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Andover ends 10 years of frustration, downs Chelmsford

Saturday, October, 17 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER — Heading into the day, Andover’s Nick Price didn’t know if he’d see the field. He certainly didn’t know he’d be at the center of a win that snapped 10 years of misery.

“I went in thinking I might get in for a few plays,” said Price. “I was a little worried I wouldn’t get in. I absolutely didn’t see this coming.”

Pressed into duty after an injury, Price rushing for two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 57 seconds left as Andover snapped a 10-game losing streak to Chelmsford with a 28-21 victory last night in a game that was moved to Andover for fear it would rain. Both teams entered the game 4-1 in the key Merrimack Valley Conference large matchup.

“This game mean so much to us,” said Andover quad-captain Jake Lebowitz. “You think of all the Andover teams and great players, and to say we beat Chelmsford is pretty special. It was the Super Bowl in October.”

Since The Eagle-Tribune began keeping complete records in 1984, Andover is now 5-20-1 against Chelmsford, the No. 16 team in Eastern Mass. The Golden Warriors’ most recent win over the Lions was a 35-33 victory on Nov. 6, 1998.

“This is awesome,” said Andover senior Jimmy Johnson. “For us to do this after all that time is amazing. This is huge. I hope future generations can keep this going.”

It was Lebowitz that set up the winning score, causing and recovering a fumble with just 1:14 left in the game at the Chelmsford 25.

“I went in saying I had to make a play,” said Lebowitz. “They had been running the (single-wing) offense the whole game. I read the guard, took him in, punched the ball out and fell on it.”

Then it was Price who added the final touch.

“Right when I got into the end zone I was so happy,” said the 5-foot-7, 155-pounder. “Everyone jumped on me. I didn’t realize I had just won the game until I reached the sidelines.”

The Lions did have one last gasp, driving to the Andover 35-yard line. But Johnson, a former defensive lineman playing cornerback, picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone. The touchdown was called back, but the pick with 21 seconds left counted.

“They had gained a few yards,” said Johnson. “They put two guys out (to the left) that ran the same route. I read it easily and ran for a touchdown. It was even more important to us with (Nick) Enxing out.”

It was midway through the first quarter that the Golden Warriors lost Enxing, their leading rusher and top linebacker, for the game with an apparent knee injury. So Andover was forced to call upon Price.

Price, who had just five carries for 22 yards in his varsity career, saw his first rush 10 seconds into the second half, and scrambled 76 yards for his first varsity touchdown. He recorded three more carries for the game, for 19 more yards, and had a 68-yard score called back due to holding.

Chelmsford took the lead with 4:56 left in the half on a 7-yard halfback pass from Joe Gennaro. The back finished the game with 194 yards on 30 carries.

But Andover answered just one play later, as John Hennessy connected with Christopher McConnell on a 78-yard touchdown pass. After Chelmsford tied the game, Andover again took the lead on a 67-yard TD pass from Hennessy to Johnson.

“This is the biggest win in their Andover football careers,” said Golden Warriors interim coach John Rex. “I really could not be happier for them.”