RallyNorth.net

MANCHESTER | The Manchester Essex football team sits alone atop the Commonwealth Conference Small standings. In a battle of the only remaining unbeatens in conference play, the Hornets beat North Shore, 22-0, last night at Joseph M. Hyland Field.

ACTON | The look on Ted Flaherty's face spoke volumes. With beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, the second-year Ipswich High football coach stood on Edward M. Leary Field last night with a wide grin following his team's impressive 34-0 victory over Manchester Essex in the Eastern Mass. Division 3A semifinals.

MANCHESTER | Time expired on the Greater Lawrence football team last night, but Jonathan DelaSantos kept running. He refused to concede a loss, 15-point deficit or not.

The 5-foot-7, 140-pound junior quarterback weaved through a series of Manchester Essex defenders and appeared to break into open field. DelaSantos' right knee buckled as the Reggies' sideline erupted, effectively ending the game.

MANCHESTER | Joseph M. Hyland Field is now closed! Unfortunately for host Manchester Essex, Georgetown saw to it that it was closed on a depressing note.

Commonwealth Conference Small champion Manchester Essex will enter the playoffs with a loss fresh in its memory bank. Georgetown (5-5) will enter the offseason with a good feeling about how it battled through adversity throughout the year and finished the campaign with a memorable upset on the road.