Published in the December 6, 2016 edition.
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
WAKEFIELD — The Northeast Tech football team defeated host Blackstone Valley, 30-25, in the Large Vocational Super Bowl last Thursday night at Milford High School.
With the victory, the Knights ended the year at 10-3 as they won their first ever Large Vocational Super Bowl. They also were the tri-champs of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference along with Shawsheen and Greater Lawrence.
The Beavers, meanwhile, ended the year at 9-4 as they were making their fourth-straight appearance in this game.
“It was so satisfying after going 3-8 last year,” stated Knights 11th-year head coach Don Heres. “The seniors all stepped up this year with their leadership and the team formed a real brotherhood. This team was one of my proudest to coach.”
On the Knights first possession, Connor Joseph scored on a one-yard run. He then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0. That drive was set up by an interception by Zach Sanderson on the game’s opening drive.
After the Knights defense held the Beavers to a three-and-out on their second series, the Knights scored again on their next drive as quarterback Andrew Smith hit Scott Peary with an 11-yard touchdown pass. Peary then ran in the two-point conversion to make it 16-0 with 11 seconds left in the first.
In the second quarter, the Beavers scored twice to cut the lead to three at the half. Kevin Barthelmes scored on a nine-yard run for the first score but the two-point conversion pass was incomplete.
Quarterback Hector Petri then found Dylan Ramos with an six-yard touchdown pass and Barthelmes point after made it 16-13 heading into halftime.
Peary, who ran for 91 yards on 23 carries, then scored early in the third quarter from seven-yards out capping off a 12-play drive. Smith then found Peary for the two-point conversion to make the score 24-13.
The Beavers then answered by scoring on their first drive of the second half as Petri connected with Ramos from 18-yards out. The missed two-point conversion pass kept the score at 24-19 with 1:48 remaining in the third.
That drive lasted seven plays.
Peary, who finished with over rushing 2,000 yards this season, then scored from five-yards out in the fourth quarter but the two-point conversion pass was incomplete and the Knights lead was 11 with 10:15 left in the game.
Petri (14 for 28 passing for 194 yards) then found Connor Christensen from 13-yards out on the Beavers next series but the two-point conversion attempt was no good as the lead stayed at five with 7:16 left.
Northeast’s defense was then able to shut down the Beavers on their final two drives to hold on to the win.
Northeast Metro Tech is located in Wakefield and serves 12 communities including Wakefield.
