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 |
November 27, 1986
After two tough wins against the iron of the league, the Pioneers only had to avoid stubbing their toe against North Reading to clinch the Cape Ann League title. They came into the game in second place in the Division Three rankings but simply a win over the Hornets would not guarantee them one of only two spots that were available for the Super Bowl.
The Pioneers led Foxboro by only a half point in the complex ratings in use in those days. The ratings system valued wins against teams in higher or lower divisions and also took into account wins by teams that you had beaten. Lynnfield would need some other right things to happen to finish in the top two.
But they couldn't control any of those variables. What they could control was making sure they focused on beating their traditional rivals.
The Pioneers rolled into the holiday game 8-1 after solid wins against Ipswich and Hamilton Wenham. The Hornets struggled and limped into the game with a 2-7 mark. On paper it looked like a mismatch. In true Belichickean style, Lynnfield head coach Bill Adams did his best to pump up the Hornets' tires.
"North Reading has nothing to lose and everything to gain," Adams told Villager reporter Rob Irion before the game. "It's an opportunity for them to go out and make their season a success. They have a lot of incentive - they're not going to roll over and die."
"It's a different season," Adams continued to lather it on. "I have to feel that North Reading will come out very intense and play their best game of the season."
Nice try by the coach, but the game played out the way it appeared that it would.
The Pioneers rattled the Hornets early as the visitors coughed up the ball twice early in the contest. The Pioneers took advantage and jumped out to a two touchdown lead in the first quarter on a one yard dive by Todd Coviello and a 30 yard TD pass from Dave Frontero to Bill Aldenberg. A teeth rattling tackle by Darrell Carty and Mike Pascucci forced the fumble to set up the first score and a diving interception by Mark Sutera set up the second.
Coviello barrelled in from the three in the second quarter to give the Pioneers a 21-0 lead at the half.
Carty had 8 tackles in the first half to lead a smothering Pioneer defense.
Jason Mochi broke through for a three yard run in the fourth to make it an official blowout at 27-0. The Hornets scored late to finally get on the board but this one was never in doubt.
The Pioneers wrapped up their second straight CAL Championship and this time did not have to share it with anyone. But they needed help to nail down their first Super Bowl berth.
Lynnfield was in a neck and neck battle with Foxboro for the second spot and needed two out of six other results to go their way to earn enough points to edge them out. And it nearly didn't happen.
According to the explanation in the Villager, Sharon (8-1) was upset by Oliver Ames (5-4) and Westwood (8-1) surprised Holliston (9-0). The Sharon and Westwood wins gave Foxboro two more ratings points since they had beaten both teams.
More bad news came from up north when Amesbury, the only team that beat the Pioneers, defeated Newburyport, depriving them of any points there. However the Pioneers, who were ahead of Foxboro by five ratings points heading into Thanksgiving, picked up points from Wayland (who beat Weston) and finished two points ahead of Foxboro.
That set the stage for the Pioneers to travel to Boston University's Nickerson Field to take on undefeated powerhouse Lincoln Sudbury in the Division Three Super Bowl the following week. L/S would roll into the championship game riding a 24 game winning streak and looked to be a formidable foe for the Pioneers.
"No matter what happens, win or lose, there's going to be a letdown when we play our last game," Adams told Villager reporter David Angelini after the game. "This team means more to me than the Super Bowl."
Next: Facing a Super Test at BU.
The Pioneers led Foxboro by only a half point in the complex ratings in use in those days. The ratings system valued wins against teams in higher or lower divisions and also took into account wins by teams that you had beaten. Lynnfield would need some other right things to happen to finish in the top two.
But they couldn't control any of those variables. What they could control was making sure they focused on beating their traditional rivals.
The Pioneers rolled into the holiday game 8-1 after solid wins against Ipswich and Hamilton Wenham. The Hornets struggled and limped into the game with a 2-7 mark. On paper it looked like a mismatch. In true Belichickean style, Lynnfield head coach Bill Adams did his best to pump up the Hornets' tires.
"North Reading has nothing to lose and everything to gain," Adams told Villager reporter Rob Irion before the game. "It's an opportunity for them to go out and make their season a success. They have a lot of incentive - they're not going to roll over and die."
"It's a different season," Adams continued to lather it on. "I have to feel that North Reading will come out very intense and play their best game of the season."
Nice try by the coach, but the game played out the way it appeared that it would.
The Pioneers rattled the Hornets early as the visitors coughed up the ball twice early in the contest. The Pioneers took advantage and jumped out to a two touchdown lead in the first quarter on a one yard dive by Todd Coviello and a 30 yard TD pass from Dave Frontero to Bill Aldenberg. A teeth rattling tackle by Darrell Carty and Mike Pascucci forced the fumble to set up the first score and a diving interception by Mark Sutera set up the second.
Coviello barrelled in from the three in the second quarter to give the Pioneers a 21-0 lead at the half.
Carty had 8 tackles in the first half to lead a smothering Pioneer defense.
Jason Mochi broke through for a three yard run in the fourth to make it an official blowout at 27-0. The Hornets scored late to finally get on the board but this one was never in doubt.
The Pioneers wrapped up their second straight CAL Championship and this time did not have to share it with anyone. But they needed help to nail down their first Super Bowl berth.
Lynnfield was in a neck and neck battle with Foxboro for the second spot and needed two out of six other results to go their way to earn enough points to edge them out. And it nearly didn't happen.
According to the explanation in the Villager, Sharon (8-1) was upset by Oliver Ames (5-4) and Westwood (8-1) surprised Holliston (9-0). The Sharon and Westwood wins gave Foxboro two more ratings points since they had beaten both teams.
More bad news came from up north when Amesbury, the only team that beat the Pioneers, defeated Newburyport, depriving them of any points there. However the Pioneers, who were ahead of Foxboro by five ratings points heading into Thanksgiving, picked up points from Wayland (who beat Weston) and finished two points ahead of Foxboro.
That set the stage for the Pioneers to travel to Boston University's Nickerson Field to take on undefeated powerhouse Lincoln Sudbury in the Division Three Super Bowl the following week. L/S would roll into the championship game riding a 24 game winning streak and looked to be a formidable foe for the Pioneers.
"No matter what happens, win or lose, there's going to be a letdown when we play our last game," Adams told Villager reporter David Angelini after the game. "This team means more to me than the Super Bowl."
Next: Facing a Super Test at BU.
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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