Last season, Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman talked about beefing up his non league schedule after a noticeably soft 2010 slate of non-CAL games.
Just to refresh your memory, in 2010 the defending CAL Small champion Pioneers sliced through non league opponents Manchester-Essex (prior to them joining the CAL/NEC last season), Bishop Fenwick, Cathedral, Danvers and Chelsea. They pounded out five wins by the aggregate score of 187-45. Adding in a 35-0 romp over a struggling Georgetown team in a league game launched the Pioneers to a 6-0 mark heading into the meat of the CAL Small schedule.
Newburyport, with a pedestrian 3-4 record, stunned the unbeaten Pioneers 24-7 effectively ending Lynnfield's title defense. The Pioneers would also suffer a heartbreaking 16-15 heartbreaking loss to Hamilton-Wenham, but the damage had already been done by the Clippers.
Weidman admitted that the Pioneers weren't necessarily well served by their weaker non league schedule and decided to toughen things up for 2011.
So last season, out went Cathedral and Chelsea and in popped St. Mary's and Pentucket, significant steps up in competition. The Pioneers held their own in their first half non league schedule, falling to Newburyport and beating Amesbury (formerly league games but now nonleague because of the CAL/NEC merger). They went on to handle Bishop Fenwick easily but fell hard to powerhouse St. Mary's. The lost a shootout to Danvers and finished the first half of the season strong with an impressive comeback win over Pentucket.
With a 3-3 non league slate, the Pioneers were certainly "battle tested" as Weidman had predicted, but they also were a bit beat up as seniors began falling like flies which hampered them as they began their CAL/NEC 4 schedule.
They edged Ipswich to start the league slate and then had eventual league champion Hamilton-Wenham beaten only to have the Generals tie the game at the end and win it in overtime. That seemed to take the wind out of the Pioneer sails. They rebounded from the H-W heartbreater to cruise past a Georgetown team in disarray, but they were upset by Manchester Essex on Senior Day. The Pioneers ended up playing on Thanksgiving without their top two quarterbacks, and went on to lose to rising power North Reading to finish the year 5-6.
So what does 2012 have in store?
Well the schedule is almost identical with only one change. The Pioneers will not be playing St. Mary's and will instead have a bye on the last weekend of September. The break is something they probably could have used last season as the bumps, bruises and injuries mounted.
"If you count preseason, week four is right in the middle of the season," Weidman explained. "I felt like we needed it right there. Last year I felt like we were a little worn down at the end of the season so hopefully this helps us out."
But even though the schedule features the same teams as last year, the degree of difficulty will definitely be going up.
The Pioneers will be improved as well, with lots of talent and experience returning, but nearly all of the teams they will be facing have gotten better as well.
The most obvious area of improvement in Lynnfield's opponents this year will be under center. Last season, of the Pioneers' eleven opponents, nine started new quarterbacks. Of the two that returned starting signal callers, one was Georgetown, which was totally inexperienced everywhere else on the field, and St. Mary's whose quarterback's main role was to hand off in their frightening double wing offense. The Pioneers as well were in the same boat with Mike Karavetsos playing varsity quarterback for the first time last season.
Well Karavetsos turned in a stellar season, earning All League honors for his work.
However of the Pioneers' ten opponents this year, eight will be returning their quarterback, including Hamilton-Wenham which will again feature last season's CAL/NEC 4 Player of the Year Trevor Lyons.
There are several interesting twists to the Pioneers' 2012 schedule. First they will be playing only four home games, one of which is the traditional Thanksgiving Day game against North Reading. They will also be playing four road night games.
In fact, the season starts with three straight games under the Friday night lights, followed by a their bye week. So if you want to catch the Pioneers at home on a Saturday afternoon, you'll have to wait until October 6.
"It will be three tough ones to start: Newburyport, Amesbury, Bishop Fenwick all on the road," Weidman said.
So for this month's post, I thought I'd do the first of a two part look at the Pioneers upcoming schedule. This month we'll look at their five non league opponents and then in June I'll review their CAL/NEC 4 opponents.
Let's get to it.
Friday, September 7 @ Newburyport
I used to say that the Pioneers' trip to Newburyport every other year was like visiting the dentist, but going through some root canal surgery is actually more pleasant.
But this is the year Lynnfield goes north to their personal house of horrors at War Memorial Stadium and it will be a tough trip once again. The Pioneers are 8-31 against Newburyport all time, their worst record against any opponent. In Newburyport, the record is even more dismal. They have beaten the Clippers on the road only three times in 19 trips.
The task appears to be as formidable this year as well.
The Clippers are coming off a 9-2 season in which they took the CAL/NEC 3 crown with a 5-0 mark. They lost to Hamilton-Wenham 7-0 in the playoffs on a last minute touchdown run by Lyons. They graduate only seven players and return 14 seniors.
Returning will be quarterback Connor Wile, with a full year under his belt. He riddled the Pioneers on opening day last season in a 27-14 Clipper win, going 12 for 19 for 167 yards and 2 TD's in his first varsity game at QB. He led Division 3A with 20 TD passes. Of course he was throwing to all everything receiver Bret Fontaine, who graduated. In his place though is brother Colten. Also returning is running back Tyler Cusack and most of their offensive and defensive lines.
