RallyNorth.net

Haverhill grinds out win over Waltham

Friday, November, 06 By Kyle Gaudette

WALTHAM — The Hillies faced probably their toughest oppenent of the season on Friday night; I-95 during the five o'clock commute.

Despite being hampered by traffic and a slew of injuries, Haverhill was able to muster a 14-7 victory over the Waltham Hawks.

"I'm proud of the kids," said Haverhill head coach Tim O'Connor. "The way to bounce back after last week. To come down on a long bus ride on a Friday night on I-95 and play on their senior night and beat them; I'm proud of them."

Quarterback Broghean McGovern came up clutKnich all night for Haverhill, and was the source of both the teams' scores.

Tied 7-7 in the fourth, the Hillies drove 74-yards on 13 plays to set up a fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. McGovern lined up under center with the speedy Jean-Charles Laguerre flanked to his left. Laguerre, at this point, had rushed for 150-yards on 15 carries. However, on this crucial down, McGovern kept it himself, and snuck the ball just over the plane to put the Hillies ahead for what turned out to be for good.

McGovern also had a 31 yard keeper in the first quarter to start the scoring. With time windning down in the fourth, the Hillies ran an option on third and long that McGovern kept, and took 19-yards for a first down; allowing the Hillies to sibsequently take knees to finish the game.

"He's progressing," said O'Connor on McGovern. "We have to get him a little more touch, but he's a special player. He works hard and I'm happy for him. He's a team player."

The Hillies made the plays on defense as well. With just over two-minutes to play, Waltham quarterback Loubens Berrouette was stuffed at the Haverhill 27 yard line by the Hilliesl defensive front on a fourth down play.

"We saw a couple things in the first half that we adjusted to," said O'Connor. "We realized they were struggling with passing the ball so we decided to run the ball. If they wanted to win they had to pass the ball, and we just decided to take that away from them." 

Haverhill played to their strengths, rushing the ball Friday night. The rushed on all but one play, but they gave Waltham different looks offensively than the Knights anticiapted.

Laguerre rushed for 160 yards on the night, and senior back Lucien Chretien ran for 88-yards on only six carries.

Haverhill will continue their season next weekend.