Thanksgiving Leftovers

After doing the statistics, doing my story for the Villager and reviewing my photos of the game, I am even more impressed with how totally in command the Pioneers were on Thanksgiving morning. There may have been some concern that the Pioneers would be looking past the Hornets toward Tuesday night's playoff game.

Not to worry.

"I was a little concerned," said Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman, who by the way is now undefeated against North Reading. "But once they put the ball down, that was it."

Indeed.

The Pioneer defense swarmed all over the Hornets in the first three quarters, holding them to a negative 32 yards rushing (thanks in part to the two bad punt snaps totalling minus 51 yards) and negative 16 yards passing, (thanks partly to six sacks for minus 41 yards.). Of the Hornets' 35 plays in the first three quarters, including the bad snaps, 24 were for no gain, negative yardage or a turnover. That is total devastation.

Dante Pandovani led the charge but Mike Pescione, the offensive star with a pair of TD catches, was also active on defense. So were Joe and George Hennessey, Jon Roberto, Freddy Shove, Eric Inglese, Jon Leydon,  Andrew Kibarian, Tim Lamusta, Nick Roberts and Evan Panzero. It was a total team defensive effort.

Offensively, the Pioneers put up the most points they have scored in 11 years and they did it with one weapon tied behind their back. Leading scorer and rushing leader quarterback Gino Cohee may not have to have his white jersey cleaned for Tuesday night's game. In a brilliant coaching stroke, the plan was clearly not to have Gino jeopardize the ankle he injured earlier in the year.

In the post game interview, one of the reporters mentioned that Cohee did not have a carry. I pointed out that was not the case. He did have ONE carry - the kneel down at the end.

"One carry for negative one yard," Weidman laughed. "Not his best game."

The coach was obviously joking since Cohee did plenty of damage with his upper appendage. While his main role in the ground game was to hand off to the running backs, he was a big part of the passing attack. The junior was an efficient 6 for 9 for 133 yards and a pair of TD's.


Dominating Line
Cohee was kept neat and clean by another great effort from the offensive line of Doug Ullian, Jon Leydon, Eric Inglese, Evan Panzero, Jon Roberto and Nick Burtman. The same couldn't be said for Hornet quarterback John Brooks who spent most of the morning getting introduced to the brand new artificial turf at Arthur Kenney Field. Unfortunately for him, most of the intro was face first at the hands of the marauding Pioneer line and linebackers. The Hornets played without two starting lineman, but I'm not sure that would have made a lot of difference the way the Trench Warriors were playing.

"The line dominated," Weidman said. "(North Reading) is a little younger. We don't have a whole bunch of linemen, but the guys we have are good."

Big Game for Pesh
Weidman had some nice comments about Pescione who had a great two way game.

"He got himself into the endzone two times," the coach said. "He had a great game. It was good for him. We ask him to block a lot so he got a chance to show he can catch the ball and score touchdowns which is always nice for a senior on Thanksgiving Day."

Pescione was also active on the defensive side, chipping in with a sack and a half.

Late Hornet Fireworks
There was some excitement at the end for the home crowd when the Hornet varsity was able to put up a pair of touchdowns against the Pioneer subvarsity which included most of the freshmen. I could see the starting defense getting itchy on the sideline as the Hornets ran double reverses and flea flickers in an effort to put up some points. But with the game coming up on Tuesday, it made no sense to have them out there. The game was well in hand, and it was good for the youngsters to get some varsity playing time.

"The stuff at the end was unfortunate, but it happens," Weidman said of the late Hornet flurry. "(North Reading) has had a long year and they were trying to get the ball in the endzone. It wasn't that long ago that we were trying to do the same thing."

Scary Moment
The only ugly moment came midway in the final period of what was a relatively penalty free game (four total penalties for 41 yards). Lamusta punted and the Hornet's Nick Rosano actually returned it 75 yards for a score, but offsetting penalties nullfied the play. However during the run back, a Hornet took a cheap shot at Lamusta's ankle and the senior punter/defensive back had to be helped off the field. North Reading was flagged for a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. Hopefully the injury will not hamper Lamusta in the game on Tuesday.

Kicking and Screaming
And speaking of kickers, junior Steve Ullian wrote himself into the Pioneer record books in a big way Thursday, breaking FOUR Lynnfield High kicking records.

Ullian's four PAT's gives him 28 for the season which breaks the prior single season record of 25 set by Scott Milne in 1985. It also gives Ullian 39 PAT's for his career which breaks the all time mark of 36 set by Dave Frontero in 1986-87.

Ullian also banged home a 35 yard field goal which is his third of the year. That breaks the single season record of two held by Kevin Hanegan (1992) and Joe Maney (1983). The three field goals also breaks the alltime record of two previously held jointly by Alan Harrington (72-74), Maney (82-83), Frontero (86-87) and Hanegan (91-93).


Multiple Threat
Grassi's TD pass gives him 19 for his career, one away from Jason Caggiano who tossed 20 from 1994-96 good enough for second place all time. Grassi's touchdown reception now gives him 140 points all time in sixth place, 11 behind Dan Veinot's 151 and 12 ahead of Cohee's 128

Other Notable Numbers

• The 35 points scored against the Hornets is the most scored by the Pioneers since a 35-0 whitewash of Hamilton Wenham in 1998. It's the fourth time Lynnfield has topped 30 this year as they scored 34 against Cathedral and Matignon and 32 against Georgetown. That's the first time that has happened since 1970 when they scored 30 vs Westwood, 46 vs Lincoln Sudbury, 44 vs Masco and 42 vs North Reading.
• The Pioneers have now won eight straight. That is the longest winning streak since 1985-86 when Lynnfield won 13 straight. That is the school record set in 1959-61.
• Lynnfield has now scored 259 points which is the most since the 264 scored in 1961and third most all time. This year's 23.5 average points per game is the most since 1978's 25.8 ppg.
• The 117 points allowed is the fewest since 2003's 110. The 10.6 average ppg is the best since 1991's 9.1 ppg.
• The two safeties against North Reading was the first time that has happened since 1983 when the Pioneers did it against Pentucket. Keith Ryan and John Manganaro were credited with those two. It was the first safety against North Reading since 1966.

Coming To a Television Near You?
Finally, my counterpart at the North Reading Transcript did the play by play for the Pioneer/Hornet game on Thursday for the North Reading Local Access channel. He told me after the game that he was working with Lynnfield cable access to get the game broadcast in Lynnfield . Once I get the details, I will pass them along so you can set your DVR's.

That's all for now. We'll take a look at Tuesday night's playoff game on Sunday night.