Lights Out

Prior to tonight's game in Newburyport, one of the banks of lights atop the condemned visitors stands at World War Memorial Stadium was malfunctioning. A repairman scrambled up a ladder twice and final got the lights to operate.

In view of the Clippers' stunning 24-7 upset of the Pioneers, it probably would have been best if all the lights had gone out...and stayed out.

Normally I try to be an objective chronicler regarding Pioneer football. Not tonight.

I hate that stadium. Probably as a result of too many visits there watching strange, bad things happen to the Pioneers. This is the 12th straight time a Lynnfield football team has traveled up Route 95 to that place and came away empty. Local supporters are working to have the old depression era stadium restored. Me, along with many Pioneer fans would probably prefer they took a wrecking ball to it.

Fox25 was in attendance as part of their High School Friday feature. They interviewed the coaches, took video of the cheerleaders and broadcast their 6 pm newscast from the stadium. Lots of hoopla.

But ultimately, it wasn't the misbehaving lights, or the crumbling stadium or the Fox25 circus that knocked the Pioneers from the ranks of the undefeated and tossed them headlong into a life and death race for the CAL title.

No, it was an inspired Clipper team that befuddled, bewildered and ultimatly beat up the Pioneers.

You can read all the gory details in my Villager game story on Wednesday, but for now understand that this defeat was not a fluke. The Clippers took control early and kept the Pioneers bottled up and on their heels most of the night.

Yes the loss was extremely disappointing, but we need to keep it all in perspective. I was reminded of that by my son, former Pioneer captain Kevin Condardo (1998-2000). He follows me on Twitter so he gets all the in game updates of the Pioneer games real time. Knowing what my state of mind would be following the crushing loss, he texted me shortly after the game ended with the following: "Tough loss. Just don't forget how lucky you are to have this be the exception and not the rule!"

True enough. We have all been spoiled (deservedly so) by the Pioneers' success the last two years. 17 wins in 20 games will do that. But as a player who celebrated only eight wins in his three year varsity career as a Pioneer, he knows better than most how special the past two years have been. One loss can't tarnish that.

Now let me help you crawl back from the edge. The loss, though tough to swallow, was not totally crippling. With only one league loss, the Pioneers are still very much in the hunt for the title. Amesbury beat Ipswich tonight, so that leaves the Pioneers, Indians and Clippers all with one loss behind unbeaten Hamilton Wenham who still has to play the Pioneers, Amesbury, Ipswich and Georgetown.

This thing is far from over. That is the solace we have to take from tonight's disappointment. Check back Sunday night for my Newburyport Leftovers post.