RallyNorth.net

Coach: Ruth Beaton (14th season)

Last season: 11-7-3

Key players: Lyndsay Beaton, sr.; Sarah Galligan, sr.; Stephanie Hallowell, sr.; Brianna Dunn, sr.; Katie Spudzinski, sr.; Kelsey Dunn, sr.

LYNNFIELD | Bad weather is often considered an equalizer, but just as often it's a magnifier. One slight mistake in executing a play can be compounded into lost yardage or even a turnover. Conversely, if one is able to rise above the conditions and shine, positive results will most likely be even greater.

NORTH ANDOVER | Pentucket Regional might have had Mother Nature when it counted, but North Andover had someone a bit more influential this time around | Andrew Foote.

The Scarlet Knights' running back scored two of his four touchdowns when it counted the most, in the final 4:49 of the Cape Ann League large school showdown with the Sachems. The result was a 35-31 victory for the hosts, whose star running back, Foote, finished with 199 yards on 23 carries. With a stiff fourth quarter wind at their back, the Sachems appeared ready to weather a North Andover comeback, which saw the Scarlet Knights score two third-quarter touchdowns to take a two-point lead heading into the the final frame. Jeff Puopolo had given the Sachems their final lead with 4:49 remaining on a 66-yard touchdown run.

WEST NEWBURY | Staring at the Cape Ann League large school gauntlet over the second half of the season and still stinging from last week's nauseating loss to rival Newburyport, the Pentucket Regional football team needed a positive afternoon entertaining Lawrence.

WEST NEWBURY | The future certainly looks bright for the youthful Amesbury Indians, but in order to get there, they'll need to exorcise past demons.

The Pentucket Sachems, who've beaten the Indians seven consecutive times, would qualify as one of those demons. After the Sachems graduated 18 seniors and looked vulnerable in season-opening losses to Hamilton Wenham and Ipswich, this year appeared to be the one for Amesbury to end the losing streak.