After press time:
Lynnfield falls to North Attleboro 21-6 (Sept. 13)
By JAMES CRANNEY
LYNNFIELD – It is no surprise the game of football is difficult. Sometimes though, there are external forces which can make the already demanding sport just a little more daunting.
When the MIAA released the schedules for the 2024 high school football season, it was announced that the Lynnfield Pioneers would be the away team in six of their nine regular season games. Additionally, Lynnfield starts the year going on the road for their first three games.
“It is definitely a tough draw,” commented Pioneers head coach Pat Lamusta on not having a home game until October. Entering his seventh year at the helm, coach Lamusta and his team are not fazed by things out of their control commenting, “We try not to look that far ahead and take things one practice at a time, one game at a time.”
While there is no such thing as an easy opponent in high school football (or college football if you ask a Notre Dame fan right now), some matchups can appear less challenging than others. That will not be the case for Lynnfield’s opening game. Next Friday night, the Pioneers will travel nearly 60 miles south to square off with North Attleboro.
Despite finishing with a 5-6 record, Big Red returns 20 seniors to their team this season along with four-year starting quarterback Chase Frisoli. North Attleboro also has some familiarity with the Pioneers. While this is only the second ever meeting between both schools, their first meeting came last year when the Rocketeers squeaked out a 14-11 win delivering Lynnfield their only loss in the regular season.
The Pioneers plan on delivering some payback this year, but they know it will not be simple.
“They [North Attleboro] will be big, disciplined and have playmakers all over the field,” claimed Lamusta on the season opening opponent. “We want to be focused throughout the practice week so that we can convert in those pivotal moments that determine the game. We really want our third down defense to step up and give our offense as many opportunities as possible.”
Similar to the Rocketeers, Lynnfield also enters the 2024 campaign with an experienced starter under center.
Since the Fall of 2022, senior captain Tyler Adamo has been the Pioneers’ quarterback and now enters his third and final year in the starting role. Adamo played well in his sophomore and junior year throwing for 3,138 yards with 36 touchdown passes.
The senior captain is also on the cusp of etching his own name into the Lynnfield history books. Adamo is only 472 passing yards away from surpassing Matt Mortellite’s 2016-2017 career record of 3,609 yards and needs just five more passing touchdowns to break Clayton Marengi’s 2016-2020 record of 39 career touchdown passes.
“Everything is better and it was already very good,” coach Lamusta said on his quarterback going into his third year at the helm. “I am impressed with his leadership in the offseason and poised demeanor in our scrimmages. The players follow that.”
Of course, Adamo and the Lynnfield offense will not be able to move the ball without help from the big guys up front. Senior captain Walter Radulski will anchor the offensive line as the only returning starter but will have help from fellow senior linemen Nick Lozada, Chris Duprey, Ethan Miranda, Jack Kouyoumdjian Maximus Nastari, Alex Fleming and Oliver Ventolieri.
If the line can open some holes and give Adamo time in the pocket, expect a breakout season from senior running back Jared Bernabei (41 carries, 425 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns in 2023) in the running game and big plays through the air from junior receiver Zahir Mitchell (27 receptions, 503 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns). The Pioneer offense produced nearly 30 points per game last season and should be just as productive if they can stay healthy.
As good as Lynnfield looked last season on offense, perhaps it was the defense that flexed their muscles the most. The 2023 Pioneer defense suffocated opponents allowing only 9.7 points per game and pitched three shutouts.
Coach Lamusta always preaches a “takeaway mentality” and last season’s defense did just that forcing 19 turnovers. Six of those takeaways came from senior defensive back Spencer D’Augusta who snagged six interceptions from opposing quarterbacks. Expect plenty more from Lynnfield’s ball hawking defense in 2024.
“You can expect to see a defense that plays as a team and trusts each other,” believes Lamusta. “We want to be a defense where everyone does their 1/11th of the scheme as opposed to 11 guys trying to make the tackle.”
Special teams will also play a crucial role in the team’s success. Senior kicker Massimo LoGrasso returns for another year after a standout junior season kicking 43 PAT’s while also tying Steve Ullian’s 2009 and 2010 single season record with three field goals.
After productive scrimmages against Peabody and Melrose, the stage is now set for the 2024 Pioneer football team. The road to Gillette Stadium is never an easy one, but this road appears remarkably uphill considering the lopsided home/away schedule. Still, you won’t find anyone in this tightknit Lynnfield locker room looking to make an excuse.
“It will be a challenge,” says coach Lamusta. “I’m excited to see this team and senior group and I’m excited to see what we will accomplish together. Together is our word this year: win together.”
