RallyNorth.net

Thu, Nov 25, 2010 10:30 AM @ Andover

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Central Catholic	0	0	0	7	7
Andover	9	3	0	7	19

Andover playoff bound, wins MVC Large title over Central Catholic

Thursday, November, 25 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER — Some cried, some jumped up and down and others hugged anyone they could find. Coach E.J. Perry was carried off the field on the shoulders of his players, and quarterback Tom Dempsey clung to the game ball with both hands.

Emotions were flowing, for the biggest victory for Andover football in more than three decades.

“I broke down into tears on the last play,” said center Connor Clancy. “It was a feeling that we will never forget for the rest of our lives. Everyone was nervous, everyone was tired but we got it done.”

Needing one last drive to ice the win, Andover delivered a style and the defense locked down one more time as the Golden Warriors clinched a 19-7 victory over Central Catholic in front of an estimated crowd of 3,500 according to Golden Warriors athletic director Chris Bergeron.

The win gave Andover the Merrimack Valley Conference Large title and its first trip to the postseason since 1975, the last of three straight Super Bowl seasons.

“We just needed one last score,” said Golden Warriors back Andy Coke. “First I was just thinking it was a win on Thanksgiving. Then I realized it was the title, the first in 35 years. All the work, all the sweat and tears is all worth it right now.”

Andover (8-3) will take on Everett, the No. 1 team in Eastern Mass, in the Eastern Mass, Division 1 semifinal on Tuesday.

“It’s incredible,” said tri-captain Ned Deane. “Unbelievable. To win this and go to the playoffs for the first time in 35 years. So many great players have played here and haven’t gotten the opportunity to do what we’ve done. We were confident.”

The Golden Warriors took the early advantage. On the first play from scrimmage, Freddie Scribner (8 carries, 71 yards) broke free for a 60-yard run. Four plays later, sophomore Mark Zavrl booted a 37-yard field goal to give Andover the lead.

“Getting in front quick was big,” said Andover coach E.J. Perry. “It gave us some good momentum.”

Andover added to the lead late in the first on a 3-yard run by Michael McGovern, then Zavrl booted a 42-yard field goal with 1:50 left in the half to make it 12-0 at the break.

But Central was not finished.

The Raiders locked down, limiting Andover to negative-1 yard in the third quarter. They then finally cut into the lead with a nine-play, 73-yard drive that Trae Musumarra finished with a 1-yard touchdown plunge on fourth down to make it 12-7 with 7:58 left in the game.

“I felt like the team was tired,” said Clancy. “We went around and said ‘Why are you tired? We’re playing the biggest games of our lives.’ Everyone was nervous, but we got our nerves out.”

In need of a boost, the Golden Warriors gave the ball to their superstar.

Held to just 54 yards through 3 1/2 quarters, Coke finally found his groove. He rushed on all but one play of the game’s deciding drive, carrying five times for 66 yards and a 6-yard touchdown with 1:54 left to play.

“They shut me down for most of the game,” said Coke, who finished with 120 yards. “It got to me a little bit. But they kept telling me to keep  going. We’ve done this before. We have really done well in the clutch.”

Central’s late attempt at a two-minute drill was then squashed by back-to-back sacks from Matt Crush and Chris Newton.

“So many people doubted us,” said Deane. “But we were confident. After those three big wins (Dracut, Billerica, Lowell) we felt like we could beat anybody. We knew we had to prepare for a tough team.”

The Golden Warriors limited Central to just 170 yards of total offense, including just 50 through the air. Ned Deane once again paced Andover with 14 tackles, while Lyle Baker had seven stops and Matt Crush and Zavrl each had six tackle. Newton added two sacks and McGovern picked off a pass.

Musumarra led the Raiders with seven tackles, while Cam Walsh made six tackle and Zach Bardwell  had an interception.

“They knew we were going to run the football and we knew they were going to run the football,” said Clancy. “It was going to come down to who stopped the run. In the end, we went back to our bread-and-butter and it worked.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are for the playoffs. We’ll celebrate, then it’s time to get ready for Everett.”

Additional stories:

• Zavrl, McGovern huge in epic Andover win