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.
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| LHS Football WayBack Machine |
In 1985, the Pioneers had a wildly successful season, enjoying a CAL co-championship with an 8-1 league record. Overall they finished 9-1 and the lone loss ultimately cost them sole possession of the league crown and a trip the the Division Three Superbowl.
That one loss came at the hands of the North Andover Scarlet Knights by a 14-7 count at the Middle School Field.
In 1986, the two juggernauts again came into their matchup undefeated and the Pioneers were aching to avenge the only blemish on their 1985 resume.
However, revenge didn't appear to be on the menu at Hayes Stadium in North Andover as the game began. The Knights fired out of the locker room, took the opening kick and sliced through the Pioneer defense in a game opening scoring drive that took 60 seconds. NA's star running back Leonard Annalaro took it in for the score and though the PAT try was wide, the home team led 6-0 a minute into the game.
Unfazed, the Pioneers struck back with a quick strike of their own. Lynnfield quarterback Dave Frontero found receiver Ron Grasso with a 53 yard TD pass on the Pioneers' first possession. Frontero added the extra point and the visitors led 7-6.
The Pioneers then held the Knights on their second possession and again took over on offense. This time, the Lynnfield offense took the overland route, marching 82 yards for another score. Sixty of that was ground out by a punishing Pioneer running game led by co-captain Todd Coviello and junior Jason Mochi. Coviello capped the drive but the point after was blocked but Lynnfield was in control and in the lead 13-6 at the end of the first quarter.
According to the game story by Villager reporter David Angelini, the second period was much quieter than the first. Pioneer fans got to cheer an interception by Steve Bucci but the real fireworks erupted at the end of the quarter.
Lynnfield's Mike Pascucci forced a North Andover fumble and the Pioneers took advantage. Again Coviello led the ground attack moving the Pioneers to the Knight 18 yard line. With ten seconds left on the clock, Frontero drilled a 35 yard field goal and the Pioneers went in at the half leading 16-6.
Coviello, returning to full strength following his knee injury in the opening game, carried 12 times for 58 yards and a score in the first half.
The Pioneers controlled most of the second half. Coviello and junior Mark Sutera scored touchdowns to give Lynnfield a 29-6 lead. Meanwhile, co-captain Darrell Carty and John Dean led a defense that held the Knights in check until the later stages of the game.
Midway in the fourth quarter, Sam Comte scored for North Andover on an 85 yard runback and then came back to make it 29-18 on a late Annalaro score. That would be as close as they would get, however, as the Pioneers recovered a pair of onside kicks to seal the big win.
The victory kept the Pioneers perfect at 4-0 (3-0 in the CAL) tied with Hamilton-Wenham for the league lead. The win also catapulted Lynnfield into a first place tie with Concord-Carlisle in the Division 3 Super Bowl rankings. The Pioneers were ranked third in both points scored with 69 and points allowed with 37.
Despite the big road win, head coach Bill Adams channeled a future Bill Belichick and was not completely happy with the win.
"We are capable of playing even better football," Adams told Angelini following the game.
Next: The Pioneers host winless Masco.
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
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