Well we know thePioneers can handle a team two divisions down (Matignon).And we know they can beat a team in their own league (Georgetown). But what can they do against a team two divisions above them?
We'll find out Friday night when Lynnfield puts their 2-0 mark on the line in a big matchup against CAL Large Wilmington. And when I say big, I mean BIG in more ways than one. The contest is "big" as in "significant" given the that the Wildcats have been a force in the Cape Ann League since joining the circuit in 1995.
It is also "big" as in "large". The Wildcats, who also come into the game 2-0 after beating Melrose 20-18 and Shawsheen Tech 35-2, are HUGE. Their tackles are 6'3" 235 and 6'2" 235, their guards are 5'10 205 and 6'0 225 and their tight end is 6'4' 215. The Pioneers have some good size this year, and they will be tested this week.
Ironically, Wilmington is not "big" as in "amount". They have only 35 players on the varsity, so in a strange twist, little ol' Lynnfield, will trot out a "bigger" squad than the Wildcats. Wilmington returns only four starters on each side of the ball, so they are using a lot of inexperienced players.
The numbers edge can be a significant advantage for the Pioneers.
According to Lynnfield line coach Mike Geary, the Wildcats "only have about 14 different kids that play the whole game. Hopefully we can keep a high tempo to wear them down." As Mike points out, "it's weird to have Lynnfield try to wear downWilmington." But that could happen with the number of players the Pioneers can utilize.
Pioneers Better Batter Butters
The key to beating the Wildcats is to contain slippery (sorry) running back Evan Butters, something neither Melrose (138 total yards, 2 TD's) nor Shawsheen (202 total yards, 3 TD's) have been able to do. Butters exploded for a 67 yard score on the first play of the season and hasn't slowed down since. He has tallied 5 of Wilmington's 7 TD's.
The Pioneers are quite familiar with Butters. Lynnfield was able to hold him down in the first half last year and took a 7-0 halftime lead. But the elusive runner went wild in the second half, scoring twice and piling up 132 yards rushing enroute to the Wildcat's 14-7 win.
The Pioneers will be looking to snap a four game losing streak against CAL Large teams, their last victory coming in 2007 when they outlasted Lawrence 30-24. Prior to that, Lynnfield had lost 13 straight since beating Triton 14-0 in 2003. They are 2-17 in that stretch.
Tough Blow for Pioneers
The Pioneers were hit with their first serious injury this week with the loss of three year starting center Greg Banos who suffered a torn ACL against Georgetown. Geary said he's been outstanding in the Pioneers' first two games. He is likely lost for the season.
The center is a key component of the offensive line. Long time Pioneer coach Bill Adams felt the position was so important, that he very rarely played any of his centers on defense. The position takes on even more importance in the spread offense where the center has to deliver a perfect shotgun snap on every play.
Former Pioneer captain and center Kevin Condardo (yep my son) who played alongside Geary in the Pioneer line from 1998-2000 had to make his share of shotgun snaps in the Pioneers Mayday No-Huddle Offense. He doesn't see the snapping as the biggest issue. Kevin ended up making all the shotgun snaps his sophomore year because the senior he was backing up "had a mental block and just couldn't do the five yard snap and I never had a problem with them." Of course he points out that "at the same time I worked on punt snaps for four years and never game close to figuring that out." Which is why current coach Pat Sheehan ended up doing the long snapping on punts.
Kevin adds that "the bigger concern for switching out a center in midstream is the disruption in the chain of communication on the line - expecially with a three year starter like Banos who was probably calling the shots."
The Pioneers appear to have that issue in mind as Doug Ullian, another three year starter, will likely move to center and handle the communications piece from there. Juniors Nick Burtman and John Roberto will most like see action in the vacated guard spot.
Tale of Two Eras
The Lynnfield-Wilmington matchup goes back to the beginning of the Pioneer football program. The two teams met the the first seven years of the program (1958-1965) and the Pioneers had the best of it. They were 5-2 and outscored the Wildcats 106-52 including four shutouts. Thirty years later, Wilmington joined the CAL and renewed the rivalry, and Lynnfield hasn't had much success in round two. The Pioneers are 2-10 and have been outscored 119-33 in that span.
OD's Run This Sunday
Don't forget to support the 6th Annual OD's Run Walk this Sunday. The anuual 5K memorial road race and walk is held to raise funds for scholarships awarded in memory of Johnny ("OD") O'Donnell (1984-2003). Johnny was a three sport athlete at Lynnfield High, including football. The race/walk starts at 10 am at the High School and registration starts at 8:30. For more information, go to ODsrunwalk.weebly.com.
Check back Saturday for more on the Pioneer/Wildcat game.
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