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Pizzuto fuels Reggies in romp

Saturday, October, 03 By Bill O'Connor
Correspondent

TYNGSBORO – Mud, rain – the Greater Lowell defense – none of those things could slow down Greater Lawrence halfback Joseph Pizzuto on Saturday afternoon as he recorded his second straight 200-plus yard rushing game and led the Reggie’s to a 20-6 victory over the Gryphons.

Pizzuto was the Greater Lawrence offense, rushing for 202 yards and all three Reggie scores on just 25 carries.

The performance, during which the 5’5” Pizzuto showcased more than just his quick feet but also his seemingly inexhaustible stamina – at one point Greater Lawrence called 10 straight Pizzuto handoffs – increased his average yards per carry to 6.7 on the season.

It’s a number that left Reggie head coach Tony Sarkis at a loss for words.

“What can you say, the numbers speak for themselves,” Sarkis said. “The kid is just a hard worker, and all the offseason work that he did is paying off now.”

Pizzuto wasted no time putting his team on the board Sautrday, firing off a 31-yard burner for a touchdown on the Reggie’s first play from scrimmage.

His second score came midway through the second quarter on a 16-yard sprint to the outside that ended with a diving Pizzuto just clipping the pylon with the ball while being pushed out by multiple Gryphon defenders. The play capped off a 7-play, 55-yard Reggie drive that featured nothing but Pizzuto handoffs.

His third and final score came a quarter later when he broke an up the gut rush through the Gryphon d-line and into the open field, going 28-yards for the score.

“My line does it all,” Pizzuto said when asked about his marquee day. “My line and my fullback, they do it all, after I get past them I’m just doing my job.”

But it wasn’t just the Reggie offensive line that was working overtime Saturday, as their defensive counterparts held Greater Lowell halfbacks to just 37-yards rushing on 20 carries.

“Our defense is a very strong group,” Sarkis said. “Our front five play tough, our linebackers play tough, and out cornerbacks play tough. It’s when we break down mentally that’s when we give teams a chance to get into the game.”

Sarkis cited Lowell’s lone score, which came on a 2-yard run by halfback Chris Puzzo in the second quarter, as just such a mental breakdown, as the 24-yard drive which set up the score was greatly aided by a pass interference call against the Reggies on a Lowell third-and-eleven.

That lone 24-yard scoring drive aside, however, the Reggies’ defense only allowed 48 more yards of total offense all game.

Sarkis said it’s exactly that kind of play that could take his team deep into the postseason if it continues.

“There is no limit for this team, and that’s what I want them to realize,” said Sarkis. “So if we take care of our business, hopefully it comes down to the end of the year and things happen. We can’t control what other teams do, but the potential for this team is unlimited.”

Greater Lawrence 20, Greater Lowell 6
Gr. Lawrence (2-2, 1-1 CAC Large):      6        7       7      0        —       20
Gr. Lowell (1-3, 0-1 CAC Large):         0        6       0      0        —       6
First Quarter
GLa — Joseph Pizzuto 31 run, (conversion fail) :37
Second Quarter
GLo — Chris Puzzo 2 run,  (conversion fail) 7:05
GLa — Pizzuto 16 run, (Paul Menjivar kick), 3:35
Third Quarter
GLa — Pizzuto 28 run, (Menjivar kick), 6:22
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Greater Lawrence (32-236) — Joseph Pizzuto 25-202, Brendan Onial 4-14, Angel Rivera 2-14, Anthony Ocasio, 1-6; Greater Lowell (20-37) — Chris Puzzo 14-12, Bill Fuller 3-10, Josh Bard 2-8, Greg Balamotis 1-7
PASSING: Greater Lawrence — Juan Carlos Gomez 1-2-1, 10 yards; Greater Lowell — Greg Balamotis 5-11-1, 29 yards
RECEIVING: Greater Lawrence — Matthew Rodriguez 1-10, Greater Lowell — Victor Cabrera 2-14, Chris Pousland 2-6, Bill Fuller 1-9