Published in the November 25, 2015 edition
THE 2015 HORNET FOOTBALL SQUAD is looking forward to taking on arch–rival Lynnfield on Thanksgiving Day. First row, from left, (captains): Nic O’Connell, David Smith, John Merullo. Second row: Caleb Wing, Chris Vella, Jared Curran, Nick Ponte, Sean Wilson, Andrew Jaroncyk, Angelo Disanto, Brian Cotter, Shane Burke, Joe Lennan, Nick Colangelo, Nick Copelas, Aaron Giangrande. Third row: Bob Donahue, Dylan Beauregard, James Moda, Michael Quaratiello, Sean Brogan, Nick Dell Isola, Tom McHugh, Jake Zelikman, Drew Delano, Matt McCarthy, Bob O’Donnell, Joe Gonthier, Ryan Bratton. Fourth row: Colin Boucher, Adam Pierce, Mike Luciano, Jake Bedell, Nick Arena, Nick Powell, Mike Brown, Kevin Farrelly, Ryan Quaglieri, Kevin Brown. Fifth row: Matt Jaroncyk, Noah Aran, Matt Debenedetto, Kyle Conley, Josh Bedell, Kyle Bythrow, Ryan Edison, Mason Siciliano, Jack DeAngelo, Tim Sanger, Lionel Beane, Tom Patch, Daniel Sweeney. Sixth row: Dante Centofanti, Dylan Cole, Sammy Hamdar, Michael Distasio, Matt Solecki, Mike Mikula, Alex D’Ambrosio, Mike Sheridan, Matthew Capozzoli, Matthew Penley, Billy Shaw, Matt Farro. Top row: (Coaches): Jim Brown, Jim Gallotto, Jeff Wall, Chuck Campobasso, Elias Reinoso, Ernest Arena. (Bob Turosz Photo)
By ANDREW MOUNTER
NORTH READING — It’s that time of the year again in North Reading when people start to prepare for annual traditions like the town’s Turkey Trot and the Black Friday sales down at Wal–Mart. But the oldest of them all will occur for the 57th time when the North Reading High School Hornet football team will host their arch–rivals, the Lynnfield Pioneers, on the Thanksgiving Day.
North Reading Head Coach Jeff Wall is happy this year’s classic will be on his home field instead of like last year, when his team was blown out 35–0 in Lynnfield. As football fans may recall, it had snowed the night before the big game but the Lynnfield field crew did not clean off the field that morning, leaving it a “winter wonderland” for the Pioneers, which may have had the effect of keeping the usually potent Hornet running game grounded.
“Home field advantage has been huge for us,” said Wall. “We appreciate the support we get from all of the parents. The fans come out for us and the student body has been fantastic for us also. So yes, we are glad we are getting Lynnfield at our home in North Reading.”
In the last ten years the visiting team has won only twice. The last North Reading win in Lynnfield was 2006 and the last time Lynnfield won on North Reading’s field was in 2009 when North Reading inaugurated the Arthur Kenney Field with its new Field Turf and the Pioneers spoiled the occasion with a 35–14 pounding.
The North Reading Hornets go into the game at 8–2 and on offense are led by junior running back Matt McCarthy, who has been nearly unstoppable this year, running for almost an amazing 1,500 yards going into Thanksgiving with 20 touchdowns (18 rushing and two on punt returns). Other key players are senior captain David Smith and junior captain John Merullo who, together with McCarthy, form a triple threat in the backfield. The quarterback going into the game is going to be a game time decision for Coach Wall, as he has two capable signal callers in senior Nick Colangelo and sophomore Kyle Bythrow. Hornet quarterbacks are rarely called on to throw the ball in this run heavy offense. But when asked to do Colangelo and Bythrow have acquitted themselves well. The future looks particularly bright for the sophomore Bythrow, as it appears he could be help balance out the North Reading offense for the next couple of years. The offensive line is also solid as they help break open holes for their teammates in the backfield led by senior captain Nic O’Connell and junior Bob O’Donnell
The Green and Gold defense has been outstanding and has been a key part of the eight wins the team has gathered and had only allowed 118 points for the season, averaging less than 12 points per game. The Hornets are led on the defensive line by O’Donnell and junior Michael Quaratiello, who have wreaked havoc on quarterbacks throughout the 2015 season. The linebacker corps is solid as well, led by O’Connell, with over 110 tackles this year and Merullo, who is probably undersized for the position but does not play like it and is a key part of the pass defense. The defensive backs are led by McCarthy, senior Nick Coplelas, and Smith. All of them defend the pass well and have rarely given up a big passing plays this season.
Lynnfield is 7–3 and won the Baker (small) division for the Cape Ann League, while North Reading finished second in the Kinney (large) division. The Pioneer offense runs mostly out of the spread, with quarterback Jake McHugh, who has thrown for 1,342 yards with 15 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His most targeted receiver is Louis Ellis, who had 25 receptions with seven touchdowns. The Pioneers also have their own McCarthy in the back field – Drew McCarthy, no relation to North Reading’s Matt McCarthy. Drew has run for almost 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Lynnfield defense, like North Reading’s, has been stout. They have only given up 103 points, good for 10 points per game and like the Hornet defense pitched two shutouts. They are led by Esaie Philantrope Drew Balestrieri and C.J. Finn.
This appears is could be a close one as both teams played six common opponents, and both teams were 4–2 against them. Both teams lost to Pentucket and routed Ipswich, Hamilton–Wenham and Newburyport, beat Triton, and lost to Watertown.
What’s going to give? We will all find out tomorrow morning, with the kickoff being at 10:30 a.m.
