RallyNorth.net

Power Players, October 22, 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.

Brendan Hughes, Andover: The Golden Warriors allowed only 99 yards to once-potent Lowell, and Hughes made his presence felt early and often in a 34-0 drubbing of the Red Raiders. The senior defensive back made a season-high seven tackles, tied for most on the team, and was a key part of holding Lowell star QB Matt Welch to only 13 yards passing a week after he threw for 250.

Justin Narbonne, Central Catholic: Narbonne, a sure-handed senior receiver, was a busy man as Central took to the air in a 30-27 loss to Tewksbury. Narbonne caught five balls for 95 yards.

Brandon Wade, Georgetown: The senior tri-captain was brilliant from head to toe in a 44-8 win over North Shore Tech. Battling a slippery home field, Wade ran smart pass routes to grab five passes for 87 yards, turned eight option runs into 149 yards and two touchdowns, kicked a muddy 28-yard field goal to start the Royals' scoring, then followed with five point-after boots.

John Cote, Greater Lawrence: Cote was a force to be reckoned with on defense for the Reggies in their 33-0 blowout of Mystic Valley. He lit up the Eagles for four tackles, one for a loss of 2 yards, in a single quarter before coming out with an elbow injury.

Nicholas Elwell, Lawrence High School: The sophomore quarterback, filling in for Ramon Heredia, who sat out for disciplinary reasons, tossed his first career varsity touchdown pass. Facing a fourth-and-4 in the second quarter of the Lancers' 34-7 loss to Masco, the 6-foot, 160-pounder hit Demetri Brown on a 15-yard TD strike, to cut the lead to 14-7 in the second quarter.

Mike Bartlett, Methuen: Bartlett rushed for 64 yards on only six carries in Methuen's 28-0 loss to MVC frontrunner Chelmsford. That was more impressive because the Rangers netted only 53 yards as a team.

Mark Burckhart, North Andover: The senior fullback had a career-best 124 yards on 23 carries. He scored both second-half touchdowns and tallied six first downs for the Scarlet Knights in a crucial 21-10 win over Cape Ann League rival Pentucket.

Brendan Lutz, North Reading: Lutz paced a defense that kept the Hornets in the game despite little help from their offense in a 14-0 loss to Newburyport. He made a team-high eight tackles from his linebacker spot, and was crucial in keeping Newburyport off the board on three of the Clippers' trips inside the North Reading 25-yard line.

Dave Wesson, Pelham: The mouths of player and fan alike were agape when Wesson intercepted a pass over the middle and ran it back for a touchdown... almost. When Wesson was stopped by three Farmington players at the 13-yard line, he had the presence of mind to flip a lateral to teammate Bruce Vieira, who took it the rest of the way for the score.

Chris Modlish, Pentucket: Modlish turned in the highlight in an otherwise tough loss for the Sachems. Pentucket QB Jordan Silva heaved up a Hail Mary that was batted around before falling into the hands of the junior halfback for a game-tying touchdown as time expired in the half. It was his first career TD catch.

James Stewart, Salem, NH: Stewart, a hard-nosed fullback/linebacker for the Blue Devils, had his most productive day of the season with 152 yards on 19 carries, including a 72-yard run to open the third quarter, in Friday's 55-20 downing of previously-unbeaten Nashua South. Stewart also led the defense with several ferocious hits among his 10 tackles.

Griffin Cardew, St. John's Prep: The outside linebacker had a fumble recovery to set up his team's lone touchdown in the 20-10 loss to Billerica. The 6-foot, 186 pound junior did so by belting Billerica tailback Ken Mangie. Cardew had seven tackles.

Alex Ranney, Timberlane: Trailing Winnacunnet 28-6 at halftime, defense was needed to turn things around, and Ranney was a huge part of the renaissance. The 5-11, 190-pound senior had a team-high 11 tackles and recovered a fumble on the Warriors' first drive of the third quarter, setting up the Owls' first score of the half.

Craig Eaton, Whittier Senior: Eaton, a slashing running back, carried the ball eight times for 55 yards, while also making three catches for 30 yards in the Wildcats' 20-0 loss at Shawsheen Valley on Saturday.

Greg Pierce, Beverly: Senior captain rushed for 221 yards, pushing him over 1,100 yards for the season, and added all three of his team's touchdowns in the Panthers' 19-14 home win over Saugus.

Dan Reddy, Salem: Booted a school-record 43-yard field goal seconds before the first half ended and added a 13-yard touchdown run as the Witches held off Lynn English, 17-13.

Mike Sahagian, Marblehead: In his team's 15-7 win over Danvers, the Magician rushed for a 72-yard TD, finished with a game-high 120 yards on the ground, picked off a pass and recovered a fumble.

Bobby Tarr, Bishop Fenwick: Rushed for a 325 yards -- best on the North Shore this season -- and two scores in Fenwick's 42-26 loss at Arlington Catholic.

Jake Cotter, Hamilton-Wenham: Rushed for a pair of scores and finished with 92 yards rushing to help Generals snap a three-game losing streak in 14-7 win over Amesbury.

David St. Pierre, North Shore Tech: Young quarterback had a fine game in a loss to Georgetown, completing a dozen passes for 105 yards.

T.C. Mannetta, Masconomet: Senior captain bullied his way for 170 yards on the ground and a touchdown as the unbeaten Chieftains rolled over Lawrence, 34-7.

Carlos O'Donnell, Pingree: Threw for 281 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort as the Highlanders fell on the road to Proctor, 35-25. He also booted one extra point.

Peter Kinchley, Swampscott: Senior signal-caller threw for 131 yards with a touchdown pass and scored himself on a 1-yard keeper as the Big Blue won at Winthrop, 14-12.

Taylor Burbine, Gloucester: Had a 66-yard scoring run and a 51-yard punt return for another score as the unbeaten Fishermen rolled over Revere, 41-6.