Hornets vs. Pioneers on Thanksgiving
THE NRHS VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM is ready to take on their arch rivals, the Lynnfield Pioneers, on Thanksgiving morning. The 4–6 Hornets are anxious to repeat last year’s victory over the undefeated Pioneers. Front row, from left: Kyle Sampson, Tyler Currier, Greg Kalogeropoulos, Cole Hughes, Dean Arena, Mike Farrelly, Austin Bradley, Ryan DeGrande, Chris Jessop, Nick Fortin, John Krieger. Other members of the team, though not in exact order: Kevin Farrelly, Thomas Patch, Joshua Bedell, Nick Colangelo, Nicolas O’Connell, Jeff Meji, Kyle Conley, Noah Aran, Nicholas Copelas, Kyle Bythrow, Caleb Wing, Thomas McHugh, Ryan Edison, David Smith, Nicholas Ponte, Lionel Beane, Matt McCarthy, Joseph Lennan, Angelo DiSanto, John Merullo, Jake Bedell, Dylan Beauregard, Nick Arena, Nick Powell, Mason Siciliano, Jackson DeAngelo, Bobby O’Donnell, Sean Wilson, Matthew Jaroncyk, Andrew Jaroncyk, Shane Burke, Alfred Antonucci, Kevin Brown, Aaron Giangrande, Brendan Tilton, Michael Quaratiello, Tyler Cullen, Tim Sanger, Drew Delano, Colin Boucher, Daniel Sweeney, Christopher Vella, Mike Brown, Riain Healy, Michael Luciano. (Bob Turosz Photo)
By ANDREW MOUNTER
NORTH READING — Here we go again, North Reading and Lynnfield meet on the football field on Thanksgiving for the 56th year in a row, this time in Lynnfield’s new field at the High School. The question going into this year’s classic is, can the game be as entertaining and exciting as the last two Thanksgivings?
Two years ago, the two teams battled for a chance to win their division and go to the state playoffs. The game turned out as advertised, as both teams’ defenses came to play that day but Lynnfield was a touchdown better, winning 14–7, sending them to the states.
Last year’s match up going in was just as exciting because of the new state playoff system where basically everything is decided before Turkey Day but it did not stop both teams from putting on a show, it was a real shoot out. Both teams put up over 30 points but again decided by only a touchdown as North Reading won this time 42–35.
Going into the game the North Reading Hornets are 4-6 but are playing their best football of the season, as they are winners of two of their last three games. They lost their last game in overtime to hosting Newburyport 29-27, a location that is usually a house of horrors for the green and gold.
The offense is led by the Four Horsemen running backs team of junior, David Smith (who ran for 199 yards against Newburyport), sophomores John Merullo, Matt McCarthy. 16-93, and junior captain Nick O’Connell. They got some key blocks from offensive line including seniors Austin Bradley, Nick Fortin, Mike Farrelly and Cole Hughes. The offense is based out of the single-wing formation.
The defense based out of the 4-4 formation and has one shutout to their credit while they held opponents to just one touchdown on two other occasions. They are led by some the same cast of characters that are listed above.
The team went through some off the field distractions this past season but for Hornet Head Coach Jeff Wall, it was a learning lesson for his team.
HORNET SENIORS will play their final game for the Green and Gold when they take the field against Lynnfield on Thanksgiving. First row, from left: Cole Hughes, Ryan DeGrande, Tyler Currier, Nick Fortin, Kyle Sampson. Second row: Dean Arena, John Keieger, Mike Farrelly, Austin Bradley, Greg Kalogeropoulos, Chris Jessop. (Bob Turosz Photo)
“Adversity allows for an individual to test themselves,” said Wall. “It reveals character. We don’t always have control over events which happen throughout the season but we do have control over our actions. I am reminded of what my coaches used to preach to me, obstacles are what we see when we take our eyes off of our goals.”
The Lynnfield Pioneers are again going into the big game with just one loss (10 wins, 1 loss), that coming last Saturday to Holliston 26-0 in the Massachusetts Division 3 Semi-Final. In the course of the season they did win the Baker division of the Cape Ann League and the Division 4 North Final against Winthrop.
They run an NFL type offense with a spread formation with a mixture of passing and running plays and will go with the no huddle a lot of the time.
“They run spread but they are a run first team,” said Wall. “They run to set up the pass. They will be the biggest team we see this year.”
The Pioneers are led by quarterback Dan Sullivan, who has thrown for 1,577 yards with 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He has also run for 431 yards and four TDs. They have two main receivers that Sullivan goes to: Cam Rondeau, who has eight touchdowns and Jon Knee, who has seven touchdowns.
They have two main go-tos in their backfield with Jake Rourke and Drew McCarthy. Rourke has run for over 800 yards with 14 touchdowns while McCarthy has amassed over 400 yards with six touchdowns.
The defense for Lynnfield was just as tough as their offense as they have only given up 73 points in the 11 games they have played. They also know how to get the ball back for their offense as they created 25 turnovers.
This should be a great game as always seems to be. Kickoff is tomorrow at 10 a.m., at the Lynnfield High School.
