by Tom Condardo
Oh the weather outside was frightful, but the game was so delightful.
I know, we are barely past Halloween, so what's with the Christmas reference? Well everyone else is doing it, and the nip in the air Saturday night certainly made it feel like we were already in the holiday season.
For those questioning the Pioneers' bona fides because of their less-than-taxing schedule, this game proved to be an answer. It doesn't guarantee anything since the games only get tougher from here, but the way the Pioneers shut down a highly flammable Sachem offense and basically had their way with the Saugus defense certainly bodes well for the future.
The concern going in was obviously the weather. Not so much the rain, but the wind. As I mentioned in my preview, there was some trepidation getting into a run game battle with a team that is almost 100% run oriented and having half the Pioneer offense taken away.
As it turns out, the wind wasn't as bad as predicted and the Pioneer offense operated pretty much as it has all year. For the season the Pioneers have attempted 65 passes in 334 plays (19%). Against Saugus, they threw eight times in 47 plays (17%). The output was pretty much the same as well. For the season 1,059 out of 2,947 yards (35%) have come via the pass. Saturday night it was 87 out of 294 yards (30%). The missing component was the bomb. Danny Sullivan's longest completion was the 23 yard TD pass to Cam Rondeau.
Sullivan Shines
Speaking of the quarterback, everyone knew there was going to be a dangerous running quarterback on the field wearing number 2. But most expected it to be the Sachem's Justin Winn who has had a remarkable season running the Triple Option.
However it was the number two in navy blue who stole the show as Sullivan erupted for 180 yards on 11 carries (16 yards per carry average). He scored one touchdown running and threw for two more giving him 14 on the season. He even channelled his inner Gino Cohee, running the famous quarterback draw that former Pioneer QB ran with great success from 2007-2010.
Sullivan's NFL passer rating in the game was an amazing 156.25, just shy of a perfect 158.3. If he had thrown for three more yards he would have had a perfect score. For the season, his rating is an incredible 143.6.
View From the Booth
As for the weather, the biggest problem was that it forced me into the dry, heated press box. I
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| Photo by Jack Schnelle |
It's actually more the wind. I've done games under an umbrella on the sideline, but I was fearful I might take off, Mary Poppins style, with some of the wind gusts whipping around.
I have to admit it was warm and toasty in there though.
Second Verse Same As The First
This was the second year in a row the Pioneers have played Saugus. The Sachems returned nearly the same players, a year older and better, but the stats were similar.
Last year, the Sachems rushed for 316 yards - 166 from Dan Cacciola and 61 from Winn. Winn was 1 for 8 for 13 yards. Saturday night, the Sachems ran for 249 yards - 148 from Cacciola and 42 from Winn. Winn was 1 for 3 for -6 yards passing.
In last year's game, the Pioneers ran for 376 yards and threw for 67. Kyle McGah carried 16 times for 132 yards and 3 TD's. Jake Rourke had 87, Matt Kramich had 85, and Sullivan had 58.
This year, the Pioneers picked up 294 yards on the ground and threw for 87. Rourke had 106 yards and 3 TDs. The biggest difference was Sullivan. He ran for 180 and a score and threw for two more.
Diminishing Returns
Pioneer fans were a bit concerned when the Sachems came out and moved the ball fairly easily on their first two drives. The Lynnfield D stiffened and forced a turnover on downs twice, which was the turning point in the game.
It also turned out to be the Sachems best offensive shot. Their yardage by quarter: 100-74-22-39. First downs by quarter: 5-4-1-1.
Life Begins at 40
This was the fourth game this year the Pioneers have score 40 or more points. You can take that for granted until you start to realize how hard it is to do. To put it in perspective, it's only been done 27 times in the history of LHS football. Amazingly, 12 of those have happened since 2010.
The first of the 12 came in a 42-21 win over Bishop Fenwick in 2010. Prior to that, the Pioneers hadn't done the trick since a 55-0 win over Masco in 1985. That's 25 years between 40+ point game. Prior to that 1985 game, it hadn't been done since 1978. So in the 31 seasons from 1979 to 2009, the Pioneers scored 40 or more points a grand total of...once.
The only other team to score over 40 in four or more games was the 1960 squad which did it six times. All six games were actually over 50 points. And three of those were 60+ points.
Leading Men
The incredible 295-26 scoring advantage puts the Pioneers at the top of a couple of lists, which shouldn't be a shock.
The 295 points scored through eight games is second only to that 1960 team which had 388 after the first eight. Defensively, the Pioneers stand alone. The 26 points is the fewest allowed in the first eight games in LHS history. The 1962 is second with 32 points allowed.
Maiden Voyage
You knew it had to end eventually, but it took nearly two and a half games for an opponent to score at new LHS stadium. Cacciola's 19 yard run early in the second quarter was the first score in the visitor end zone. The Pioneers have now outscored their opponents 125-6 in their new home.
Even Steven
The win evens the Pioneers' all time series with the Sachems at 2-2.
That's it for now. Check back later in the week when I'll take a look at the division playoffs.
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