HAVERHILL — Adrian Surrette was immense on both sides of the ball, to lead Haverhill High to its first tournament victory of the season, 42-7, over Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Friday night.
Offensively, the junior ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries and threw for a third score. Defensively, he intercepted a pair of passes in the first quarter.
The Hillies dominated on both sides of the ball, rolling up more than 350 yards of total offense, including 301 on the ground. Defensively, Haverhill was nearly perfect, shutting down everything the Falcons tried to do. Cambridge was held to minus-2 yards rushing on 12 attempts and quarterback Ben Berlinsky, under a heavy pass rush all night, was sacked twice and intercepted three times.
Cambridge (1-8) didn't earn its first first down without the help of a penalty until midway through the third quarter. And by that point, Haverhill had built a 28-0 lead and had the game well in hand.
For Haverhill Head Coach Tim O'Connor, it was a gratifying result, given the hard work his team has put in and its struggles against the iron of the Merrimack Valley Conference.
"It's been a long time coming," said O'Connor. "I'm proud of the effort and I'm proud of the commitment level. The level of loyalty of all the kids has been exceptional and I'm just really proud of them."
Haverhill (1-9) wasted no time setting the tone for the game. On Cambridge's second play from scrimmage, Surrette stepped in front of a Berlinsky pass for an interception, setting up the Hillies at the Falcons' 34 yard line. Five plays later, senior Tristin Naylor (10 rushes, 66 yards) swept around left end for a 7-yard touchdown run and a 6-0 lead.
On the first play of the second quarter, quarterback Shawn Joubert scored on a 4-yard run, capping a 51-yard drive. Alec Valenti rushed for the two-point conversion to make it 14-0.
But the Hillies weren't done.
Later in the quarter, they put together a 78-yard scoring drive that ate up nearly seven minutes. Surrette put the exclamation point on the drive with a perfect 52-yard touchdown pass to Naylor, who split the defense and snared the pass in stride.
Haverhill extended the lead to 28-0 on its opening drive of the third quarter, with Joseph Spero scoring from two yards out.
Cambridge finally broke the shutout when Berlinsky (9 of 15, 82 yards) connected with Libaan Aden on a 9-yard touchdown pass. But that third quarter drive featured the only offensive first downs the Falcons would manage for the game.
Haverhill wrapped up the scoring in the fourth quarter on a pair of touchdown runs by Surrette, the first from 3 yards and the second, a highlight-reel 52 yard scamper.
In between, the Haverhill defense recorded its third interception. This one was a spectacular leaping grab by sophomore Davin Carreiro.
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Football, 11/12/21 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