"They are going to be very good," Weidman said. "Our non league schedule is very tough again this year which is what we want. It will prepare us for our league games."
It certainly will be a challenging way for the Pioneers to kick off the season.
Friday, September 14 @Amesbury
The Pioneers will take another trip to the New Hampshire border in Week Two when they travel to Landry Stadium in Amesbury to take on the Fighting Indians. The Pioneers and Indians have staged white-knuckle specials for the past five years with the games being decided by five points or less in four of those five games.
In 2007 the Indians edged the Pioneers 20-15. The following year, Lynnfield outplayed the eventual CAL Small champs but fell to a late Amesbury comeback on the road 13-12. In 2009, the Pioneers needed the famous late game strip by Evan Panzero and a fumble return by Tim Lamusta to pull out a 14-10 game in which they were outplayed. In 2010, the Pioneers trailed 13-7 at halftime but roared back in the second half to take a 30-13 win. Then last year, the Pioneers needed another fumble recovery return, this one by A. J. Gallo who scooped up the ball that was popped loose on a great play by D. J. DeGeorge. That gave the Pioneers a 14-13 win in another game in which they were outplayed by the Indians.
Amesbury posted a 4-7 record last year, going 1-4 in the CAL/NEC 3. They graduated 16 players but will still have 14 seniors. They lost their frightening running attack of Delante Castle, C. J. Collins and Stevan Deas but return quarterback Matt Talbot who is almost as dangerous a runner as a passer. He carried 15 times for 82 yards in his second varsity game last year against Lynnfield. He will also get back receiver Devlin Gobeil who caught four passes for 33 yards against the Pioneers and had three TD receptions on the year.
There's no reason to think this year won't be another close battle with these two teams.
"They were young last year so they'll be good," Weidman said. "That will definitely be a test."
Friday, September 21 @ Bishop Fenwick
This will be the third meeting ever between the Pioneers and Crusaders, and Lynnfield has pretty much had its way in the first two encounters. They posted a 42-21 win in Peabody in 2010 then routed a very young Fenwick team 35-8 at the Middle School last year.
The problem for the Pioneers is that most of that team returns intact with only seven players lost to graduation. They will have only six seniors, but they have 14 juniors, most of whom played last season.
Two key players that will be back are junior quarterback Nick Bona and the best named running back ever in Rufus Rushins.
Bona took his lumps last year as a sophomore but undoubtedly will come back stronger for the experience. He was 4 of 14 for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Pioneers last year.
Rushins is a man-child who played as a 6'1" 220 lb freshman last season. The Pioneers kept him in check, holding him to 38 yards on eight carries but he got untracked as the season went on. He finished with 11 touchdowns and 70 points and will be a LOAD this year.
The Crusaders also get back junior running backs James Traversy and Nick Tambini.
Fenwick finished 3-8 last year, 2-3 in the Catholic Central Large, but will be looking to build off an impressive 42-29 Thanksgiving Day win over Austin Prep.
"That's another team that was young last year and will be improved," Weidman said.
Saturday, October 6 vs. Danvers
After a week off, the Pioneers finally get to play on their home turf when they return to the Middle School field for their home opener against Danvers.
This will be the fourth straight year the Pioneers will be playing the Falcons and Lynnfield holds a 2-1 advantage. They dropped Danvers 14-6 in 2009 in a game widely seen as a key win in the Pioneers' run to the CAL Small championship. The Pioneers handled the Falcons easily in a 40-18 win in 2010 and then last year the two teams combined for 77 points in a 42-35 Danvers win.
It was the first time in the 54 year history of Lynnfield High football that the Pioneers scored 35 points or more and lost. It tied for the most combined points scored in a Pioneer game, matching the total of the 49-28 loss to Saugus in 2008.
The Falcons finished the season 4-7, 1-4 in the NEC/CAL 2 and graduate 14 seniors including shifty running back Nick Valles, who torched the Pioneers for 132 yards and a pair of TD's last year. Also gone is quarterback Paul Nicolo and running back Jake Palazola who ran for 171 yards and two TD's in last year's contest.
They will return 17 seniors including Nick's brother sophomore Alex Valles who picked up 62 yards and caught a pair of passes for 30 yards in last season's game. Also returning is receiver Jake Cawlina who caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
"We've had good games with them over the past few years," said Weidman. "We had the shootout last year and three years ago it was a real close game up there. That's the game where we started to really come into our own."
Saturday, October 13 @ Pentucket
The Pioneers' home stand lasts only one game as they hit the road again to travel to West Newbury to tangle with the always dangerous Pentucket Sachems.
Lynnfield played Pentucket last year for the first time since 2007 and snapped an eight game losing streak against the Sachems with an inspiring 21-14 come from behind win. The Pioneers trailed 14-0 at the half, but staged their biggest comeback since I've been covering the team (1989) to earn the win.
