RallyNorth.net

Power Players, November 5, 2007

Every Monday RallyNorth.net will salute bone-crunching linebackers, elusive running backs, immovable linemen and rocket-armed quarterbacks from the 37 area high school football teams. We've dubbed them Power Players and you won't want to miss who the best and the brightest were from the weekend's schoolboy gridiron action.

Jared Flannigan, Amesbury: Flannigan won the full-time QB job by impressing head coach Thom Connors in workouts, then went out and confidently ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns to keep the Indians squarely in the Cape Ann League Small title race.

Chris Abreu, Andover: Abreu was a man on a mission on Friday. The senior linebacker made four sacks, upping his total to 10 on the season, leading Andover to a to a 41-12 win over Methuen. He had five tackles for the game, and rushed for a team-best 93 yards and caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Greg Pierce, Beverly: Senior tailback had touchdown runs of 53 and 54 yards, finishing the day with a game-high 156 rushing yards in the Panthers' loss at Swampscott.

Bobby Tarr, Bishop Fenwick: Senior standout went over 5,000 yards rushing for his career | only the sixth player in state history to do so | by picking up 221 yards and four TDs on a rainy, wind-swept field as Fenwick downed Archbishop Williams, 37-16.

Matt LaFrance and John DiBitetto, Central Catholic: The junior duo combined on 20 tackles for the Raiders in a tough Saturday night loss to MVC-leading Chelmsford. Both LaFrance, a converted linebacker now playing on the defensive line, and DiBitetto, a defensive back, are first-year starters for the Raiders.

Chris Martin, Danvers: Fullback and linebacker had a tremendous personal game, including a pounding 13-yard touchdown run as the Falcons fell to visiting Saugus.

Chris Esposito, Georgetown: His quarterback brother may get the attention, but it was Chris that led the Royals' defense on Saturday. He made six tackles, had an interception, forced one fumble and recovered another fumble.

Dylan Maki, Gloucester: Junior defensive back picked off a pass and returned it 27 yards for a score to break open the Fishermen's game with Lynn English. It was his second TD in two weeks.

Andy Duval, Hamilton-Wenham: The sophomore QB threw for 130 yards and touchdowns of 45 and 2 yards in the Generals' 28-20 loss at Lynnfield.

Justin Cook, Haverhill: After weeks of abandoning the pass in recent weeks, the Hillies went back to the air and Cook was ready to go. He caught five passes for 98 yards, including a 52-yard score.

Ramon Heredia, Lawrence: The junior quarterback went 11-of-24 passing for 177 yards with a pair of touchdowns to lead Lawrence to a 22-7 win over Triton. The Lancers' second win of the year was keyed by Heredia's play on the first drive of the second half, when he was 6-of-8 for 95 yards and threw the game-winning touchdown pass.

Kyle Connors, Londonderry: Talk about taking advantage of opportunities. Kyle Connors carried only twice | for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Connors scored the Lancers' first touchdown from 24 yards out in the first quarter, then followed that up with a 78-yard score early in the second. The Lancers bested Dover 40-21.

Brian Ciccone, Manchester Essex: He managed touchdowns of 10 and nine yards, caught three passes for 45 yards and was a standout at linebacker as the Hornets stung North Shore Tech, 33-6.

Matt Ortins, Manchester Essex: He ran for 53 yards on the ground, including TD runs of one and 22 yards, in the Hornets' victory over North Shore Tech.

Giuliano Pizzo, Methuen: The senior kicker actually put Methuen ahead when he kicked a 36-yard field goal on the first possession of the game. The rest of the game didn't go so well for the Rangers, but Pizzo added a 35-yard field goal later.

Alex Marchegiani, North Andover: A senior linebacker, Marchegiani was in on eight tackles and added a giant fumble recovery for the Knights, who suffered a tough, 10-7, loss to Wilmington on Friday night.

Jimmy Campbell and Darren Hartwell, North Reading: Despite losing to Amesbury Friday, the pair lit up Landry Stadium with an impressive aerial assault. Campbell, a senior, hit on 15-of-32 passes for 261 yards with no interceptions. Junior wide receiver Hartwell was unstoppable as he hauled in six passes for 161 yards including a dazzling 74-yard pitch-and-catch for a touchdown.

Joe DeAngelo, Pelham: On a rare slow night for star Bruce Vierra, DeAngelo was quick to pick up the slack in a 13-12 win over Gilford. The QB was 9-of-14 passing for 108 yards and one touchdown pass, and rushed for a team-high 110 yards and another touchdown, which proved to be the game-winner.

Justin Bolla, Pentucket: Bolla grabbed a pass for 56 yards to set up a score, and tallied a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone. He also blocked for breakout back Chris Modlish (game-winning TD).

Mike Crupi, Pinkerton: It wasn't pretty for the Astros in a 30-7 loss to Nashua South. But Crupi still managed to shine, making a team-high eight tackles, made an interception and rushing for a team-high 31 yards and a touchdown.

Chris Sousa, Salem (N.H.): Sousa was a rare bright spot in the Blue Devils' 17-14 loss to Manchester West that eliminated them from the playoffs. He had an interception that set up a touchdown, had a sack and had a number of tackles.

Colby Boulay, Salem (Mass.): Quarterback and defensive back played one of the best games of his career, throwing for 101 yards in a heartbreaking loss to Lynn Classical.

Robert Marraffa and Peter Neal, St. John's Prep: The Eagles defenders helped ice a 35-6 Catholic Conference win as Marraffa ran back an interception 80 yards for one score while Neal picked up a blocked punt and rambled 25 yards for another TD.

Peter Kinchley, Swampscott: The Big Blue senior quarterback completed 20-of-27 passes for 227 yards, including touchdown passes of 10 and 19 yards. He also ran for a score.

Drew Smith, Timberlane: Never underestimate a reliable kicker. Smith made all three of his extra-points, the last of which being the difference as Goffstown's kicker missed his third kick in a 21-20 Owls win.