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BEVERLY | Gloucester High School football captain Andrew Fulford and his fellow seniors had never tasted victory on the varsity level against Beverly.

The Fishermen had a chance to finally get that elusive win against the Panthers on Saturday afternoon at Hurd Stadium, and it's safe to say that Gloucester played like a team with revenge on its mind.

LYNN | Beverly senior running back Greg Pierce ran for more than 200 yards again last night, adding to what has already been a phenomenal start this season.

But it is a simple half-yard that he and the Panthers will agonize over for the next week.

One weekend, 83 carries and a mind-boggling 907 yards rushing.

No, it's not what you probably think one college running back tearing up the hapless Notre Dame or Michigan defenses last week.

Rather, it was the combined rushing totals of four of the North Shore's elite running backs on the opening weekend of the high school football season.

Beverly High football coach Dan Bauer didn't actually hear any preseason rumblings about the subject. But he wouldn't be surprised if some people expect his Panthers to fall short of the level of play they established last season.

BEVERLY | A stifling hot weightlifting room that didn't have a fan in sight.

A calendar that teased them at the time of a season that was still months away.

And of course, a whole lotta Greg Pierce.

BEVERLY | Senior co-captain Greg Pierce stepped into the Beverly High football coaches' room before a recent practice to ask a question. But before he could get the words out, he was stopped cold by a playful verbal joust from one of the Panther assistants.