Hold on to beat Hamilton-Wenham 27-26
Published October 30, 2019
By JAMES CRANNEY
LYNNFIELD – If you’ve been following this Pioneer team closely these past two weeks, you might need a re-up on your heart medication.
Last Friday night under the lights, the 5-1 Lynnfield Pioneers battled the 2-4 Hamilton-Wenham Generals on the all-important senior night. Sending the seniors off on a high note is always a main goal every season but there was even more on the line this night.
If Lynnfield were to win this game, they would capture the Cape Ann League Baker Division title. On this night for the Pioneers to win their 8th league championship in 11 seasons, it would take every inch.
Many projected this one to be a high scoring shootout, and early on it certainly looked like it would be. On the game’s first drive, the Pioneers marched down the field with ease. Once Lynnfield found themselves inside the Generals’ 10 yard line, the Hamilton-Wenham defense tightened up refusing to let the Pioneers run it in.
CLAYTON MARENGI threw for 326 yards and three TD passes while also running for one score. The senior now has 1,490 passing yards on the season with 18 TD passes. (Kerrianne Allain Photo)
On 3rd and goal, Lynnfield turned to the air when senior captain quarterback Clayton Marengi (22-31, 328 yards, 3 touchdown passes, 1 touchdown rushing) connected with junior receiver Jack Ford (6 catches, 99 yards, 2 touchdowns) in the corner of the end zone for the early 7-0 lead.
Ford’s touchdown grab was his ninth of the season, tying Lindsey Ross’s 1973 school record for most touchdown receptions in a single season.
The Pioneer defense held the high-powered Hamilton-Wenham offense on their opening drive forcing a quick three-and-out. However, a muffed punt would put the Generals right back in business at the Lynnfield 35 yard line. Two plays later, senior quarterback Ian Coffey made the Pioneers pay with a 31-yard touchdown pass from his back foot.
Tied 7-7, the Lynnfield offense went right back to work. On the first play, Marengi looked to Ford down the seam for a 35 yard pick up. Four plays later on a 2nd and 8 from the Hamilton Wenham 16 yard line, senior captain John Lee (5 catches, 62 yards, 1 touchdown) resembled the likes of Julian Edelman snagging the ball just inches above the turf. On 4th and goal, a scrambling Marengi looked Lee’s way again finding him for the 13-7 Pioneer lead.
JACK FORD had seven receptions for 106 yards and two TD’s during Lynnfield’s win over Ham-Wen. The junior now has 594 receiving yards on the season with 10 TD catches. (Kerrianne Allain Photo)
The Generals would put together a drive, but the stingy Lynnfield defense held their ground on a 4th and 3 just outside the red zone. With just over 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Pioneer offense continued to light it up.
Marengi marched the troops down the field with passes to Ford, Lee, and senior captain Anthony Floramo (3 catches 58 yards). At the Hamilton-Wenham 31 yard line, Marengi found Ford who snatched the ball away from two General defenders before waltzing over the goal line.
Ford’s second touchdown on the night would break Ross’s ‘73 feat giving him sole possession of the school record.
On the two point conversion, Lee caught a Marengi pass and tapped his toes just in bounds for the 21-7 Pioneer lead.
Entering the second half, Lynnfield had all the momentum, however, there’s a reason they play four quarters. Hamilton-Wenham’s defense finally found a way to cool off the red-hot Pioneer offense, while Coffey was able to turn it around for the Generals’ offense. Hamilton-Wenham would find the end zone on three out of their first four drives in the second half to take a 26-21 4th quarter lead.
Only eight minutes remained in the game and the Pioneers needed a spark. At their own 34 yard line, Marengi got the drive started rolling to his right before hitting Blake Peters (6 catches, 72 yards) on the sideline for an 8 yard gain. Marengi would look Peters’ way the next snap dropping a 37 yard pass just out of the defender’s reach and into his receiver’s arms.
Following runs from Floramo (11 rushes, 23 yards) and Bakari Mitchell (2 rushes, 11 yards), Lynnfield faced a 3rd and 1 at the Generals’ 10 yard line. Marengi would call his own number faking the handoff and scampering up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown and 27-26 Pioneer lead.
The only thing separating Lynnfield from a Cape Ann League title now was one more stop on defense. Around midfield, Coffey took it up the right side and broke free for a 39 yard run before Mitchell saved a potential game ending touchdown at the 9 yard line. Two plays later, it looked as if Coffey would ruin senior night when he dashed toward the left pylon and crossed the goal line. While the quarterback celebrated with his teammates in the end zone, the referee gave the ‘holding’ signal to the crowd taking the touchdown off the board.
On 3rd and goal from the Lynnfield 20 yard line, Coffey was able to get some of the yards back with a 13 yard scramble. Trailing by one and still needing seven yards for the winning touchdown, Hamilton Wenham head coach Jim Pugh decided to go with his kicker on 4th and goal. The Generals’ kicker lined up from 23 yards out and booted the ball into the night sky. The kick had the distance, but after sailing wide left of the uprights, Lynnfield would be victorious on senior night and hold the title of Cape Ann League champions.
For the second time in two weeks, the Lynnfield Pioneers trailed late in the game, but never flinched. No one is more proud of this team’s mental toughness in critical situations than head coach Pat Lamusta.
“Even as an assistant, I’ve never really coached teams with this collective toughness,” commented Lamusta after the game. “We talk about the ‘next play’ mentality and this group has been doing it since they were freshmen.”
Before addressing his Cape Ann League champion team for the postgame speech, coach Lamusta was awarded with a bone-chilling Gatorade bath from his players. When asked about the refreshing reward from his team, Lamusta’s answer was simple: “It was cold, but overall, it was a great feeling.”
