First quarter barrage knocks out Manchester-Essex
By TOM CONDARDO
PIONEER captain David Adams (56) and Jake Rourke (6) fight to take down Hornet ballcarrier Chris Carr (29) in first period action of Lynnfield’s 42-7 win. (Tom Condardo Photo)
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — If this were a prizefight, the referee would have stopped it in the first round. More likely, the boxing commission would have cancelled the bout before it even began.
Manchester-Essex, already undermanned with a 38-man roster that includes 11 freshmen, climbed into the ring at Hyland Field against the bruising Pioneers with only 26 players. The winless Hornets were missing a half-dozen two-way starters, including two captains and starting quarterback Craig Carter. Given the circumstances, the 42-7 knockout by the undefeated Pioneers was fairly predictable.
“They were decimated with injuries and they were a little thin even before that,” said Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman who watched his squad improve to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in Baker League play. “I’ve been there. I know that feeling and it’s not a great one.”
The Pioneers came out throwing haymakers and body blows right from the start. Captain Cam Rondeau landed the first punch with an 81-yard TD return on the opening kickoff to put the visitors up 7-0 only 14 seconds into the game. From there the Pioneers pummeled the stunned Hornets with scoring drives of 12, 49, and 13 seconds on five plays from scrimmage to cruise to a 28-0 lead with less than eight minutes gone in the game.
The Pioneers continued the onslaught in the second quarter, hammering the out-on-their-feet Hornets with two more quick scores to go up 42-0 at halftime. The second half was a long-standing eight count with the refs and timekeepers winking at a merciful continuous running clock that saw the final 22 game minutes played in less than a half hour of real time.
Impressive first half
“I like the way we started,” Weidman said. “The kids talked about just being ready to play and not taking steps backwards and getting better each week. I think they’re trying to do all those things.”
The Pioneer defense was just as impressive as the offense, allowing only one first down to the Hornets on their first five possessions, and that was on two Lynnfield offside penalties. After each M-E punt, the Pioneers quickly responded with a TD.
Quarterback captain Danny Sullivan connected with Rondeau for a 38-yard TD pass on the Pioneers’ two-play opening drive. Dan Bronshvayg added the first of his six PATs to make it 14-0. Jake Rourke then made his only carry of the day count, breaking loose for a 57-yard TD and making it 21-0 halfway through the first quarter.
That was it for many of the starters. Jake McHugh came on at quarterback and on his first snap he sprinted 44 yards for a score to make it 28-0 at the end of the first quarter. Captain Jon Knee roll in from the three and Drew McCarthy tacked on a 35-yard score to make it 42-0. Rob Debonis ended the half with an interception.
The Pioneers picked up 233 yards of offense in the first half to minus-11 for the Hornets. M-E actually received more yards on Lynnfield penalties (20) then their offense was able to muster.
Lynnfield was able to empty the bench in the second half and finished the game with an assortment of freshmen and sophomores gaining valuable varsity experience. The Hornets finished the game with 96 total yards, 67 on the lone M-E touchdown run by Chris Carr late in the game. The Hornets averaged less than a yard per play on their other 32 snaps.
This Week: Georgetown
After spending the first four games of the year on the road, the Pioneers return home to christen the new high school stadium against Georgetown Friday night. An extended halftime is planned to commemorate the event.
“A lot of people did a great deal of work to make this happen and we appreciate it,” Weidman said. “Not just for football but for all the sports. We try and tell our guys all the time – and I’m sure the other coaches do as well – that they’re pretty lucky. This is a pretty good place to be.”
The Royals come to town with a 1-3 record having lost to Cathedral (31-6), Greater Lawrence (36-9), and last week to Ipswich (41-14). They picked up their only win two weeks ago in a 14-13 thriller over Manchester-Essex when new head coach Justin Spurr went for a two point conversion with five seconds left in the game. They converted despite a penalty that had put them on the seven and a half yard line.
“They’re not going to be bashful, that’s for sure,” said Weidman. “They’ll be ready to play.”
Georgetown is similar to Manchester-Essex in that they have only 24 sophomores-seniors on their roster. They have legitimate talent in quarterback Cooper Martens, running backs Nick DePasquale and Zach Curtin, tight end Nick Calvani, receiver Jimmy Sherman and wing back Ryan Sherman. Tackle Jacob Meyers, who anchors both lines, gives the Royals some size.
Game time at LHS Stadium is 7 p.m.
