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North Andover sets up title showdown with win over Pentucket

Sunday, November, 15 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

WEST NEWBURY — Something had to give.

Throughout the first half yesterday, Pentucket and North Andover were throwing waves of defense at each other. Packing in the area between the tackles, the two run-oriented teams struggled to gain 144 combined yards in the opening 22 minutes. Only a fumble recovered by North Andover's Dylan Lurvey at the Sachem 20-yard line could set up the lone score of the half.

But after the break, sophomore quarterback Brandon Walsh took a more active role in the offense. The combination of Walsh's arm, some athletic grabs by his receivers, and some untimely mistakes by the Sachems led to a 27-7 Scarlet Knight victory, a 2-1 league mark, and a winner-take-all matchup for the Cape Ann League Large title Thanksgiving Day against Masconomet.

Pentucket's interior defense was beyond sturdy. Whether speedy standout Zac Iovanella (84 yards rushing, 130 total yards) or bruising fullback Jack Murphy (41 yards) got the handoff between the tackles for North Andover (8-2), the Sachems had a physical greeting party led by linebackers Zack Eddy (team-high eight tackles) or defensive end Peter Koopman (four stops, two for negative yardage).

Likewise on the other side where a quartet of Pentucket runners struggled against lineman Kyle Kobierski (two stops for losses) and mobile linebacker Mike Weisman (five tackles).

But the Sachems also hurt their own cause. Three of North Andover's first five possessions ended with punts and a fourth on an interception by safety Mike Doud. However, Pentucket (5-5) squandered two dazzling kick returns into Knight territory by Austin Perreault on illegal block penalties, suffering an illegal substitution call right after one of the flags to start one march at its own 5-yard line.

Also, a holding penalty set up a long third-down play that led to a pressured Pentucket turnover. Three plays later, Walsh (9 of 13, 122 yards) found Murphy on the right sideline and the junior rumbled 16 yards for the only score of the first half.

"Except for that one little fullback pass in the flat (the TD toss), we did a good job in the first half on the pass," said Pentucket head coach Steve Hayden. "We played well and with a lot of heart."

"Pentucket really packed it in," North Andover head coach John Rafferty said. "They made a point of defending the inside and did a good job at it. It was difficult for us to slide inside."

Walsh's arm and mobility effectively loosened up the Sachem logjam as the sophomore went off on an 8 of 9 run for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the final 22 minutes to break things open.

"He's just getting better and better," Rafferty said. "With more and more experience, it shows. He did a good job."

With Iovanella in motion to clear out the defensive back, Walsh found tight end Mike Weisman wide open, and his one-handed catch for an 18-yard TD on the first drive of the second half capped a 10-play march to the end zone.

After a savvy touch pass to Iovanella over tight coverage gained 14 yards, the pair hooked up again seven plays later. On a fourth-and-goal from the 20, Iovanella's acrobatic grab in the back of the end zone wrapped up a seven-minute drive and essentially the contest with 8:35 left to play.

Iovanella finished the Knights' scoring when the only clear space he had all day became a 42-yard jaunt to the end zone with 1:50 left, a drive set up by a Pentucket punt return turnover.

Pentucket (5-5) finally found the end zone on a 3-yard Doud-to-Mike Brennan toss with one second left, but the Sachem offense struggled all day, finishing with just 173 yards while suffering three giveaways.

Defensive back Sharif Hamdi was a thorn in Doud's side with a pair of interceptions while junior lineman Matt Gallagher kept the signal-caller anxious with a pair of sacks.

"They moved some things around and made some nice adjustments," Hayden concluded. "They're a very athletic team and there's a reason they're 8-2."

Additional stories:

• North Andover sets up title showdown with win over Pentucket