MEMBERS of the senior class celebrate their 32-6 road win over North Reading in the 63rd Thanksgiving Day game. (Kristine Marengi Photo)
By JAMES CRANNEY
NORTH READING – “I came in with an expectation that we had to focus inward. Focus on us and whatever they do, they do.”
These were Lynnfield head coach’s Pat Lamusta’s thoughts going into the 63rd Thanksgiving Day meeting against Super Bowl-bound North Reading.
Given that their ticket to Gillette had already been punched, many wondered whether or not the Hornets would play their starters this Thanksgiving.
Despite the deep and rich history of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry, North Reading elected to go with their backups, leading to a 32-6 rout by Lynnfield.
“I think our guys really wanted the challenge and wanted to compete, so I think we kind of had to get over that and just play,” stated coach Lamusta on the awkwardness of the annual tradition. “The weirdness of today is not (North Reading) coach (Ed) Blum’s fault and it’s not our fault. Our seniors wanted to compete, but it’s the current system that kind of laid that out.”
ROBERT MARLEY III flies past the Hornet defense on a 54-yard rushing touchdown during Lynnfield’s Thanksgiving Day win over North Reading. (Kristine Marengi Photo)
Lamusta added, “At the end of the day, they had fun, they played tough and we were able to get the win, which was nice.”
The Pioneers got things going early on defense with a 3rd down sack from junior Arthur Chiaradonna and senior Kevin Connolly. When Lynnfield got their first offensive possession, they made quick work of the Hornets.
Following a 28-yard run from senior captain Robert Marley (6 carries, 104 yards, 1 touchdown), the Pioneers found themselves in North Reading territory. Four plays later, senior captain James Sharkey (3 carries, 47 yards, 2 touchdowns) ran it in from the 1-yard line giving Lynnfield a 7-0 lead.
They would not look back.
ARTHUR CHIARADONNA (4) and James Sharkey bring down a North Reading ball carrier. The Pioneer defense dominated in their Thanksgiving Day win. (Kristine Marengi Photo)
After freshman quarterback Jason Berry’s pass was intercepted by senior Kevin Julian, Lynnfield continued ramming the ball down the Hornets’ throat with runs from Jared Bernabei and Chiaradonna. Sharkey then brought the Pioneers near midfield on a 15-yard screen pass from sophomore quarterback Tyler Adamo (7-11, 76 yards, 1 touchdown). On the next snap, Marley followed motioning receiver Joey Cucciniello (3 catches, 20 yards) before breaking off a 54-yard touchdown run.
Leading 13-0, Lynnfield got the ball to begin the 2nd half and continued imposing their will.
The Pioneers began at their own 42-yard line following a great return from senior captain Charlie Capachietti. An 18-yard pass to senior receiver Jack Calichman would help advance the ball into North Reading territory. Two plays later, a 24-yard rushing touchdown yet again from Sharkey extended Lynnfield’s lead 19-0.
The next two Pioneer possessions yielded the same results with a 6-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Madux Iovinelli and a 28-yard touchdown pass to Julian.
HEAD COACH Pat Lamusta celebrates Lynnfield’s Thanksgiving Day win with his team on North Reading’s home turf. The Pioneers finished the season at 7-4. (Kristine Marengi Photo)
In the middle of the 4th quarter, North Reading caught Lynnfield off guard with a deep pass resulting in their only score of the game. With nearly half of the 4th quarter still remaining on the clock, the referees spared North Reading any further embarrassment by making the decision to end the game.
While many will critique the Hornets’ decision last Thursday to not compete with their starters, a win on Thanksgiving is still a win.
“It’s a great feeling,” commented coach Lamusta on the victory despite the unordinary circumstances of the game. “Especially with this particular senior group. All of those guys, all 22 of them, they’re all going to do great things in life; they’re great human beings.”
With the victory, Lynnfield (7-4) has snapped North Reading’s five-game Turkey Day winning streak and secured the first Thanksgiving win of the Lamusta era. The Pioneers now hold a 36-27 lead in the all-time series, and despite what anyone says, have earned bragging rights for the next 365 days.
“Regardless of some of the weirdness of today’s game, our guys went out and played like maniacs, they had fun and they played great Pioneer football,” said Lamusta. “I think that’s all I could ask for.”
