RallyNorth.net

Power Players, October 1, 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 brighest were from the weekend's schoolboy gridiron action.

Derrick Beasley, Andover: Beasley has long made his impact on defense, but it has been offense where he has made headlines in recent weeks. The senior caught a pair of touchdowns in the second half of the Golden Warriors' 34-27 loss to Billerica, including a stellar grab in the corner of the end zone. He also caught a touchdown last week against Dracut.

Robert Perryman, Brooks: Perryman rushed 30 times for 138 yards and added a two-point conversion in Brooks' 20-8 loss to Belmont Hill.

Dylan Morrissey and Ross Carlson, Gloucester: The duo combined on the biggest play of the game as Gloucester defeated Barnstable 28-20. With Gloucester leading 20-14 in the fourth quarter, Morrissey blocked the Barnstable punt, and Carlson scooped it up and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Fishermen a 14-point cushion.

George Cruz, Greater Lawrence: The right guard was frequently found 10 yards downfield blocking safeties to clear the way for another big day for back Nate Adames (229 rushing yards) in a 48-0 drubbing of Minuteman. He paced an offensive line that also allowed backup running back Brendan O'Neil to rush for 78 yards on 12 carries.

Devin Montanez, Lawrence: The sophomore halfback had a hand in three TDs during the Lancers' tough 30-24 loss to Lynnfield. Montanez threw a 49-yard TD pass to Mike Calzetta and ran for touchdowns of 2 and 59 yards.

Ryan Griffin, Londonderry: After sitting out a week with a concussion, Griffin returned a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown and rushed for a team-best 75 yards to help the Lancers push two-time defending league champion Pinkerton to the limit before falling 22-14 in overtime.

Dave Koerner, Methuen: Koerner caught touchdown passes of 35 and 30 yards to help the Rangers end their 33-game MVC losing streak with a 28-7 win at Haverhill. He finished the game with Randy Moss-type numbers | eight catches for 151 yards. Defensively, he was also immense with two interceptions, four passes broken up and five tackles.

Corey Peterson, Pelham: The sophomore linebacker, filling in for injured senior Jim Mostone, set the tone for the Pythons' stunning, 48-0, homecoming win over Bishop Brady. His interception returned for a touchdown on Brady's first play from scrimmage kick-started a Pelham avalanche of scoring. He finished with eight tackles.

Justin Bolla, Pentucket: A dropped pass could not faze Bolla. After allowing a touchdown pass to slip through his hands, the Sachem receiver came back one play later and caught the game-winning 6-yard strike from Jordan Silva in the final seconds of Pentucket's 20-17 victory over Newburyport. It was his first touchdown catch of the season.

Thane Sanford, Phillips Andover: The Haverhill resident knocked down the pass on a two-point conversion attempt with under four minutes remaining that clinched Phillips' 21-20 win over the Tufts University JV team. Sanford, one of the keys to Whittier Tech's run to the Eastern Mass. Division 3 Super Bowl a year ago, was second on the team with five tackles as an outside linebacker.

Pete Mazzola, Pinkerton: Mazzola picked a good day to turn in his best performance as a quarterback. The senior rushed for a season-best 67 yards and touchdowns of 9 and 2 yards and passed for a career-high 127 yards as Pinkerton defeated Division 1 foe, giant-killer Londonderry 22-14 in overtime and remain unbeaten at 5-0.

Kevin Sledge, Salem, NH: The senior halfback finally broke out when his team needed it. Sledge rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns as his Blue Devils snapped a two-game losing streak with a 35-0 downing of Nashua North. The speedster's previous season-high was 73 yards.

Scott Diefenbach, Peabody: Senior captain scored his team's only touchdown, a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter, to give Tanners their first win of the season, 6-3 over visiting Danvers.

Chris Splinter, Masconomet: Sophomore quarterback was immense in rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns to keep Chieftains unbeaten with a 29-22 triumph at Hamilton-Wenham.

Peter Neal, St. John's Prep: Defensive back intercepted a third quarter pass to thwart a Brockton scoring attempt, then battled down a two-point conversion pass in the Eagles' eventual 19-14 loss.

Nate Masterson, Hamilton-Wenham: Senior workhorse carried the load for Generals, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown in their seven-point loss to Masconomet.

John Baker, Bishop Fenwick: Quarterback did all he could to keep Crusaders from falling to visiting Hingham, throwing for 177 yards and three touchdowns.

Peter Kinchley, Swampscott: Senior signal-caller threw for 198 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores to keep the Big Blue unbeaten with a 21-6 victory over Salem.