Hamilton-Wenham Game Preview: Deja Vu All Over Again

By Tom Condardo

For the past four years, the Hamilton Wenham Generals and the Lynnfield Pioneers have hoarded the championship trophy in whatever league they've been in. Along the way, they've had to get by each other to reach the promised land.
 
In 2009, the Pioneers clinched the CAL Small championship at the Middle School Field with a 21-3 victory.

In 2010, the Generals returned the favor by capturing the CAL Small title with a 16-15 come from behind win on a last minute field goal.

In 2011, H-W again came from behind, this time in Lynnfield, to tie the game in the final minute and win it 22-14 in overtime. It didn't clinch the CAL/NEC 4, but everyone knew the Pioneers were the only real obstacle for the Generals that year. H-W went on to win their final three league games by a score of 102-34 enroute to the championship and a second straight trip to the playoffs, and a berth in the Division 3A Superbowl. Only a first half injury to quarterback Trevor Lyons prevented them from winning it all.

Last year, the Pioneers downed the Generals 25-14 on the way to sweeping the CAL/NEC 4 and earning a post season trip and a visit to Foxboro. H-W finished in third behind North Reading.

2009: 21-3 Title Celebration

2010: 16-15 James Brao's 25 yard heartbreaking Field Goal

2011: 22-14 OT Shocker

2012: 25-14 On the road to another championship

Saturday at Pioneer Field can be another title clincher, but only for the Pioneers. Lynnfield is 3-0 with H-W and Amesbury a game behind at 2-1. A Pioneer win puts the Generals two games down with one to play which would eliminate them from title contention. With a win, Lynnfield could finish no worse than 4-1 and they own the head to head tiebreaker against the Indians should they run the table and finish with the same record.

The path to the title is more difficult for H-W. First they must beat Lynnfield. Then they have to root for either Manchester Essex or Georgetown to knock off Amesbury since the Indians own the head to head tiebreaker thanks to their 20-13 win two weeks ago. The only other chance for H-W would be some multiple
team tie that would bring forth the "points against" tiebreaker. One thing is clear. For the Generals it all has to start with a win over the Pioneers.

So needless to say, the stakes are high for both teams.

"We've had a lot of these games with them," Pioneer coach Neal Weidman told me. "We'll have to be ready to play."

Sluggish Start
The Generals have sputtered so far this year, coming in to the game with an uncharacteristic 2-3 overall record. Returning 13 seniors and losing only seven to graduation, more was expected. Unfortunately, one of the graduates was All League quarterback Trevor Lyons.

H-W was crushed by Bishop Fenwick 54-27 which is nothing to be ashamed of since the Crusaders might be the best team on the North Shore. The Generals suffered a blow in that game losing sophomore running back Cam Macri. He's been out since then but is expected back for the Pioneers.

The Generals were shut out by North Reading 16-0 in game two but were able to contain the Hornets' single wing offense. They also moved the ball offensively but couldn't cash in on their opportunities. H-W broke into the win column with a 28-14 win over Ipswich in a Thanksgiving Preview game in Week three.

The stunner came in Week Four when they traveled to Amesbury to take on an Indian team that was 0-3 and had been giving up 40 points a game. Amesbury upset the Generals 20-13 to put them in the predicament in which they now find themselves. They righted the ship last week with a 14-6 win over Manchester Essex, but every game is now a must win if they hope to make the playoffs.

"With Macri back they'll have all their weapons and will be ready to go," Weidman said.

The Generals defeated M/E using a ground game led by Ian Dickey who has scored six touchdowns in Macri's absence. The running game should be improved, but they also have a dangerous passing game as well with a bevy of outside and inside receivers.

Quarterback Jack Clay can throw to Christian Ecker (last year's leading receiver with 400 yards and nine TD's), James Campbell, Pete Duval, as well as a couple of big tight ends in Alex Rogers and Nolan Wilson. The Pioneers are going to have to put pressure on Clay so he doesn't have time to find his targets.

"(Clay) is getting better," said Weidman. "From what I understand, he was a little shaky early in the year but when I saw him, he threw the ball quite well. They have a really good sized line and definitely some guys they can go to."

Eye on the "I"
The General offense is no mystery to the Pioneers' coach.

"Typical Hamilton-Wenham stuff," Weidman said. "They're in the "I" a lot under center with the "I" pass game. They're going to try to run the ball right at you and they're going to throw the ball. They'll run a lot of screens. That's the "I."

It'll be interesting to see where the Generals attack the Pioneers. Except for the Saugus option which clearly confused the Pioneers and went for 316 yards, Lynnfield has been tough to run on. In their other five games, they've allowed only 259 yards or 65 yards per game. In the passing game, the Pioneers have held opponents to 38% completion rate (23/60) for 307 yards. The Generals can go either way and the Pioneers will have to be ready.

Duval and Nathan Rawlins lead the solid General defense.

The championship title isn't the only thing that Weidman is concerned about.

"We really need to focus on not only that the game is for a championship, but on getting better," he said. "It's going to be emotional."

Game time is 2 pm but it's also Senior Day which is an exciting time for the team's outgoing class so make sure to get to the field early to enjoy the festivities.