Pioneers swamp Clippers 32-0; first win in Newburyport since 1986

By TOM CONDARDO

LYNNFIELD — You can’t make up for 13 frustrating losses in one night, but the Lynnfield Pioneers certainly tried. After failing to win in Newburyport’s World War Memorial Stadium since 1986, the Pioneers came out with broadsides blazing last Friday night, scuttling the Clippers 32-0 for a second straight win to start the 2014 season.

Determined to end the decades long nightmare in Newburyport, the Pioneers unloaded on the Clippers, scoring on all four of their first-half possessions to build a 25-0 halftime lead. They forced three turnovers and smothered the Newburyport running game, holding them to 24 yards on the ground, and a five first downs en route to their first shutout of the year. The 32 points were the most the Pioneers have ever scored against Newburyport.

“The kids wanted to take some pride in being the team that stopped the streak,” said head Coach Neal Weidman. “I wanted it to be over as well; 1986 was a long time ago.”

Scoring spread out

Seven players hit the scoresheet for the Pioneers. Captain Danny Sullivan ran for a touchdown and threw a TD pass to captain Cam Rondeau. Jake Rourke and Jake McHugh ran for scores while Max Robert hauled in a surprise two-point conversion from Dan Bronshvayg who also booted a 27-yard field goal and three PATs. The Pioneers showed another balanced attack, rushing for 151 yards and passing for 160 for a 311-yard total.

Using their huge size advantage in the trenches for the second week in a row, the Pioneers forced the Clippers into the air. Newburyport’s dangerous passing combination of quarterback Michael Shay and receiver Jonathan Bajko connected six times for 68 yards, but they couldn’t reach the end zone. Cam DeGeorge and Chad Martin notched sacks, captain Jon Knee and Kyle Hawes picked off interceptions, and captain David Adams recovered another fumble as the defense stifled the speedy Clippers.

“They had a nice little passing game going, but they had a hard time moving it on the ground and that made them one dimensional,” Weidman observed. “That’s always helpful.”

After forcing a three and out on the Clippers’ first possession, the Pioneers took over and quickly moved to the Newburyport eight-yard line. The Clippers’ defense stiffened, forcing a fourth and eight from the 10-yard line. Weidman decided to deploy the booming leg of Bronshvayg who squeezed a 27-yard field goal inside the right upright to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

“I hate field goals,” Weidman said bluntly. “I wanted to go for it but we needed to get some points on the board. I didn’t want it to turn into one of those things of missed opportunities, no points and they hang around and then you’re down by 10 points.”

Big play turning point  

The game turned early in the second. The Clippers drove to the Lynnfield six, but an illegal substitution penalty, a goal line pass break-up by Knee and Rondeau, a fumbled snap and two short gains ended the threat. The Pioneers took over at the five-yard line and converted a huge third and 10 on a nifty pass from Sullivan to McHugh. They struck pay dirt on the next play, an 81-yard pass and fingertip catch from Sullivan to Rondeau. The play was a run option and Sullivan executed the fake to Rourke perfectly then fired the bomb downfield. Rondeau collected it at the 50 and motored the rest of the way for the score to make it 10-0.

“We worked on that play a lot this week,” Weidman said. “We knew we were going to have to get a big play. That helped us relax offensively.”

It was all Pioneers for the rest of the half. A bad snap and kneel down by Bajko on a punt gave Lynnfield the ball back at the Newburyport 18. Five plays later Sullivan snuck it in from the two. Bronshvayg found a wide-open Robert for the two and the Pioneers led 18-0.

An Adams fumble recovery on the next Clipper series set the Pioneers up on the Newburyport 33. Seven plays later, Rourke bulled in from the four-yard line for the score to make it 25-0. Sullivan and Knee connected twice for 34 yards on the drive.

Team scores 900th rushing TD

The Clippers mounted one long drive in the third, but the Pioneers snuffed it out at the Lynnfield 24. Newburyport’s final two drives ended in interceptions. McHugh ended the scoring on a 10-yard sweep to make it 32-0. The touchdown was the 900th rushing TD in LHS history.

“The defense set the tone early,” said Weidman. “They played well.”

The Pioneers get next week off to prepare for their CAL Baker Division opener at Amesbury on Friday, September 26. Weidman is pleased with the team’s 2-0 start.

“I said at the beginning of the year we have to find a way to go 1-1,” he said of the two non-league games to open the season. “You’re talking about two teams that made the playoffs last year. A team (Newburyport) we barely beat last year. Pentucket lost in the division finals in overtime. We came out of the gate playing two teams that are traditionally good, both on the road. It was really good for us. We really wanted those first two games to be something where we had to compete hard to win.”

