NICK RAZZABONI will take over as Lynnfield’s new QB this year. (Kristine Marengi Photo)


By JAMES CRANNEY

LYNNFIELD — Following one of the most unusual seasons in high school football history, the Lynnfield Pioneers will make their highly anticipated return to the football field this Friday night at home against Saugus at 7 p.m. While only 20 weeks stand between the last time we saw Lynnfield on the gridiron, there have been quite a few changes.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced following their Aug. 25 meeting that student athletes will still be required to wear masks during competition, however, only for indoor sports. As a result, for the first time since the fall of 2019, fans will get to see their Pioneers play mask-free.

“It feels awesome,” said Lynnfield head coach Pat Lamusta regarding the mask mandate being lifted for outdoor sports. “It allows players and coaches to focus fully on football, their assignments and it’s easier for the players to breathe.”

In addition to maskless players, the Pioneers roster will also look a bit different this upcoming season. Losing 13 seniors from the class of 2021, Lynnfield will have some major holes to fill.

After breaking the school record for all-time receptions, receiving touchdowns and becoming fifth in individual career scoring, Jack Ford will no longer be terrorizing defenders at Pioneer Stadium. Ford will be found these Saturday’s playing college football for coach Bill Kavanaugh at Bentley University.

The record-breaking receiver will not be the only Pioneer playing on Saturday’s this fall. Former captain Bakari Mitchell will continue his football career as a defensive back with coach Paul Castonia at Plymouth State University.

The player who threw balls to both accomplished receivers last season will also no longer be on the field. Former quarterback and captain Austin Sutera was part of that 2021 class and now leaves the door open for junior quarterback Nick Razzaboni who coach Lamusta said has been “progressing well through the preseason.” Coach Lamusta also listed a few other players on the offensive side of the ball for fans to look out for this year.

“Lots of players are vying for positions in the receiving corps; expect Sam Gazit, Joe Cucciniello, AJ Chiaradonna, Kevin Connolly and Jack Calichman to be keys to the offensive pass game,” commented coach Lamusta.

 

THE LYNNFIELD defense is ready for another season. (Kristine Marengi Photo)

 

There are also big shoes to fill in the run game with former captain DJ Capachietti, who averaged 7 yards per carry last season, graduating as well. Coach Lamusta says, “Expect James Sharkey and Robert Marley to be footing many of the carries this season behind Spencer Riley.”

Of course, the running backs will have nowhere to go if the big boys up front cannot open any holes. In regards to the offensive line, coach Lamusta says “Nick Marcinowski, Mike O’Brien and Mekhi Peters will be big and strong for us on both lines this year.”

One of the most impressive facets of last year’s team was Lynnfield’s ability to win games in multiple ways. The Pioneers, who finished 5-2 overall, were able to win in an offensive shootout with scores of 46-21 (over Triton) and 29-0 (over Manchester-Essex). However, they also found victory in defensive battles winning twice by a score of 13-7 (to Newburyport and Pentucket). When it comes to this year’s defense, coach Lamusta expects them to pick up where they left off.

“We are pushing for a takeaway mentality on defense,” commented Lamusta. “We want to be the team that forces turnovers and gets the ball back to the offense.”

Alongside fellow captains Michael O’Brien, Mekhi Peters and Nick Marcinowski, when it comes to specific players on the defensive side of the ball, coach Lamusta points to senior captain linebacker Spencer Riley. The head coach describes him as a “sideline to sideline” player who “makes game-changing plays.” Coach Lamusta also says Riley is “an excellent leader on and off the field.”

Before the opening week one matchup with Saugus this Friday, Lynnfield has played three scrimmages against Peabody, Arlington Catholic, and KIPP. While there has yet to be an official snap taken on this new season, the Pioneers’ head coach likes what he sees so far specifically with the quickness and resilience of his team.

“The big thing we have this year is speed,” claims coach Lamusta. “We are playing with speed and demonstrating a next-play mentality in which the players are showing even if a play doesn’t go our way, they bounce right back.”

Only time will tell how far this Pioneer program can go this season but the goal remains the same: to bring Lynnfield their first state championship in school history.

“It is going to be exciting for us to play all the CAL teams and compete for a CAL Championship alongside putting ourselves in a position to make a run in the playoffs,” states coach Lamusta. “It is a special group we have.”