RallyNorth.net

North Andover Scarlet Knights Football '13

Fri, Nov 15, 2013 07:00 PM @ North Andover
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Lynn Classical 6 0 0 8 14
North Andover 7 2 0 7 16

Shkliew, Walsh pull North Andover back to break even

  • Currently 0.0 with 0 votes.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Friday, November, 15 By Jeff Hamrick

NORTH ANDOVER — Bubba Shkliew went into intermission a bit dazed and confused, but fortunately he'd already done his share of damage to the visitors.


The North Andover junior recorded a first-quarter touchdown reception and a second-quarter safety, providing the Scarlet Knights a lead they never relinquished en route to a 16-14 victory over Lynn classical last night.

It appeared Shkliew's night might be over after he got nailed on an incomplete pass from Casey Walsh moments after the receiver/defensive back sacked Ram quarterback Jared Brown in the end zone for a 9-6 lead, but the gritty 165-pounder returned and ended up on the recieving end of eight of Walsh's 12 completions.

"I just got the wind knocked out of me," said Shkliew, who leads the area with 56 catches on the season. But I couldn't quit. I had to get back up, and keep playing the game. But I was a little scared."

In a season of streaks — both good and bad — North Andover (5-5) grabbed the lead midway through the opening period on a 32-yard Walsh-to-Shkliew reception, which proved to be one of the few times the Knights took to the air the first half.

Although Tom Stabile piled up 58 yards on his 15 attempts before intermission, the Knights were unable to make the ground attack pay off.

"We wanted to run the ball early," North Andover coach John Rafferty said. "That Lynn classical  team (which was averaging 29.4 points per game) really uses ball control and time management and everything else. You don't want to be turning the ball back to them right away because they're just going to take it and hold on to it."

North Andover appeared to lock up the win when Walsh capped a nine-play drive on a 2-yard run with 3:17 left, but the Rams (5-5) responded with a quick 66-yard scoring drive and two-point conversion with 1:26 remaining.
But Brown almost whiffed the ensuing onside attempt and his 1-yard boot gave the Knights a chance to run out the clock, which they did.

"We might have caught a break there," Rafferty said. "That (last touchdown) was tough to swallow."


The victory gives North Andover an opportunity to end its season on a three-game winning streak with a Thanksgiving Day victory over one-time rival Masconomet. It would provide symmetry to a season that began with a three-game losing streak which segued into a three-game winning skein.

"I guess it's been tough (getting motivated since dropping out of playoff contention," Shkliew said. "But we know we're a good team. We have high expectations and we'll keep fighting."

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

NA — Bubba Shkliew 32 pass from Casey Walsh (Kyle Young kick) 7:07

LC — Adam Lovett 6 run (run failed) 0:59

Second Quarter

NA — Safety, Shkliew tackle Jordan Brown in end zone, 6:07

Fourth Quarter

 

NA — Walsh 2 run (Young kick) 3:17

LC — Irvine Mcconney 33 pass from Brown (Brad Scuzzarella run) 1:26


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: LC (39-202) — Lovett 13-78, Scuzzarella 10-48, Brown 8-41, Justin Avery 8-35; NA (38-147) — Tom Stabile 22-93, Breyin Nichols 4-30, Walsh 12-24

PASSING: LC — Brown 5-9-71, 0 interceptions; NA — Walsh 12-17-138, 1

RECEIVING: LC — McConney 3-47, Justin Avery 2-24; NA — Shkliew 8-72, Stabile 1-24, James Foote 1-19, tyler Salois 1-17, Nichols 1-6

0 Story Comments