Start with an impressive front four led by Curran O'Connor (6'4, 230 lbs) and Matt Napoli (6'0" 200 lbs). Amesbury backs up that stout line with three agressive linebacker. Mroz in the middle is the anchor with Mac Short and Connors hard hitters from the outside.
Lynnfield's O line of captains Andrew Kibarian and D. J. DeGeorge, along with Nick O'Brien, Connor Lordan, Cam DeGeorge and Al Maclachlan are going to have to neutralize that strong front seven if the Pioneer offense is to get untracked.
Defensively, Kibarian, DeGeorge and Mike Soden will have their hands full with a big offensive line and and a tweaked new Indian offense
It's very Ipswich-like with double threat quarterback Matt Talbot (who Tom Waisnor, Voice of the Pioneers, keeps telling me killed Lynnfield in youth football) at the controls. Talbot is a better runner than passer, but his throwing improved significantly last year and he should be even more dangerous this season especially when he looks for 6'3" receiver Devlin Gobeil. The pair connected for two touchdowns against Manchester-Essex Friday night.
The Indians were impressive in their 28-7 win over an improved Manchester-Essex team last Friday, but the Hornets had some opportunities that they left on the field. Several dropped passes and a number of false starts kept M/E out of synch all game. Then again, the Amesbury defense probably had something to do with it.
The Indians are deep and experienced with 14 seniors and many returning starters. Dan Guttenplan, Sports Editor of the Newburyport News, did a solid on-line interview with Amesbury head coach Thom Connors on an Indians preview and you can access it by clicking on this link.
Guttenplan nailed the Pioneer/Clipper game last week predicting a one point win for Newburyport (14-13) and he is going with the Indians in a 20-13 victory Friday night.
I gave up making predictions a long time ago, but I believe that the Pioneers will be in for another defensive struggle Friday night. They will have to clean up the mistakes from last week, but this Amesbury defense may be even better than Newburyport's do a low scoring contest is probably on tap.
"They are going to be good," agreed Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman. "They have tons of guys coming back. They'll be a tough, physical team too. They always are especially playing them up there on a Friday night."
One thing is for sure. If you'll be making the trip to Landry Stadium in Amesbury Friday night, plan on staying for the whole game.
Recent history tells us that this one will come down to the final quarter and perhaps even the final minutes.
Why?
Because that has been the case in the last five games between the schools. In all five contests the eventual winner staged a come-from-behind rally to earn the win - twice in the third quarter and three times in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers have won the last three and the Indians won the two before that.
These two teams know how to put on a show. Now past performance is no guarantee of future results, as they say, but let's take a look at the last five games between these two schools as a potential indicator of what we are in for Friday night.
2011 - Amesbury outplayed the Pioneers last season but the teams went in tied 7-7 at the half. In the third quarter, the Indians were driving for what looked to be the go ahead score when D. J. DeGeorge stuck his helmet on the ball carried by Delante Castle, popping it loose. A. J. Gallo scooped it up at the 27 and roared all the way for the touchdown giving the Pioneers a 14-7 lead. As usual, Amesbury came back and scored early in the fourth quarter but Tyler Palumbo preserved the one point lead by blocking the PAT. The Pioneers hung on for the 14-13 win.
2010 - At Landry Stadium, the Indians again outplayed the Pioneers in the first half taking a 13-7 lead at the break. Lynnfield roared out of the locker room for the second half and exploded for 23 unanswered points to take the 30-13 win. This is the only game of the past five that has been decided by more than five points.
2009 - Same story for the Pioneers as the 1-4 Indians outplayed the 5-1 home team for most of the game. Amesbury led 10-7 with six minutes left in the game when Evan Panzero stripped Indian running back Jesse Burrel at the Amesbury 33. Tim Lamusta gathered in the fumble at the 30 yard line, never broke stride and cruised into the endzone for the winning score. The Pioneers went on to win the CAL Small and make their first playoff appearance since 1986.
2008 - The 1-6 Pioneers strode onto the field at Landry Stadium to face the 5-1 defending league champion Indians with dreams of an upset dancing in their helmets. They were well on their way when record setting Gino Cohee, starting his first varsity game at quarterback, scored twice in the first half giving Lynnfield a 12-0 lead. Amesbury cut the lead to 12-6 and then with just over five minutes to play in the game, speedy quarterback Jared Flanigan got loose for a 63-yard touchdown run. That gave the Indians a 13-12 win and they would not lose again that year. They ran the table to finish 10-1, won their playoff game and captured the Division 3A Superbowl to finish the season 12-1.
2007 - The Indians came to Pioneer Field winless in their first three non league games to take on the 1-3 Pioneers. Lynnfield fell behind 12-0 but a touchdown by Chris Grassi got them on the board. Later Grassi fumbled in the endzone but Tanner Hutchison recovered for the score. Nick Roberts added the PAT and the Pioneers led 13-12. With 2:24 left in the game, the Indians' Marion Wilder leaped the pile for a two yard touchdown and Amesbury added the two points to give them a 20-13 lead. They would have to take a safety later but they would hold on to win 20-15. Amesbury went on to capture the CAL Small with a 4-1 record and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs.
Weidman is not looking forward to having to stage another comeback this year.
"No we'd rather not have to do that," the coach said. "We just have to continue to get better and make sure we don't make the mistakes and move forward."
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There's no way to know what we're in store for Friday night, but if the game matches up to anything we've seen in the last five years, we should be in for a treat. Game time at Landry Stadium is 7 pm.
Pioneer Football Club Fundraiser
The Lynnfield Pioneer Football Club is holding a fundraiser at the 99 on Salem St. in Lynnfield on Monday 9/24 from 5pm to 9pm to support the LHS Football program. Below is a voucher necessary to present to the waitstaff in order for the LPFC to receive a portion of the total check as a donation from the 99.
In addition, Stephanie Hines, coordinator for the event promises there will be lots of fun and interesting baskets that are being raffled off to raise additional funds. It is important to note that the voucher can be used on dine-in, take-out, bar dining and GIFT CARDS!
For any questions or if you need more information contact Stephanie Hines (mom to Connor Lordan, senior) c: 781-696-0808.
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