Published September 18, 2019

By JAMES CRANNEY

LYNNFIELD — As the sun was setting on the day last Friday night, it was also setting on the season prior.

Following a disappointing 2018 campaign, the Lynnfield Pioneers football team found themselves with a new season and a clean slate. The sun had set, the lights were on, and the Pioneers welcomed the Newburyport Clippers for the season’s first game on Lynnfield turf.

The talk of the offseason was primarily focused on the Lynnfield offense, but it was the Pioneer defense that set the tone early.

On 3rd and 2, linebackers David Capachietti and Khad Connell stopped the Newburyport running back in his tracks forcing a quick three-and-out. For those eager to see the new Lynnfield offense go to work, they would have to wait. Senior John Lee fielded the punt at his own 33 yard line and began running to his left. The return man broke two tackles then cut up the right side and was off to the races; 67 yards later, the Pioneers found themselves up 8-0 following a fake extra-point where Austin Sutera threw it to a wide open Jack Ford.

When the Clippers got the ball back, they started to put a drive together bringing themselves to the cusp of Pioneer territory, but that would be as far as they would go. Heavy pressure up front on a 3rd and 11 forced Newburyport quarterback Charles Cahalane to throw a wayward ball giving Lynnfield their first possession of the game.

The new-look Pioneer offense would not disappoint. Senior captain running back Anthony Floramo got the drive started by mowing down Clipper linebackers for gains of 5 and 23 yards.

THE PIONEERS, led by captains Mike Julian (54), Anthony Floramo Jr. (49), Clayton Marengi and John Lee, came roaring into the 2019 season with a 43-7 win over Newburyport on Friday. (Kristine Marengi Photo)

Senior captain Clayton Marengi then hit junior receiver Blake Peters with a 10 yard pass brining Lynnfield to the Newburyport 40 yard line. Junior receiver Jack Ford blew by his man and streaked towards the end zone but Marengi just barely missed the big target. If at first you don’t succeed though, try and try again. Marengi would not miss on the next play, when he hit a galloping Bakari Mitchell in stride for a 40 yard touchdown sending the Lynnfield student section into a frenzy.

After forcing another three-and-out, Lynnfield would get the ball back and looked for some more points. On the very first play, the Pioneer linemen opened a hole for Floramo who shot up the right side for what would have been a 61 yard touchdown. That was until a late holding call would only turn it into a 42 yard scamper. Marengi launched another long ball but this time it would be picked off by Newburyport defensive back Brady Ford.

Now trailing by only two touchdowns instead of three, the Clippers had momentum on their side and a chance to really pressure the home team. That all went by the wayside when senior defensive lineman Owen Blacker leaped into the air and snatched a Newburyport screen pass out of the sky. Blacker would waltz into the end zone.

“Those are the plays that swing high school games,” claimed Pioneers head coach Pat Lamusta after the game. “Owen’s a fast kid and it was awesome to see what he could do with the ball even as a defensive lineman.”

A Khad Connell direct snap on the fake extra point would give the Pioneers a commanding 22-0 first half lead. During last year’s season opener at Newburyport when the Clippers took a sizeable lead over Lynnfield, the Newburyport student section began the chant “It’s too easy!” Now one year later and with a three touchdown lead, the Lynnfield student body echoed the same message reminding those who traveled 25 miles south just how good their memories were.

Newburyport would finally end up on the board, making it 22-7 but when the Pioneers got the ball back, they would continue their dominance. On back-to-back plays, Lynnfield picked up chunks of 18 yards when Marengi found John Lee on a 3rd and 10 and Floramo continued introducing Clipper tacklers to his shoulder pads. On a critical 3rd and 9 from the Newburyport 25 yard line, Marengi rolled right and fired a pass to Bakari Mitchell who put his head down for a hard-earned first down. David Capachietti took the ball down to the 1 yard line after a 15 yard run, and punched it in the next play for a 29-7 lead.

Going into the second half with a 22 point lead, the Pioneers would not let up. The defense refused to give up another point all night and continued to stuff the Clippers running backs. The Lynnfield defense held Newburyport to just 19 rushing yards the entire game. On ten rushing attempts, the Clippers either lost yards or just made it back to the line of scrimmage.

The Pioneers would score two more touchdowns as Marengi hit Blake Peters on a 9 yard slant, and senior running back Joseph Contardo secured his first varsity touchdown on a 2 yard run.

Lynnfield would finish the rout 43-7, the most points a Pioneer team has ever scored against Newburyport.

Looking solid in all three phases of the game, Lynnfield has much to be happy about.

The Pioneers cannot remain stagnant though with a tough matchup coming up next Friday on the road against Medford.

Coach Lamusta knows they have their work cut out but is still proud of his 1-0 squad.

“It was a very tough group of kids we had on the field today. I knew they’d play that way, it was just awesome to see it in reality.”