RallyNorth.net

Thu, Nov 27, 2008 10:00 AM @ North Andover

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Masconomet	7	10	7	7	31
North Andover	0	7	0	0	7

Masconomet's experience outduels North Andover

Thursday, November, 27 By By Steve Palladino
Staff writer

NORTH ANDOVER — For a little more than the opening  quarter, North Andover gave the already-crowned Cape Ann League champions a battle in their traditional Thanksgiving morning meeting.

But after the Knights pulled even early in the second quarter, Masconomet's experience won out in a 31-7 decision at Joe Walsh Stadium.

"It hurts to go out like this," said North Andover's Zac Iovanella, who was defaulted into the starting role when starting QB Brandon Walsh was lost this week with mononucleosis. "The team needed me to step in today and I did the best I could."

The junior, who was injured in the early part of the season, spent most of his season at running back.

Iovanella was at his best in the second quarter when he marched North Andover on a well-organized 12 play, 59-yard drive that was set up after a North Andover defensive stop put Masconomet into a punt situation.

Iovanella (36 yards rushing, 56 passing) capped the drive with a one-yard sneak that evened the score at 7-7. During the drive North Andover's offense came through on two key third down conversions, the first on a Chris Buco seven-yard run off the wildcat formation and the other being a 15-yard completion to senior Aaron Brunette, who caught four passes for 47 yards. The Brunette catch set up a first down at the Masconomet 14.

North Andover (4-7, 2-3 CAL Large) worked out of the wildcat for the entire game and only employed two runners all day - Buco and Iovanella.

"We eliminated some of the game plan," said North Andover head coach John Rafferty in reference to the loss of Walsh for the final game of the year.  "But we have worked on that (wildcat) since August."

Masconomet (8-3, 5-0) responded with two scores before the half, one on a 40-yard field goal from Nick Salvo that, quite possibly would have been good from just inside 50, and the a one-yard run from quarterback Chris Splinter (87 yards rushing, 56 passing) on a seven-play drive that was set up after an interception.

“Masconomet just came out and played,” said Iovanella. “We didn't come out like we wanted to in the second half.”

The Masconomet offense (265 yards) ran most of the day (on 36 of 45 offensive plays) with junior Evan Bunker (15 carries, 121 yards) doing most of the work.

“We have a lot of weapons,” said Masconomet head coach Jim Pugh. “Chris (Splinter) had a great game and you aren't going to hold him down for too long,”

Possessing the ball first in the second half, the Knights went three and out before turning the ball back into the dangerous Chieftain offense. From there, Splinter didn't need much time to put further distance between the two teams.

Taking the second snap of the drive, Splinter crashed through the North Andover middle and raced down the left side for a 65-yard touchdown and a 24-7 lead.

Late in the fourth quarter, Splinter went in on an 18-yard keeper, closing the book on the day's scoring.

After moving the ball in the first half, North Andover's offense was stalled to just nine offensive plays – three series of three-and-outs.

"We are a young and inexperienced team and mistakes and turnovers are difficult to overcome against a seasoned, veteran team," said Rafferty.  "I am proud of the way our kids played today."

 

 

 

 

  

 

Additional stories:

• Walsh gives Knights a puncher’s chance
• MASCONOMET AT NORTH ANDOVER