Item File Photo
By Steve Krause
Last year, the Danvers football team sprung the upset in the Division 3A Northeast final when it defeated Marblehead.
The Magicians had defeated the Falcons in an early-season game, 29-23, and of the two, it was third-seeded Danvers that would have appeared to be the underdog as the Magicians were the top seed. But the Danvers defense held the powerful Magicians in check and won the division title.
The two teams are back in action against each other Friday (7) at Dr. Deering Stadium on the campus of Danvers High. And both teams appear to have picked up where they left off last year. Both are 2-0, with the Falcons scoring victories over Winthrop and Lynnfield, while the Magicians defeated Walpole and Wakefield.
Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff was concerned going into the season that the loss of several graduating seniors might be too much to overcome. He also had a preseason battle for the starting quarterback position, which Andrew Gally won. Last week, Gally threw for two touchdown passes and ran for a third in the Magicians’ 34-13 win over the Warriors. Even though they had a 13-7 halftime lead, Rudloff wasn’t thrilled with the way his team played, calling it one of the worst halves he’s seen it play. Marblehead put the game away in the fourth quarter by scoring 15 unanswered points.
In Danvers’ 30-14 victory over Lynnfield, Matt Andreas ran for two touchdowns and quarterback Justin Mullaney had a TD pass and ran one in as well.
Also on the bill Friday, with all games starting at 7 p.m., are Classical at Revere, Lynnfield at Amesbury, Pentucket at Fenwick, Salem at Saugus, Swampscott at Gloucester, and Winthrop at English.
Saturday, it’s Georgetown at Tech (10:15), Malden at Malden Cath. (7), Peabody at Beverly (1), St. John’s at Everett (3), and Taconic at St. Mary’s (6).
FRIDAY
Classical at Revere
At DellaRusso Stadium, both teams are in need of a victory. Classical came close two weeks ago with a 20-18 loss to Gloucester, but the Rams had a tough afternoon last Saturday at Blocksidge Field in Swampscott, losing 35-7.
Quarterback Matt Lauria rushed for 94 yards and his touchdown pass to Ishmael Johnson was the Rams’ only score.
Revere, 0-2, lost to Masconomet last week, but quarterback Eddie Sullivan was 8-for-18 for 100 yards.
Winthrop at English
At Manning Field, the Bulldogs may have lost, 38-12, to St. Mary’s, but beyond the final score there was plenty of room for optimism. The highly-regarded Spartans eventually pulled away in the second half, but English, 0-2, moved the ball well in the first 22 minutes. Quarterback Matt Severance ran the spread well, and the Bulldogs ended up with 140 yards through the air.
Winthrop was blanked, 26-0, by Medfield last Friday night.
Salem at Saugus
At Stackpole Field, this is the annual night game for the Sachems, and both they and the Witches will be seeking win No. 1.
Saugus, 0-2, has shown some signs of progress. Last Friday, the Sachems fell to Manchester-Essex, 41-22, but hung in until the fourth quarter, when the Hornets pulled away. However, Dante McGrane ran for 119 yards and Max Hunt had 88 yards. Freshman Christian Coreia had four receptions for 65 yards, one for a 12-yard touchdown.
In Salem’s 24-6 loss to Bishop Connolly, Jared Lubas scored on a 15-yard run. This is the first Northeastern Conference/South game for both teams.
Swampscott at Gloucester
At Newell Stadium, if ever there was a team turnaround from Week 1 to Week 2, it was Swampscott. The Big Blue may be 2-0, but nobody was too happy with the penalty-filled opener at Manning Field against English.
Last Saturday’s 35-7 victory over Classical was more like it. And an ongoing aerial threat may have unveiled itself when quarterback Colin Frary found receiver Sean Lahrizi for scoring passes of 37, 27 and 26 yards.
Last week, the Fishermen, 1-1, had a tough afternoon at Hurd Stadium in Beverly, falling behind 28-0 to the Panthers by halftime. Marc Smith scored two second-half TDs as the Fishermen fell, 28-12.
Lynnfield at Amesbury
At Amesbury, the Pioneers, looking to rebuild after several successful seasons, are off to a rough 0-2 start, including last week’s defeat to Danvers. However, Nick Kinnon was a bright spot for the Pioneers, as he ran for both touchdowns and ended up with 130 yards of total offense.
Amesbury is likewise 0-2 with defeats to Norwell and Pentucket.
Pentucket at Fenwick
At Donaldson Field, the Crusaders went on the long busride to Dedham last Friday night and came back with a 14-6 win after falling behind 6-0 in the first quarter.
Isaiah Cashwell-Doe scored both touchdowns for the 2-0 Crusaders, who opened their season by spoiling coaching legend Jim Pugh’s return to the sidelines at Hamilton-Wenham.
Pentucket, 1-1, defeated Amesbury last week.
SATURDAY
Georgetown at Tech
At Manning Field, in a Commonwealth Conference/Small game, the Tigers came back to earth last Friday night, falling to Triton, 33-16, a week after they’d crushed Chelsea in their opener. However, while the Tigers were defeating the Red Devils, the Vikings were hanging an opening-night shocker on Peabody.
Still, Steffan Gravely (43 yards) and Keoni Gaskin (54) ended up with 97 yards between them, and both scored touchdowns.
The Royals are off to a torrid start as they’re 2-0 and have scored 40 points in both victories, over Matignon (40-0) and Lowell Catholic (40-6).
Taconic at St. Mary’s
At Manning Field, this shapes up to be a major test for the Spartans, who have rolled to a 2-0 record and are seen as one of the elite teams in Eastern Massachusetts.
At least one publication has the the Pittsfield vocational school ranked third in Western Massachusetts. Last week, the Braves pounded Belchertown, 72-6.
St. Mary’s is coming off a 38-12 victory over English in which Abraham Toe ran for 175 yards and scored a touchdown; and Calvin Johnson caught two TD passes from Marcus Atkins and ran one in.
St. John’s Prep at Everett
At Everett Stadium, the Eagles, 1-1, look to rebound after last Saturday’s 21-14 loss to Central Catholic. St. John’s was marching down the field trying for the equalizer in that game when it fumbled and turned the ball over to the Raiders.
Everett is also 1-1. The Tide lost in Week 1 to Xaverian but rebounded last week to defeat New Bedford, 51-20.
Peabody at Beverly
At Hurd Stadium, the Panthers are off to a 2-0 start for new coach Andrew Morency while the Tanners recovered from their opening-week loss to Triton to eke one out over Malden last Friday night, 7-0.
The score was 0-0 until the fourth quarter, when Noah Freedham scored on an eight-yard run with 5:40 to go.
Freedman ended up with 87 yards.
Beverly sprinted out to a 28-0 halftime lead over Gloucester and ended up beating the Fishermen, 28-12. Kevin Morency threw for two touchdown passes, both to Hugh Calice, and ran for one.