Published November 21, 2018
By ANDREW MOUNTER
LYNNFIELD — For the 60th time on Thanksgiving Day, the North Reading Hornets will play the Lynnfield Pioneers.
North Reading is going into the game as Cape Ann League (CAL) champs for the third straight season, with a 5-5 record for the season and a three-game losing streak while Lynnfield is 3-7 but has won their last two contests.
This year’s meeting is unique as both head coaches are young and leading their respective teams in their first year on the job. North Reading is led by Eddie Blum, who was the offensive coordinator of the team the prior two seasons before his current role. Lynnfield is managed by Pat Lamusta. He was an assistant coach for the last four years and also played for the Pioneers from 2004–2007.
Both coaches have tremendous respect for each other and the rivalry.
“Come Thanksgiving, what either team has done before that point won’t matter,” said Blum. “It’s the Thanksgiving Day game, in front of friends, alumni, family and the community. Each team will bring their best.”
“The rivalry is historic,” said Lamusta. “It is important to me personally as a former Lynnfield player during a time when we really struggled as a program. The rivalry is very important for both communities in promoting the sport of football.”
THE CAL KINNEY CHAMPION Hornet football team is looking forward to the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown with Lynnfield. Members of the team are seniors Alex D’Ambrosio, Matt Solecki, Mike Mikula, Mike Sheridan, Dylan Cole, Matthew Capozzoli and Matt Penley. The juniors are Matt Luciano, Ryan Kavanaugh, Aidan Carucci, Cameron Randazzo, Jimmy Currier, John Cuddy, Jared Zimmerman, Gerald Callagy, Jack Keller, Gregory Demetri, Stuart Glover, John Muise, Giovanni Colucciello, Sean McCullough, Brendan Downer, Eric Benecke, Michael Luker, Steven Kane, Jordan Madden, Nicholas McGovern, Michael Duquette, Jack Rich and Nicholas Tormey. The sophomores are Sean Brown, Will O’Leary, Robert Tammaro, Brian Heffernan, Brayden Scribner, Kyle Baker, William Taylor, Christian Real-Costa, Jack Donohue, Aidan O’Sullivan, Peter Wyatt, Jacob Doolin, Zachary Sampson and Ryan Good. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Hornets are well-prepared
North Reading runs a spread offense and for the first time in recent years, was more of a balanced team, as they could throw the ball as much as they could run, which was not the case in past seasons as they were typically a run-heavy offense. They were helped out by having a good quarterback in senior captain Matt Solecki. He threw for 1,404 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
He has had a good supporting cast led by senior captain Alex D’Ambrosio, who would fit well in the New England Patriots’ offense as he can run from the backfield and can catch the ball from the tailback position. D’Ambrosio had 69 carries for 427 yards and four scores while grabbing 26 catches for 414 yards and six TDs. One can see the reason why he was affectionately nicknamed the “Swiss Army Knife” by the public address announcer for Masconomet, where he had a great game.
North Reading also had key contributions from sophomore rusher Will O’Leary (529 yards and seven TDs) and from receivers, senior Mike Mikula (22 catches for 362 yards, 3 TDs) and from juniors Jack Keller (21 catches for 203 yards, 5 TDs) and Ryan Kavanaugh (18 catches for 280 yards and one score).
Also, one cannot forget the great work done by the offensive line that protected Solecki and gave room for the running backs to roam. That was done by senior captains Mike Sheridan and Dylan Cole, with senior Matt Capozzoli, juniors Sean McCullough, Giovanni Colucciello, Nick Tormey, and sophomores Zach Sampson and Aidan O’Sullivan.
The defense runs on the 3-4 base formation and gave up an average of 18 points a game but was at times menacing, holding slightly bigger offenses of Masco and Newburyport at bay while giving up only six points to each of them.
The defensive line is a rotation of senior Matt Penley, junior Cam Randazzo, Tormey, Coluciello, Cole, O’Sullivan and Sampson. The linebacker core consists of junior Gerry Callagy, McCullough, Keller and O’Leary. The secondary is made up of D’Ambrosio, Sheridan and Kavanaugh with juniors Matt Luciano and Will Taylor, and sophomore Robbie Tamarro.
“I am so grateful to have this group of players for my first year,” said Blum. “It has been an unbelievable experience with a lot of learning and getting better for me, for the coaches, for the players, and for this program. It has been a lot of hard work and time, but I am appreciative and humbled to be a part of such a great community.”
Lynnfield’s outlook
Lynnfield’s offense is led by junior quarterback Clayton Marengi who had 866 passing yards with 56 completions and eight TDs. He is also not afraid to run with the ball as well. His backfield mates are senior captain Jaret Simpson (77 carries for 286 yards with 5 TDs), and Anthony Floramo Jr. (59 carries for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns). Marengi has two dependable wide receivers with Jack Ford (38 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns) and John Lee (18 catches for 225 yards and three scores).
The defense is the strength of the Pioneers as they had a great performance in their postseason appearance against Watertown, losing 7-2.
“Our defense is led by senior captains Leo Quinn and Simpson at linebacker,” said Lamusta. “In the defensive backfield, junior safety John Lee has been a sure tackle for us all year. Our defensive line has some speed with juniors Owen Blacker and Justin Ndansi protecting the edge, and Cole Moretti in the middle at defensive tackle.” Ndansi led the team with three sacks.
This should be another classic. The game will be played at Lynnfield High School’s Pioneer Stadium at 10 a.m., Thanksgiving Day.
