RallyNorth.net

NORTH ANDOVER – With what felt like an entire team piled on top of him, Andover linebacker Arman Koul could hear the fans explode into thunderous applause.

LAWRENCE — Six days removed from being eliminated from the playoffs in heart-wrenching fashion — with its archrival overcoming a stunning rally to take a step towards the Super Bowl — Andover could have allowed the enormous frustration and disappointment to hang over the remaining two games of the 2015 season.

LAWRENCE — After more than 600 passing yards and six combined touchdowns, Central Catholic was finally able to finish off E.J. Perry IV. Senior linebacker Nick Janco busted through the line and sacked Perry IV on fourth down from the Central 35 with 49 seconds to play. After Robert Fitzgerald ran for a first down, the Raiders had officially clinched an epic 49-41 victory over Andover in the Division 1 North semifinals. “It’s amazing,” said Janco. “Andover is an amazing opponent, but we finally finished it off. On the final play it was all man coverage, and in the middle we ran a blitz. I flew in, made the sack and I just felt like that was the game.” With the victory, Central Catholic advances to the Division 1 North title game, where the Raiders will host Everett — a team they beat 24-0 during the regular season. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said defensive lineman Carlos Cabrera. “We knew it was going to be a great game, but we had no idea it was going to be like this. It was amazing.” Central took the victory despite a brilliant, record-smashing day for Perry IV. The junior threw for a stunning 636 yards, which is belived to be a state record, — topping 300 yards in each half — throwing for four touchdowns and running for two more. His favorite target was senior slot receiver Andrew Soucy, who caught 16 passes for 296 yards. He was one of three Warriors to go over 100 yards receiving, to go with Dan Gemmell (151) and Brandon Marti (126). Central Catholic seemed to be on the way to a blowout, taking a 26-0 lead with 20 seconds left in the first quarter when QB Bret Edwards threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Mathias Villafane. But on the first play of the following drive Perry IV connected with Dan Gemmell, who scampered 87 yards for a touchdown. “I told the guys that it wasn’t going to be that easy,” said Cabrera. “They were going to have a comeback. They are too tough.” That kicked off a wild back-and-forth battle that saw Andover take the lead 41-40 with 28 seconds left in the third quarter on a Perry IV pass to Andrew Soucy. But Central drove right back, and Raiders star Omar Deschamps pounded in from 18 yards out to give them the lead back. Central then executed an on-sides kick — recovered by T.J. Vaughn — and added insurance with a 22-yard Stefano Calvagno field goal. Andover was able to drive to the Central 31-yard line in the final moments. But Cabrera scored a sack, ex-Golden Warrior Pat Schena made a tackle and Janco ended the drive with the fourth-down sack. Central now stands one victory away from a return to Gillette Stadium and the Division 1 State finals, with the North final against the same Everett team they beat two years ago. “We survived and advanced,” said Deschamps. “We had to be strong and finished off the victory. We did what had to be done, and now we are thrilled to face Everett.”

Central Catholic 49, Andover 41 Division 1 North semifinals Andover (6-3):      7 14 20 0 — 41 Central Catholic (8-1):     26  7 13 3 — 49 First Quarter  CC — Mathias Villafane 25 pass from Bret Edwards (kick failed), 9:42  CC — Edwards 70 run (rush failed), 5:07  CC — Max Faro 34 run (Stefano Calvagno kick), 3:08  CC —  Villafane 30 pass from Bret Edwards (kick failed), 0:20  A — Dan Gemmell 87 pass from E.J. Perry IV (Luke Washburn kick), 0:00 Second Quarter  A — Brandon Marti 28 pass from Perry IV (Washburn kick), 6:59  CC — Robert Fitzgerald 15 run (Calvagno kick), 3:38  A — Perry IV 8 run (Washburn kick), 0:58 Third Quarter  A — Perry IV 3 run (Washburn kick), 9:28  CC — Steven Jackson 88 kickoff return (Calvagno kick), 9:06  A — Marti 10 pass from Perry IV (Washburn kick), 6:20  A — Gemmell 35 pass from Perry IV (rush failed), 0:28  CC — Omar Deschamps 18 run (rush failed), 0:12 Fourth Quarter  CC — Calvagno 22 field goal, 8:13 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING: Central — Bret Edwards 5-105, Omar Deschamps 10-85, Robert Fitzgerald 6-57, Max Faro 4-49; Andover— E.J. Perry IV 14-16, Anthony Christopher 4-1 PASSING: Central — Edwards 10-18-1, 113; Andover — Perry IV 29-48-2, 636

