RallyNorth.net

Knights prevail in 2 OTs

Saturday, November, 01 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

BYFIELD — It figures that on Halloween night, the number 13 would be a factor.

Triton never led against North Andover but haunted the visitors throughout regulation and two overtime sessions. After a quick-strike TD brought the Vikings within a conversion of another deadlock,  senior linebacker Ricky Williams pulled down running quarterback Sam Ferrara three yards short of the end zone. Williams’ 13th tackle of the game rewarded the clutch passing of Brandon Walsh with a 37-35 victory.

After a 10-yard, first down toss from quarterback Ferrara (69 yards passing on the night) to tight end Mike Foley drew Triton (now 4-4) within two points on its second OT possession, the hosts set up in a Power-I formation that earlier revived its offense. But this time, the Scarlet Knights (3-5) sensed what was going to happen and were ready.

“We changed up our front and that allowed someone to get free and make a play,” described North Andover head coach John Rafferty.

That player was Williams, working the opposite side of Ferrara’s destination. When the quarterback took off to his left with blockers ahead, Williams shot untouched through the line and caught him from behind, dropping Ferrara for no gain and setting off a Knights’ celebration.

“I figured they would go outside and their motion went outside,” Williams said. “I just read the play. Their power offense gave us a lot of trouble but we stuck with it and did a good job.”

The victory rewarded the efforts of Walsh, whose late-game passing was key to the victory. With running back Zac Iovanella (27 carries, 121 yards, two touchdowns) meeting more defensive resistance, Walsh balanced the attack effectively. The freshman hit on 12 of 22 passes for 134 yards, three touchdowns, two coming in overtime, and two conversions in the bonus rounds.

Trailing by eight in the first OT and facing fourth-and-13, Walsh rolled right and hit tight end Mike Weisman to the left. With blocking help from Kyle Robbins and Kyle Kobierski, Weisman waltzed into the end zone, then connected with Walsh on a quick toss for the 2-point conversion and the tie.

With the first possession in the second overtime, Walsh used all of 6-3 wide receiver Aaron Brunette’s height for a 9-yard scoring toss on third down, the second TD catch for the senior. On the PAT, Walsh looked off the secondary to Brunette on the right and hit a wide-open David Foote on the left side for the points.

“It felt really good,” Walsh said. “Iovanella ran his (butt) off, Brunette (seven catches for 96 yards) caught every ball thrown to him, the wide receivers were amazing ... We couldn’t have done any better.”

“(Assistant coach) Chris Dufresne called the offense and did a great job keeping his composure on those long plays during overtime,” Rafferty concluded. “He had a great feel for the play-calling and the kids executed.”