RallyNorth.net

North Andover Scarlet Knights Football '08

Thu, Oct 23, 2008 07:00 PM @ Lawrence
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
North Andover 7 0 7 0 14
Lawrence 0 7 13 0 20

Two straight for Lawrence

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Lawrence: 
Lawrence running back Anthony DeJesus elevates over the North Andover line to pick up a first down during Thursday night's game in Lawrence. 
Photo by Roger Darrigrand/Eagle-Tribune. Thursday, October 23, 2008 » Roger Darrigrand, Staff PhotographerMore photos

Thursday, October, 23 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

LAWRENCE — Every time the North Andover High football team sniffed some life at Veterans Stadium last night, Anthony DeJesus popped up and choked the Knights out.

DeJesus, a lightly-regarded senior reserve when this season began, stung North Andover in all phases of the game, leading suddenly-surging Lawrence High to a 20-14, history-making win.

The victory gave the Lancers, now 4-3, their first four-win season since 1995. It was the first time Lawrence had ever beaten North Andover and represented the program's first back-to-back wins since the 2002 squad knocked off Greater Lowell Tech and Belchertown in successive weeks.

"For a long time, it's been win one, lose a few, win one, lose a few," said Lawrence coach Mike Yameen. "This wasn't easy, another fumble in the fourth when we could have put it away. But it's nice to get two in a row."

Interceptions by DeJesus and Julio Valentin allowed the Lancers to survive three different Knight possessions with a shot to tie or win it in the fourth.

North Andover, making its CAL large debut, fell to 2-5.

"We couldn't capitalize," said Knight coach John Rafferty, whose club got to the Lancer 23 late in the fourth but turned it over. "Unfortunately, it's a learning process. We're obviously getting, better and better and better. They put 34 on somebody last week. Tonight they put 20 on us, and one was a punt return."

DeJesus, filling in for Devin Montanez (knee) and Francis Nova (ankle) at halfback, carried 10 times for 54 yards, caught six Ramon Heredia passes for 84 yards and delivered a crippling blow to the Knight effort late in the third, emerging out of the pack and racing 78 yards for a touchdown on a punt return.

"All I saw was blockers. They did it up for me there," said DeJesus, the 6-2, 190-pounder. "I heard them calling me from both sides. I thought I was stuck for a second, then I heard Julio (Valentin) calling for me, 'Anthony, Anthony.' I looked then set up the block and I just saw open field the rest of the way."

Lawrence played aggressive defense to take away Knight all-leaguer Zac Iovanella (22 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs).

"The gameplan was to try and stop Iovanella," said Yameen. "We said if we're going to get beat, it was going to be by the pass."

Freshman QB Brandon Walsh nearly did just that. Hitting 9 of 22 passes for a career-high 155 yards, Walsh sprinted out and spread the football to five different receivers, led by senior Aaron Brunette, who pulled four in for 72 yards.

Each team put up a first-half TD, with Iovanella bowling in on a short off-tackle dive for the Knights and Demetri Brown soaring high to haul in a 7-yard Ramon Heredia fade.

Lawrence took control in a blur, as it did a week ago against Wilmington.

A 10-play drive, with nine rushes, was capped by rugged Heredia three-yard keeper. After a Knight 3-and-out, DeJesus returned the punt for a 20-7 lead.

North Andover didn't buckle, though, slicing the margin by the end of the third to 20-14 in another Iovanella dive and setting up the see-saw fourth.

Now 1-1 in league play, Lawrence held the Knights to only 78 rushing yards. A year ago, North Andover steamrolled the Lancers for 385 yards on the ground.

Yameen's troops weren't about to let it happen again. Facing one of the few offensive lines that could match them in size, Lawrence tackles Pedro Cruz and Jorge Escoto feasted up front, combining for 15 tackles, including four for losses or no gain.

 Linebackers Donea Robinson, Harvey Blanco and Aaron Blanco also played a stout game, especially when the Knights attacked the edge.

 

 

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

NA — Zac Iovanella 1 run (Dylan Lurvey kick) :49

Second Quarter

L — Demetri Brown 7 pass from Ramon Heredia (Brown kick) 1:40

Third Quarter

  L — Heredia 3 run (Brown kick) 4:45

L — Anthony DeJesus 78 punt return (kick blocked) 3:30

NA — Iovanella 4 run (Lurvey kick) :23


 


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: L (35-203) — Ramon Heredia 10-28, Harvey Blanco 9-61, Francis Nova 6-60, Anthony DeJesus 10-54; NA (28-78) — Zac Iovanella 22-58, Chris Buco 3-17, Brandon Walsh 3-3

PASSING: L Heredia 14-21-2, 139; Walsh 9-22-2, 155

RECEIVING:L — Mike Calzetta 4-27, Demetri Brown 2-15, Julio Valentin 2-13, DeJesus 6-84; NA — Aaron Brunette 4-72, Juan Areces 1-15; Buco 2-20, David Foote 1-12, Mike Weisman 1-36

1 Story Comments

0         AnonymousLancer

Anthony DeJesus is just one of the many weapons the lancers have. If you didn't yet notice this season the Lawrence Lancers are not fully healthy as a team but yet they still manage to find playmakers. Lawrence high has depth and they are a POWERHOUE team. Other teams Better watch outfor them they are hungry. LANCER PRIDE_I BLEED BLUE & WHITE!

Report! #1 10/24/2008 09:44 AM