To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the only Pioneer team to make it to the Super Bowl, I am taking a week by week look back at the Super 1986 season.
 |
| LHS Football WayBack Machine |
After two night road games to begin the season, the Pioneers returned to the Middle School Field on a bright, fall Sunday afternoon for their home opener against the Triton Vikings.
The Vikes came into the game also undefeated at 2-0 and the Pioneers steeled themselves for a tough CAL battle.
The Pioneers were bolstered by the return of co-captain running back Todd Coviello who missed the previous week's game against Newburyport. Though not yet at full strength, Coviello would prove to be a valuable weapon for head coach Bill Adams in this one.
But it was junior Jason Mochi who carried the offense, picking up a combined 121 yard rushing and receiving.
According to the account by Villager reporter David Angelini, neither team could get untracked offensively, but it was Lynnfield who finally got on the board in the second quarter. Coviello started the 94 yard scoring drive with a nine yard carry from the Lynnfield six yard line. Mochi covered 66 yards on the drive sandwiching 36 yards rushing around a 30 yard reception from quarterback Dave Frontero.
With a first and goal from the Triton eight yard line with 3:40 left in the half, Adams sent in Coviello. The senior "broke cleanly past a hole opened by linemen Chris Loomos and Darrell Carty," reported Angelini, "cutting hard to his right and thundering through for the touchdown."
Frontero banged through the extra point to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead.
Triton threatened at the end of the half moving to the Lynnfield 15 yard line, but Frontero picked off an interception to end the Viking scoring bid.
The second half continued the defensive struggle, but Triton got a huge break when a bad snap from center on Frontero's punt attempt gave the Vikings a first down on the Lynnfield 35 yard line.
With the clock ticking down, the Vikings ground toward the Lynnfield goal line. With 25 seconds left, Triton fullback Eric Corkum blasted into the endzone from the one to cut the Pioneer lead to 7-6.
Triton coach Ron Corcoran elected to go for the win ("It was never worth questioning," Adams told Angelini after the game. "Why kiss your sister?").
Viking quarterback Rick Gardella took the snap, rolled left and threw to what he thought was a wide open receiver in Steve Wood. However, before Wood could haul it in, Mochi reached over his back and swatted the ball away to preserve the 7-6 win.
The victory raised the Pioneers' record to 3-0 on the season (2-0 in the CAL) and lifted them into third place in the Division Three Super Bowl rankings tied with Hamilton Wenham.
The Pioneers would have to hit the road again the following week for another expected hard fought contest against North Andover.
The Vikes came into the game also undefeated at 2-0 and the Pioneers steeled themselves for a tough CAL battle.
The Pioneers were bolstered by the return of co-captain running back Todd Coviello who missed the previous week's game against Newburyport. Though not yet at full strength, Coviello would prove to be a valuable weapon for head coach Bill Adams in this one.
But it was junior Jason Mochi who carried the offense, picking up a combined 121 yard rushing and receiving.
According to the account by Villager reporter David Angelini, neither team could get untracked offensively, but it was Lynnfield who finally got on the board in the second quarter. Coviello started the 94 yard scoring drive with a nine yard carry from the Lynnfield six yard line. Mochi covered 66 yards on the drive sandwiching 36 yards rushing around a 30 yard reception from quarterback Dave Frontero.
With a first and goal from the Triton eight yard line with 3:40 left in the half, Adams sent in Coviello. The senior "broke cleanly past a hole opened by linemen Chris Loomos and Darrell Carty," reported Angelini, "cutting hard to his right and thundering through for the touchdown."
Frontero banged through the extra point to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead.
Triton threatened at the end of the half moving to the Lynnfield 15 yard line, but Frontero picked off an interception to end the Viking scoring bid.
The second half continued the defensive struggle, but Triton got a huge break when a bad snap from center on Frontero's punt attempt gave the Vikings a first down on the Lynnfield 35 yard line.
With the clock ticking down, the Vikings ground toward the Lynnfield goal line. With 25 seconds left, Triton fullback Eric Corkum blasted into the endzone from the one to cut the Pioneer lead to 7-6.
Triton coach Ron Corcoran elected to go for the win ("It was never worth questioning," Adams told Angelini after the game. "Why kiss your sister?").
Viking quarterback Rick Gardella took the snap, rolled left and threw to what he thought was a wide open receiver in Steve Wood. However, before Wood could haul it in, Mochi reached over his back and swatted the ball away to preserve the 7-6 win.
The victory raised the Pioneers' record to 3-0 on the season (2-0 in the CAL) and lifted them into third place in the Division Three Super Bowl rankings tied with Hamilton Wenham.
The Pioneers would have to hit the road again the following week for another expected hard fought contest against North Andover.
Next: A rematch with the 1985 co-champions.
If you played on or were involved with the 1986 team and would like to share a memory, please pass it on to me at tcondardo@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment