Amesbury Playoff Leftovers

As the visiting team, Amesbury was introduced first last night at Cawley Stadium. The team formed two lines and the Indian seniors were announced as they ran the gauntlet to the 50 yard line. It was a nice touch especially for this group of Amesbury seniors which include head coach Thom Connnors' son Tommy.

The senior Connors has spoken many times this year about how special this group of seniors is to him, understandably since he watched them grow up and coached them through the ranks. It was a perfectly acceptable and appropriate way for the Indians to be introduced.

Pioneers are introduced as a team before the playoff game

But as it was happening, I just knew the Pioneers would not be following suit.

Sure enough, the Pioneers formed one long line from sideline to sideline with captains D. J. DeGeorge, Tyler Palumbo, Mike Karavetsos, Alex Pascucci and Andrew Kibarian out front. As they marched as a unit to the 50 yard line, the PA system boomed that the Pioneers had elected to be introduced as a team.

Also an appropriate and acceptable gesture. And one that is also understandable if you have ever spoken to head coach Neal Weidman or participated in one of his post game press conferences.

Weidman turns almost Belichickean when asked to comment on individual performances. If you ask about a great performance from a Pioneer running back, he will talk about the offensive line. If you try to get a comment on an interception or two, he will tell you that a defensive lineman was probably in the quarterback's face. He is all about "team" and it has obviously taken root with his champion Pioneers and is also one of the reasons this team has made it as far as it has.

The team gets its attitude and fundamental principles from its head coach and coaching staff. The 2012 Champion Pioneers get the message.

It's all about team.

Stifling Defense
The Pioneer defense has been stingy all year and has gotten even better as the season has gone on. But the ruthless way they dismantled a high-powered Amesbury offense was truly impressive.

Lynnfield had 14 points on the board before the Indians had their initial first down. It was obvious from the start that the Pioneers were keying on quarterback Matt Talbot, the triggerman for the Indian offense. As is the case when facing Trevor Lyons of Hamilton-Wenham, job one is containing a dangerous and athletic signal caller who can run, pass and many times make something out of nothing. That is Matt Talbot.

Against the Pioneers, he was never able to do much of anything. The Indians couldn't run and as has been the pattern with most Lynnfield opponents this year, when the run is stopped they go to the air. When that happens, passes start finding defensive Pioneers. Such was the case again last night as the Lynnfield defense picked off three more passes (two by Matt Kramich and one by Anthony Costa).

That give the Pioneers 19 interceptions on the season or an average of nearly two per game.

"Four turnovers was huge," Weidman said. "Mistakes and turnovers go into that category and we did a good job of forcing those turnovers. It's tough to win when you turn the ball over. You only get so many possessions especially with ten minute quarters where the possessions are even fewer."

Another key part of smothering the Amesbury offense was keeping them off the field and the Pioneer offense did its part there.

"We knew going into it that our goal would have to be to keep their offense off the field and I think we did that pretty well," said Weidman.

That was particularly the case early in the game when Lynnfield set the tone. While the defense was forcing three and outs on the first two Amesbury possessions, the Pioneer offense was reeling off  17 plays, seven first downs and two touchdowns in amassing a 14-0 lead.

"Obviously defensively getting three and outs and being able to hold the ball at times picking up a lot of first downs helped," Weidman said.

Early Sign
One of the first signals that this would be a good night for the Pioneers came on the coin toss. Lynnfield won and elected to defer, which is their custom. They capitalized on the decision by scoring on the opening drive of the second half and taking a 21-7 lead that the Indians could never overcome.

Jump Start
That quick two TD lead jump started the Pioneer effort.

"That was huge," Weidman said of the two first quarter scores. "When they scored to make it 14-7 it was obviously touch and go. We knew we had the ball coming out for the second half. To be able to get down the field and have a good drive there and put a little distance between us was big. I think the kids were really able to settle in and go forward from that point."

Two Way Man
Speaking of Kramich, the junior had a standout game on both sides of the ball. The two interceptions and fumble recovery were huge, but he also made a key play on offense.

Matt Kramich picks up big yardage on a kickoff return

On the Pioneers' opening drive of the second half, Lynnfield moved nicely down the field but nearly stalled at the Indian 18 yard line. Faced with a fourth and eight, Karavetsos drilled a pass to Kramich at the ten yard line and he pulled it in with Connors all over him. He drove forward to the six yard line for the first down. Two plays later Kyle McGah cruised in for the score to make it 21-7.

If Karavetsos and Kramich don't complete that hookup, Amesbury takes over on their own 18, down only one score and it could have been a very different game.

Fool Me Twice
Weidman and the Pioneers dug deep into their bag of tricks on the their final scoring drive pulling out a successful fake punt. Facing a fourth and seven from their own 42, the Pioneers lined up in punt formation, but the snap went directly to the up man Alex Roper who calmly tossed one to Palumbo over the middle who motored 40 yards for a first down to the Amesbury 18. Four McGah runs later, the Pioneers scored their fifth touchdown of the night to go up 35-7 and end any feeble comeback hopes the Indians might have had.

It was the second season in a row the Pioneers used the play. Last year against Pentucket, Lynnfield was tied 14-14 facing a fourth and five from their own 35 midway in the fourth quarter. The same play was called and again Roper hit Palumbo, this time for 15 yards and a first down. On the next play, Karavetsos found Steve Yobaccio down the left sideline with a 50 yard bomb for the eventual winning score in a 21-14 win.

Making His Point
Speaking of Roper, the senior continues to bang through his extra points, connecting on 5 of 5 again last night. It's the third time this year he has pulled off that trick. In the two biggest games of the year against North Reading and Amesbury, Roper is 7 for 7.

That gives Roper 50 PAT's for his career, second only to Steve Ullian's 75 and 14 more than third place David Frontero who booted 36 in 1986-87. Roper now has 29 this season, third behind Ullian's 34 in 2010 and 30 in 2009.

Climbing the Charts
While we are talking records, McGah's four TD's gives him 17 on the season which ties the LHS record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season with Eric Hansen who did it in 1978. The junior also now has 102 points on the season, only the third Pioneer to break the 100 point mark for the season since Hansen in 1978 who tops the single season scoring list with 128. Frank Berardino is in second place with his 120 points scored in 1960.

McGah now has 138 career points, placing him in 8th place on the all time Pioneer scoring list.

Joining the Century Club
McGah joined the 100 career point club earlier this season, and Karavetsos entered that elite group last night when his TD run lifted him to an even 100 points for his career. That is good enough for 13th on the all time LHS scoring list.

Pioneer coaches celebrate win over Amesbury

Another Step
Last night was the third post season appearance for Lynnfield High football and it's first win. This will be the Pioneers' second trip to the Super Bowl. The first appearance in 1986 resulted in a 19-0 loss to Lincoln Sudbury. It would be 23 years until the Pioneers played after Thanksgiving again. In 2009, Lynnfield fell to Austin Prep 22-20 in overtime in the Division 3A playoffs.

That's it for now. Check back tomorrow night for my preview of the Super Bowl.