Cutlines:

FB 1 Chad Martin 8818 Sept 17

CHAD MARTIN (14) sacks Newburyport quarterback Michael Shay in first quarter action Friday. Shay was on the run from the relentless Pioneer defense all night.      (Tom Condardo Photo)

FB 2 Jake Rourke 8837 Sept 17

JAKE ROURKE picks up a short gain against Newburyport. He ran for 52 yards and a touchdown on in the 32-0 shutout.        (Tom Condardo Photo)

 

FB 3 Cam DeGeorge sacks QB 8823 Sept 17

THAT’S A WRAP. Cam DeGeorge (72) wraps up QB Michael Shay for a second period sack in Lynnfield’s 32-0 shut out over the Clippers.         (Tom Condardo Photo)

 

FB 4 Senior Stephen White 8841

SENIOR Stephen White (77) enjoys the post-game celebration. He is a key member of the Pioneers’ interior line that shut down the Clippers’ offense.      (Tom Condardo Photo)

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Original text below

Pioneers swamp Clippers 32-0

First win in Newburyport since 1986

By TOM CONDARDO

LYNNFIELD — You can’t make up for 13 frustrating losses in one night, but the Lynnfield Pioneers certainly tried. After failing to win in Newburyport’s World War Memorial Stadium since 1986, the Pioneers came out with broadsides blazing last Friday night, scuttling the Clippers 32-0 for a second straight win to start the 2014 season.

Determined to end the decades long nightmare in Newburyport, the Pioneers unloaded on the Clippers, scoring on all four of their first-half possessions to build a 25-0 halftime lead. They forced three turnovers and smothered the Newburyport running game, holding them to 24 yards on the ground, and a five first downs en route to their first shutout of the year. The 32 points were the most the Pioneers have ever scored against Newburyport.

“The kids wanted to take some pride in being the team that stopped the streak,” said head Coach Neal Weidman. “I wanted it to be over as well; 1986 was a long time ago.”

Scoring spread out

Seven players hit the scoresheet for the Pioneers. Captain Danny Sullivan ran for a touchdown and threw a TD pass to captain Cam Rondeau. Jake Rourke and Jake McHugh ran for scores while Max Robert hauled in a surprise two-point conversion from Dan Bronshvayg who also booted a 27-yard field goal and three PATs. The Pioneers showed another balanced attack, rushing for 151 yards and passing for 160 for a 311-yard total.

Using their huge size advantage in the trenches for the second week in a row, the Pioneers forced the Clippers into the air. Newburyport’s dangerous passing combination of quarterback Michael Shay and receiver Jonathan Bajko connected six times for 68 yards, but they couldn’t reach the endzone. Cam DeGeorge and Chad Martin notched sacks, captain Jon Knee and Kyle Hawes picked off interceptions, and captain David Adams recovered another fumble as the defense stifled the speedy Clippers.

“They had a nice little passing game going, but they had a hard time moving it on the ground and that made them one dimensional,” Weidman observed. “That’s always helpful.”

After forcing a three and out on the Clippers’ first possession, the Pioneers took over and quickly moved to the Newburyport eight-yard line. The Clippers’ defense stiffened, forcing a fourth and eight from the 10-yard line. Weidman decided to deploy the booming leg of Bronshvayg who squeezed a 27-yard field goal inside the right upright to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

“I hate field goals,” Weidman said bluntly. “I wanted to go for it but we needed to get some points on the board. I didn’t want it to turn into one of those things of missed opportunities, no points and they hang around and then you’re down by 10 points.”

Big play turning point

The game turned early in the second. The Clippers drove to the Lynnfield six, but an illegal substitution penalty, a goal line pass break-up by Knee and Rondeau, a fumbled snap and two short gains ended the threat. The Pioneers took over at the five-yard line and converted a huge third and 10 on a nifty pass from Sullivan to McHugh. They struck pay dirt on the next play, an 81-yard pass and fingertip fired the bomb downfield. Rondeau collected it at the 50 and motored the rest of the way for the score to make it 10-0.

“We worked on that play a lot this week,” Weidman said. “We knew we were going to have to get a big play. That helped us relax offensively.”

It was all Pioneers for the rest of the half. A bad snap and kneel down by Bajko on a punt gave Lynnfield the ball back at the Newburyport 18. Five plays later Sullivan snuck it in from the two. Bronshvayg found a wide-open Robert for the two and the Pioneers led 18-0. An Adams fumble recovery on the next Clipper series set the Pioneers up on the Newburyport 33. Seven plays later, Rourke bulled in from the four yard line for the score to make it 25-0. Sullivan and Knee connected twice for 34 yards on the drive.

The Clippers mounted one long drive in the third but the Pioneers snuffed it out at the Lynnfield 24. Newburyport’s final two drives ended in interceptions. McHugh ended the scoring on a ten yard sweep to make it 32-0. The touchdown was the 900^th rushing TD in LHS history.

“The defense set the tone early,” said Weidman. “They played well.”

The Pioneers get next week off to prepare for their CAL Baker opener against Amesbury on September 26. Weidman is pleased with the team’s 2-0 start.

“I said at the beginning of the year we have to find a way to go 1-1,” he said of the two non-league games. “You’re talking about two teams that made the playoffs last year. A team (Newburyport) we barely beat last year. Pentucket lost in the division finals in overtime. We came out of the gate playing two teams that are traditionally good, both on the road. It was really good for us. We really wanted those first two games to be something where we had to compete hard to win.”