ANDOVER — Four touches is all Anthony Christopher needed to make a dominant playoff statement.
The running back scored touchdowns on three of his first four carries of the game — covering 103 yards — including the 59-yard burst to give Andover the lead for good as the No. 3 Golden Warriors cruised to a 55-25 victory over No. 6 Methuen in the quarterfinals of the Division 1 North tournament.
“You can only hope, but you certainly never think something like that is going to happen,” said Christopher. “We wanted to make a statement by coming out fast and hard and showing what we could do.”
The Golden Warriors (6-3) now move on to the Division 1 North semifinals to face their archrival, No. 2 seed Central Catholic on Friday at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Stadium. The Rangers (3-5), move to the consolation bracket.
“We can’t wait to take on Central,” said Christopher. “They beat us in the playoffs last year, and came into our stadium and beat us this season. We are ready to go out, play them and hopefully win.”
Andover started fast, as QB E.J. Perry IV hit Andrew Soucy for a 49-yard completion, then Christopher punched the ball in from 9 yards out for a 7-0 lead.
The Rangers responded two plays later, as receiver Kevin Denose took a handoff and broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run.
Christopher then gave Andover the lead right back, surging through the hole and going 59 yards untouched.
“I tried to stretch the play out as far as I could,” said the diminutive senior. “I made a cut and there was no stopping me from there.”
Methuen cut the lead to one point on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Kendrick Denose to Michael Bodenrader. But Christopher then made it a hat trick, this time scoring from 34 yards out.
“AC is our spark plug,” said Perry IV. “He explodes through the holes. When they allow a crease he just takes it and it is amazing some of the things he does.”
The offense then took a break as the Warriors added to their lead on a Soucy 38-yard punt return score and — in what could have been the play of the season — an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Arman Koul.
“I was just kind of chilling in my zone,” said Koul, who also is the left tackle. “I saw the ball coming at me and it just kind of stuck to my gloves. After that there was no way I wasn’t going to get into the end zone. It was kind of in disbelief.”
With the defensive softened by Christopher, Perry IV and company went to work. The QB closed out the first half with a touchdown pass to Dan Gemmell, then closed out the scoring with TD passes to Soucy and Brandon Marti in the second half.
“We always know the passing game is going to be there,” said Koul, who in addition to his pick had a sack and eight tackles. “We know E.J. will throw the ball great and with guys like Gemmell and Soucy they will make plays.”
Brandon Marti also chipped in with an interception, and Perry IV had an interception return for a touchdown that was called back for a Warriors offsides.
Andover now knows it has its hands full with Central in the North semis.
“We are just thinking win,” said Soucy. “We want to beat them, and we think that we have the ability to do it.”

ANDOVER — Throughout the week, Dan Gemmell was stuck on the sidelines, nursing the shoulder injury that had plagued him for weeks. When Friday arrived, however, Gemmell was determined to be on the field. “It was game day,” he said. “It was frustrating sitting out all week, but I did everything to prepare myself and I knew that I was going to play.” Play Gemmell certainly did. The dynamic receiver caught seven passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, as Andover rolled over reeling former Merrimack Valley Conference power Chelmsford 41-7. “Gemmell was unbelievable,” said quad-captain Arman Koul. “The moves he was putting on guys were crazy. He is the best athlete out there, and the best athlete was making the best plays. I believe he’s the best receiver in the league.” Chelmsford was certainly in no position to disagree with Koul following Gemmell’s night. The junior speedster opened the scoring with a 28-yard score, and midway through the second added a second 28-yard score — both matching his No. 28 jersey number. But he saved his greatest plays for later in the quarter. With 2:53 remaining in the second, E.J. Perry IV threw a swing out to Gemmell, who seemed to be stopped for a gain of about 15 yards. But Gemmell managed to shake not one, but two tacklers before juking two more on his way to a 40-yard TD. “E.J. made a great read and called an audible,” said the very reserved Gemmell. “He threw me the ball and no one could stop me. It was great.” He then capped the quarter with one more highlight-reel play on the final play before halftime. He caught a pass going along the sidelines, and as teammates yelled for him to step out, he turned on the jets and cruised 27 yards for a score. The starters did not play after halftime. The four scores topped his career-high three-TD day in a victory over BC High in Week 3 this fall. “The numbers are definitely fun to see,” he said. “But the win is what counts. We hit a bump last week against Central, and we needed this one. E.J. played a great game.” Perry IV hit on 17 of his 23 throws for 285 yards and four scores, the other going to Cedric Gillette. He also had a TD called back for holding and another go off a receiver’s hands. Koul led the way with eight tackles while Perry Wynn and Mikey Comeau each had a sack. “That loss to Central Catholic hurt,” said Koul. “We wanted to come out and make a statement today, and we feel like we did it.” Andover now awaits North Sectional playoff pairings.

ANDOVER — For all the big games and the big victories, there is still nothing that feels quite like beating Andover High to Central Catholic's Carlos Cabrera.

ANDOVER — Standing just 5-foot-6 and listed at 144 pounds, Anthony Christopher easily blended into the pack of youth football players milling around the field after removing his shoulder pads.