Solid Start

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive going into the scrimmage at Masco yesterday.

You know, the little ol' Pioneers from Division 3A taking on the big, bad Chieftains from Division 1A?

It wasn't so much the competition factor that concerned me because stepping up to face a favorite in the second highest division in Eastern Mass isn't the worst way to try to improve - kind of like jogging with ankle weights. But the last thing the Pioneers needed at the end of the first week of practice was to suffer some an injury to key a key player or two. There was enough of that last season.

But not to worry.

The Pioneers more than held their own and in fact outplayed and for the most part out hit the Chieftains, winning the varsity portion of the scrimmage 2-0 (touchdowns, not points). Lynnfield's first teamers gained 160 total yards in their 20 plays while holding the Chieftains to 81 yards and keeping them out of the endzone.

"I thought it would be competitive," said Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman after play concluded. "I thought it would be close either 2-0 them or us or 1-1. We've been fairly competitive with them the last couple of years. I think they may have edged out us each year."

I received my first indication that this would be a fair fight when I got to the field and noticed that the Pioneers have some good size again this year, and in fact matched up with Masco pretty evenly in that department.

When I mentioned that to Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman as the teams warmed up he said with a smile, "Yea they're not super big. They decided to be super fast instead."

They then began play in typical scrimmage format - alternating 10 plays each beginning at their own 40 yard line.

The Pioneers went first and and moved to the Masco 25 yard line in the first ten play set. Captain quarterback Mike Karavetsos (5/9, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 Interception) completed two of three passes in the set with the longest play a 13 yarder to senior Mike Soden.

Masco then had their 10 plays and mirrored the Pioneers moving only as far as the Lynnfield 25. The Chieftains ran it seven times and were 0 for 3 passing.

The Pioneers ramped it up on their second ten play set. After an incomplete pass on their first play, Karavetsos connected with senior A. J. Gallo for a 35 yard gain to the Masco 25. Two more runs got the Pioneers to the Chieftain 16 and captain Alex Pascucci swept left end to get it to the eight. After another incomplete pass, junior Kyle McGah rammed it to the four and then Karavetsos carried it in for the score.

The Pioneers still had two plays left in the set and on the first one, Karavetsos found a streaking junior Matt Kramich down the left sideline for a 60 yard touchdown.

On Masco's next set, they were able to get it only to the Lynnfield 20 yard line. The Pioneers held the Chieftains to five yards or less on five running plans and forced two incomplete passes and had one sack. The big Masco play was a 26 yard run.

The Masco second team defeated the Pioneer backups 2-0 scoring twice on their second set of ten. The Pioneers managed only 44 yards of offense to 183 for Masco who scored on a 23 yard run and a 60 yard pass.

The second team matchup really highlighted the difference between the schools.

"It's one of those things where enrollment puts them up in (Division 1A)," explained Weidman. "Any given year if you have a good team, you can be competitive. Where they really have an advantage is in depth. If we have a good team, our top 20 might be able to match up with them, but they get to go further and we get young fast where they have some veteran backups."

Overall, Weidman was happy with the first week of practice.

"Even when practice wasn't going great the kids in general had good attitudes," Weidman said. "They're a really nice group to be around. The week flew by. Hopefully that continues throughout the season."

"Obviously it always starts with the senior leadership which has been great," the coach continued. "But grades nine through twelve is just a nice group of kids. We have some good things going with the jayvee group as well."

The Pioneers were hit with a bit of an injury bug and were playing with less than a full complement, especially on the line.

Nick O'Brien, a new guard from Peabody who had been starting, was out with a groin pull and Joe Dias and Dominic Costa were out as well.

"Costa is a nose guard that is that is splitting time with Zach Panzini," Weidman said. "Dias has really worked his way up and worked himself into the second group at defensive end. So we lost some depth and starters so we were pretty light on the line today. They still did a good job though."

Next up for the Pioneers is a trip to Byfield to tangle with Triton in a scrimmage on Wednesday afternoon around 3:45. The Vikings are coached by former Pioneer assistant coach and captain Pat Sheehan.

Check back Thursday and I'll have a report on that contest.

Also, check out my first preseason article which will appear in the Villager on Wednesday.

That's it for now.