Danvers, Pioneers Have Much in Common

When the Pioneers look across Dr. Deering Field at Danvers High School on Friday night, they will see a team that should look familiar. No, not because they have ever faced each other - this will be the first meeting between the schools-  but because they will be staring at a Falcon team that has followed a very similar path into the 2009 season.

Danvers has struggled in recent years in the tough Divison Three Northeastern Conference Small going 1-21 the last two seasons. That mirrors the struggles of the Pioneers who have gone 6-16 the past two years in the CAL Small.

Both teams were trying to compete with young rosters and headed into this year with seasoned teams that took their lumps, grew up and are now looking for payback. The Falcons bring a 42 man rosters top heavy with 23 seniors and 10 juniors. The Pioneers have 24 juniors and seniors.

Both teams worked hard in the offseason and targeted 2009 as a "Breakout" year. Both teams have started strong and come into this matchup sporting 3-1 records.

This will be the second strongest test for the Pioneers thus far with Danvers who are probably not quite as strong as Wilmington, but will a significant step up from Matignon, Georgetown and Cathedral.

The Falcons opened the season with a 20-0 over Manchester-Essex then followed up with a big 14-7 win over Pentucket and won their third straight against Revere 25-12. They lost their first game last week to Lynn English 28-18.

"We're playing a much bigger school this week," said Pioneer coach Neal Weidman. "They're good. They run a Wing T but they break out of it a little bit. They are primarily a running team but they pass when they have to.

Senior captain Greg Ladd is the quarterback and place kicker. He has thrown for a pair of TD's and has booted a field goal this year. But Danvers does most of their damage on the ground. Senior captain Eric Burghos has five TD rushing so far and sophomore Clinton Lutz has three rushing scores.

Like Wilmington, the Falcons have some size with G/DE Ben Roy (6'2, 191), Zach Ryan TE/DE (6"4", 223), OLB Dan Skinner (6'4", 200), DT Nikolas Longo (6"0" 215), OT Shane Tobyne (6'0", 263) and DE Kell Falite (6"4", 200). 

With that kind of size, the availability of Evan Panzero would be crucial. The 6'2" 224 lineman did not play against Cathedral and it's not known if he will play against Danvers.

The Pioneers showed they can play with a bigger team for a long stretch against Wilmington, but they must come out strong and avoid a disastrous start like the one against the Wildcats.

Game time in Danvers is 7 pm. Here is a link to directions to the field.

Directions to Dr. Deering Field


Check back Saturday for some thoughts on the game.

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