UPDATE: Gridmen win 6th straight with 28-6 win over Manchester-Essex following road victory over Newburyport

 

 

After press time:
Lynnfield defeats Manchester-Essex 28-6 (Oct. 25)

 

By JAMES CRANNEY

NEWBURYPORT – While the 2-3 Clippers may have three losses to their name, they are not a team to be taken lightly.

Since losing the first three games of the season, Newburyport had won two league games in a row. Last Friday night, they hoped to make it three in a row when 4-1 Lynnfield came to town. In the end, it would not be the case as the Pioneers pulled away in the second half, winning 44-21 and improving to 5-1 on the season.

“It’s always hard to play in Newburyport,” said Pioneers head coach Pat Lamusta.  “Coach Smolski’s teams are always physical, and it’s just a tough place to play.”

Newburyport was not the only team entering the matchup with momentum.  Following a loss in their season-opening game, the Pioneers have been on a warpath.

Led by senior captain quarterback Tyler Adamo, who has already broken the school career passing records for touchdowns thrown and yards completed, Lynnfield had rattled off four consecutive wins in dominating fashion leading into Friday night.

In the past four weeks, the Pioneer offense outscored the opposition by a margin of 142-28. In the 30 offensive series Lynnfield has had since the North Attleboro loss, they have scored on 21 of those drives.

The offense continued to shine under the lights of James T. Stehlin Field Friday night, but it was the Pioneer defense who struck first.

On the game’s first possession, Newburyport reached midfield following a late hit near the sidelines. After committing the personal foul, it only took two plays for senior captain Madux Iovinelli to atone for the penalty. As Clippers running back Troy Varoudakis turned the right corner, Iovinelli came flying up behind him before punching the ball out of the halfback’s hands into the arms of fellow Lynnfield captain Jesse Dorman.

 

 

 

The Pioneers took full advantage of the game’s first turnover.

With great blocking up front, Adamo (17-20, 310 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns) picked apart the Clipper defense with passes to Iovinelli (5 catches, 73 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns), junior Dan Lemieux (3 catches 54 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown) and junior Luke DiSilvio (1 catch, 6 yards).

Once in the red zone, Adamo rifled a pass over the middle hitting Dorman (6 catches, 158 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns) on the numbers for a 17-yard score. Senior kicker Massimo LoGrasso (5/6 PAT’s, 1/1 field goals) drilled the extra point giving Lynnfield an early 7-0 lead. It would not be LoGrasso’s last meaningful kick.

Iovinelli came up big for the Pioneer defense again on the next series with a 3^rd and 13 sack of Newburyport quarterback Colin Fuller. Lynnfield got the ball back and continued their passing prominence.  In just two plays, the Pioneer were hovering around midfield. On the 2^nd quarter’s first snap, Adamo stepped up launching a 51-yard strike down the seam for Lemieux to make it 14-0.   

The Clippers were down, but not out.

Newburyport’s offense responded with a methodical touchdown drive taking 5:41 off the clock. They scored again in the final minute of the 2^nd quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Samuel Craig.

While the Clippers offense had finally found their footing, Lynnfield’s offense continued to keep their foot on the gas. Following a 34-yard jump ball to Iovinelli down the right sideline, Adamo threw another 50/50 ball Iovinelli’s way for a 3-yard score.

Leading 21-14 with 32 seconds remaining before halftime, the Pioneer offense took the field at their own 40-yard line. A quick strike to senior George Lambros (2 catches, 19 receiving yards) proceeded by a 19-yard pass to Dorman, gave Lynnfield a chance for a 44-yard field goal attempt. Facing an attempt most high school kickers would almost never dare, LoGrasso trotted onto the field and booted the ball right down the middle.

“He’s so capable and it was awesome to see him convert and get some points,” commented coach Lamusta. “We know what he can do because of his kickoffs and his kickoff yardage all season has been tremendous.”

Lynnfield took their 24-14 lead into the second half and never looked back.

Captains Dorman and Iovinelli both caught their second touchdown receptions of the game and a goal line interception from senior defensive back Andrew Lombardi were all too much for the hometown team to overcome. A 50-yard touchdown run from senior captain Jared Bernabei (8 carries, 80 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown) served as the cherry on top of the 44-21 victory.

“We were able to convert on some big chunk plays that helped us get a lead,” said Lamusta after his team’s fifth straight win.  “Then it was just a matter of bend but don’t break the rest of the way…felt like a three-sides of the ball effort.”

Next Friday night at 6:30 p.m., Lynnfield welcomes 5-1 Manchester-Essex to town.  With the Hornets averaging over 30 points per game matched with a Pioneer offense that has scored points on their last nine consecutive drives, it could be a shootout at Pioneer Stadium. If Lynnfield wants to continue putting points on the board, Lamusta knows it all starts with the leader of the offense.

“They came after him [Adamo] tonight, but he continues to be a real marshal of the offense and is just a playmaker…he’s a great leader and we needed that out here on the road and we’ll need it from the rest of him and our captains next week against Man-Essex.”