RallyNorth.net

Londonderry Lancers Football '14

Sat, Nov 08, 2014 01:00 PM @ Pinkerton
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Londonderry 7 0 7 0 14
Pinkerton 7 14 0 10 31

Hanaway shines on the ground and the air

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Saturday, November, 08 By Jeff Hamrick

DERRY — Jack Hanaway still has an ultimate goal that might surpass yesterday's excitement, but it's doubtful the Pinkerton senior will forget the day he turned into Robert Griffin III in the state quarterfinals.


Reading the run option at optimum first-half efficiency, Hanaway powered the Astros into this weekend's Division I state semis with a career-making performance, leading undefeated Pinkerton past border rival Londonderry 31-14 for the South Conference's state berth.

It was the Astros' 16th consecutive victory over the Lancers, but it didn't come near as easily as past conquests. Londonderry, which was outscored by Pinkerton by a combined 63-7 in the first two quarters the past two contests between the two, actually grabbed the early lead.


Hanaway, who has made a living handing off the ball to a bevy of running backs, was forced to take matters into his own hands. The three-year starter finished with a career-best 173 yards and two touchdowns. He added a 31-yard scoring pass to Peter Cyr to help Pinkerton to a 21-14 halftime advantage.


"It was definitely something we worked on this week," Hanaway of his slick ball handling. "Actually it was what we've done up inside the whole season. But everyone was paying attention to T.J. (Urbanik) and Peter (Cyr) and all our other backs. It really opened things up outside for me, and our line did a great job once again for the (10th) time this season."


Taking advantage of fumbles by leading rusher T.J. Urbanik on each of his first two carries, the Lancers (8-2) opened a 7-0 advantage on a 2-yard Eric Fairweather run with 5:03 left in the first. It was the kind of start that confused Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly


"You mean fumbling the ball the first two times we had the ball," O'Reilly said responding to the first postgame question. "Fumbles by best running back, who hasn't fumbled all year long."


But Hanaway quickly helped the Astros reclaim control. He first crossed the goal line with a 31-yard run on the first quarter's final play. On Pinkerton's ensuing possession, he had a 54-yard blast that helped set up his 11-yard scoring run for a 14-7 lead with 6:15 remaining the in the half.


The quarterback capped his strong beginning on the next drive with passes of 26 yards to Urbanik on a perfectly lofted down-field throw, and 31 yards to Cyr that provided a two-touchdown lead with 1:15 left before intermission.


"How about Jack?" O'Reilly said of his veteran signal caller. "Jack's the best hidden rusher out there that people don't know about. You better account for him or he runs the field for us ... And while we don't throw a lot, we throw effectively."


Of his 13 carries, seven went for 10 yards or more, including six in a row in the first half. He also had 98 yards on his 3-of-4 passing.

 
"It was definitely a personal best, but it wasn't about me," said Hanaway, who. "It's all about the guys up front in the trenches doing our offense ... time and room to run."


Despite the deficit, Londonderry wasn't quite ready to close out arguably its best season since winning a 1998 title.


The Lancers threatened often, including a first-quarter drive that ended with a fumble recovered by the Pinkerton tandem of Bryson Pacocha and Cyr. A quick 75-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard pass from Fairweather to Nick McEachern to open the second half brought Londonderry back to within seven.

 

The Lancers, who recorded 11 of their 22 first downs after intermission, moved the ball effectively, but nothing panned out.


"We made mistakes at crucial times," Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said. "It's so hard to simulate big moments ... That's what the nine regular-season games are for. But we didn't lose. I know Pinkerton beat us. And Pinkerton's the only team that beat us this season."


The Astros wrapped up the scoring with a 36-yard Kyle Cantalupo field goal and a 71-yard run by Michael Curley with 3:13 left. The victory leaves the Astros one win shy of playing in their 10th title game -in 11 years. Pinkerton last won a crown, however, since 2010.


"It's been three years of losing the state championship, and trust me, that get's old after awhile," Hanaway said. "All of our seniors especially have seen too many other seniors go out losing. So this is a boost to a lot of us and will help get through the tough games."

 

Game Statistics:

Division 1 South Finals

 First Quarter

 

L — Eric Fairweather 2 run (Nick Donnelly kick) 5:03

P — Jack Hanaway 34 run (Kyle Cantalupo kick) 0:00

Second Quarter

P — Hanaway 11 run (Cantalupo kick) 6:15

P — Peter Cyr 31 pass from Hanaway (Cantalupo kick) 1:15

 

Third Quarter

L — Nick McEachern 31 pass from Fairweather (Donnelly kick) 10:33

Fourth Quarter


P — FG Cantalupo 36 7:49

P — Michael Curley 71 run (Cantalupo kick) 3:13

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Londonderry (51-273) — Fairweather 20-127, Dennis Bishop 17-84, Kyle Byrd 5-32, Mike Ryan 5-22, McEachern 2-13, David Wiedenfeld 2-(-5); Pinkerton (37-341) — Hanaway 13-173, Curley 2-72, T.J. Urbanik 14-71, Cyr 6-17, Nico Buccieri 2-8

PASSING: Londonderry — Fairweather 5-14-1, 78 yards; Pinkerton — Hanaway 3-4-0, 98

RECEIVING: Londonderry — McEachern 2-36, Ryan 1-18, Wiedenfeld 1-15, Bishop 1-9; Pinkerton — Urbanik 2-67, Cyr 1-31

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