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DRACUT — Playing with only three down lineman and six defensive backs for the entire game, Haverhill was hoping to shut down the explosive passing offense of Dracut and more specifically quarterback Matt Silva. And although a quick first score put the Hillies up 8-0, Dracut then stepped on the gas and poured on touchdown after touchdown in a 48-21 win over Haverhill.

Haverhill managed only two shots on goal and lost to Westford 2-0 in the first round of the Division 1 North boys soccer tournament.

HAVERHILL — Haverhill played credible defense and moved the ball at times, but turnovers doomed the Hillies to their ninth straight loss last night, 24-8 to Tewksbury.

Haverhill rushed for 104 yards, led by Tito Morel (10-64), and passed for 112 yards, but three interceptions and two lost fumbles prevented any consistency on offense.

CHELMSFORD — Haverhill knew that stopping junior tailback Joe Gennaro was the key to shutting down Chelmsford. And for nearly three quarters, things wre going as planned.
But Gennaro, who rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns, put the Lions on his back in the final 13 minutes of a 25-13 win over Haverhill.
Gennaro had just 46 yards at the half on 10 carries before exploding midway through the third quarter. The Hillies held a 7-6 lead over the heavily-favored Lions with 13 seconds left in the third quarter before Gennaro’s second score, a 4-yard scamper, to put Chelmsford ahead for good.
“Depth had a lot to do with it, but we have to continue to play,” Haverhill coach Tim Briggs said. “For the first three quarters we were getting in their faces and making hits with our hats. We get into the fourth quarter, we don’t have much depth, and guys are getting tired so we start trying to make tackles with our arms and [Gennaro] is too good to do that.”
Briggs continued, “But what can I say? I have a team full of guys who gave me everything that they had and it still wasn’t enough. Chelmsford is a great program in a city that really loves and supports its athletics.”
After 13th-ranked Chelmsford made it 12-7, Haverhill threw interceptions on consecutive possessions and Chelmsford converted both to put the game out of reach.
“We have a lot of younger guys in our starting lineup,” Briggs said. “Our guys did a great job making players early in the game.”
Before the interceptions, Connor Tufts was an extremely efficient 5 of 6 for 75 yards.
Miles Miller made 12 tackles at linebacker, helping stifle Gennaro for the better part of three quarters. Mackenzie Milewski (middle linebacker) and Aaron Bard (outside linebacker) each made nine tackles.
In the fourth quarter, Tufts injured his left leg playing defensive back and his regular backup, receiver Timothy Nutter, was already on the sideline with a sling. Austin Campbell entered at quarterback and connected with Blaine Joia on a 30-yard score late in the fourth quarter for both players’ first varsity touchdowns.

Haverhill senior Jared Lewis had an unassisted goal and scored on a penalty kick to lift the Hillies past Billerica 2-0 in their last regular-season game. Haverhill (10-6-1) will now await Thursdays state tournament pairings.

By Bill O'Connor sports@eagletribune.com

HAVERHILL — Stalwart defense and precise offensive execution allowed Lawrence to keep its postseason dreams alive as the Lancers shut out winless Haverhill 28-0.

In a battle of the Merrimack Valley Conference large school and small school girls soccer champions, Central Catholic and Haverhill battled to a 1-1 tie. But Haverhill coach Fred Tarbox was far from disappointed.

Molly Fitzgerald fired a shot to the top corner and beat the Dracut goalie with 16 minutes remaining, giving Haverhill a 1-1 tie and clinching the Merrimack Valley Small Conference title.

The Andover field hockey team crept to within one step of an undefeated regular season by dropping Haverhill, 5-0. Smooth Sarah Oteri scored twice and chipped in a pair of assists for the 16-0-1 Warriors, who finish up with Lawrence Thursday night.

The Haverhill girls volleyball team won its third match of the season in convincing fashio, whipping Somerville in three straight games. Paige Grant had five kills for the Hillies.