It took a goal line stand, a 99 yard scoring drive, a gutsy fake punt call, three second half touchdowns and an outstanding defensive effort to get it done, but the Pioneers pulled it off in what was one of their most impressive wins of the season.
The Sachems finished the year 6-5, 3-2 in the CAL/NEC 3. They lose only 10 to graduation, but return 14 seniors. They also get back junior quarterback Ryan Kuchar who was 6/17 for 101 yards against the Pioneers. Also back is running back Cody Rothwell who ran for 52 yards and a touchdown against Lynnfield. He will have to pick up the slack left by the graduation of Nolan Dragon who notched 106 points last season.
"It's always tough to play up there," Weidman said. "They will be strong again this year."
That will conclude a very difficult non-league portion of the Pioneer schedule and also bring to an end my May post. I'll be back the first Friday of June to take a look at the Pioneers' CAL/NEC 4 league schedule.
Check back then and in the meantime, Happy Mother's Day to all the Pioneer Moms.
Friday, September 14 @Amesbury
The Pioneers will take another trip to the New Hampshire border in Week Two when they travel to Landry Stadium in Amesbury to take on the Fighting Indians. The Pioneers and Indians have staged white-knuckle specials for the past five years with the games being decided by five points or less in four of those five games.
Amesbury posted a 4-7 record last year, going 1-4 in the CAL/NEC 3. They graduated 16 players but will still have 14 seniors. They lost their frightening running attack of Delante Castle, C. J. Collins and Stevan Deas but return quarterback Matt Talbot who is almost as dangerous a runner as a passer. He carried 15 times for 82 yards in his second varsity game last year against Lynnfield. He will also get back receiver Devlin Gobeil who caught four passes for 33 yards against the Pioneers and had three TD receptions on the year.
There's no reason to think this year won't be another close battle with these two teams.
"They were young last year so they'll be good," Weidman said. "That will definitely be a test."
Friday, September 21 @ Bishop Fenwick
This will be the third meeting ever between the Pioneers and Crusaders, and Lynnfield has pretty much had its way in the first two encounters. They posted a 42-21 win in Peabody in 2010 then routed a very young Fenwick team 35-8 at the Middle School last year.
Two key players that will be back are junior quarterback Nick Bona and the best named running back ever in Rufus Rushins.
Bona took his lumps last year as a sophomore but undoubtedly will come back stronger for the experience. He was 4 of 14 for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Pioneers last year.
Rushins is a man-child who played as a 6'1" 220 lb freshman last season. The Pioneers kept him in check, holding him to 38 yards on eight carries but he got untracked as the season went on. He finished with 11 touchdowns and 70 points and will be a LOAD this year.
The Crusaders also get back junior running backs James Traversy and Nick Tambini.
Fenwick finished 3-8 last year, 2-3 in the Catholic Central Large, but will be looking to build off an impressive 42-29 Thanksgiving Day win over Austin Prep.
"That's another team that was young last year and will be improved," Weidman said.
Saturday, October 6 vs. Danvers
After a week off, the Pioneers finally get to play on their home turf when they return to the Middle School field for their home opener against Danvers.
It was the first time in the 54 year history of Lynnfield High football that the Pioneers scored 35 points or more and lost. It tied for the most combined points scored in a Pioneer game, matching the total of the 49-28 loss to Saugus in 2008.
The Falcons finished the season 4-7, 1-4 in the NEC/CAL 2 and graduate 14 seniors including shifty running back Nick Valles, who torched the Pioneers for 132 yards and a pair of TD's last year. Also gone is quarterback Paul Nicolo and running back Jake Palazola who ran for 171 yards and two TD's in last year's contest.
They will return 17 seniors including Nick's brother sophomore Alex Valles who picked up 62 yards and caught a pair of passes for 30 yards in last season's game. Also returning is receiver Jake Cawlina who caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
"We've had good games with them over the past few years," said Weidman. "We had the shootout last year and three years ago it was a real close game up there. That's the game where we started to really come into our own."
Saturday, October 13 @ Pentucket
The Pioneers' home stand lasts only one game as they hit the road again to travel to West Newbury to tangle with the always dangerous Pentucket Sachems.
It took a goal line stand, a 99 yard scoring drive, a gutsy fake punt call, three second half touchdowns and an outstanding defensive effort to get it done, but the Pioneers pulled it off in what was one of their most impressive wins of the season.
The Sachems finished the year 6-5, 3-2 in the CAL/NEC 3. They lose only 10 to graduation, but return 14 seniors. They also get back junior quarterback Ryan Kuchar who was 6/17 for 101 yards against the Pioneers. Also back is running back Cody Rothwell who ran for 52 yards and a touchdown against Lynnfield. He will have to pick up the slack left by the graduation of Nolan Dragon who notched 106 points last season.
"It's always tough to play up there," Weidman said. "They will be strong again this year."
That will conclude a very difficult non-league portion of the Pioneer schedule and also bring to an end my May post. I'll be back the first Friday of June to take a look at the Pioneers' CAL/NEC 4 league schedule.
Check back then and in the meantime, Happy Mother's Day to all the Pioneer Moms.
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