RallyNorth.net

North Andover rallies for first win

Friday, October, 04 By Jeff Hamrick

DRACUT — A lethargic North Andover offense that was shutout the opening half turned dynamic after intermission as the previously winless Scarlet Knights rallied to defeat Dracut 34-20 last night.

Tom Stabile, who gained 42 of North Andover's 88 first-half yards, sparked the turnaround with 144 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries in the seconed.

"We just wanted to come out and win the half," said Stabile, who did not play the previous week with a leg injury and had scored only once before in his career. "We just wanted to come out and dominate, and that's what we did."

Trailing by 14, Stabile capped North Andover's first two second-half drives with 1-yard plunges that tied the score. Quarterback Casey Walsh and Bubba Shkliew then hooked up on a 69-yard touchdown for the Knights' first lead in nine quarters.

After Jacey Hebert tied the score at 20 with his third rushing touchdown, Stabile gave the Knights the lead for good on a 35-yard burst with 6:10 remaining before finishing the night's scoring on an 8-yarder with 67 seconds left.

The Knights got the win despite giving up 298 yards rushing.

"I told them our back was against the wall and what are you going to do about it," said North Andover coach John Rafferty, who averted the first 0-4 start of his career. "They responded, and I'm really proud of them.

Without standout QB Tyler Bassett, who was injured last week, the Middies could never get untracked after the early success.