RallyNorth.net

KINGSTON — Sanborn's first-year varsity football team got the message yesterday afternoon and delivered big time. Just as head coach Vincent Pettis wanted, the Indians got out to a fast start and then held on for a 23-20 victory — their first since reviving the program — over Division 3 Hollis-Brookline. "The kids were really excited and they should be," said Pettis. "We told them all week that this was a game they could win if they got off to a good start and played well." In fact, the Indians jumped out to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter. Senior Joe Murphy scored first on a stunning 70-yard run and then ran in the extra points for an 8-0 lead. That was followed by a 5-yard TD pass from quarterback Jared Hillerby to Kyle Nadeau. An extra-point kick by freshman Glen Smith — his first of the year — made it 15-0. Hollis-Brookline made it 15-7 in the first quarter but, on probably the key play of the game, Murphy threw a 44-yard option pass for a touchdown to Ben Ferandi with just 12 seconds left in the half. Armin Rak ran in for two points to make it 23-7. Hollis-Brookline scored twice in the second half, but a late Sanborn drive notched two first downs to run out the clock. Murphy finished a superb game with 132 yards on just 13 carries in addition to throwing the TD pass. Defensively, inside linebackers Kyle Nadeau and Rak had 11 and nine tackles respevctively and Andrew Nelson knocked down three passes and was in on six tackles. "Hopefully, this will give the kids some confidence and we can win another game or two," said Pettis.

Whittier showed its best depth of the season and came away with the title at the 10-team Dan Gionet tournament in Pelham. The Wildcats didn't crown one champion, but they had eight placers, led by runners-up Garret Gadd (125) and Corey Chabuz (heavyweight).

It was a great day for Lancers at the Haverhill Invitational yesterday.

And it was a particularly good day for the Lawrence Lancers, who captured their second straight Haverhill Invitational title, rolling up 199<1/2> points to edge the runner-up Londonderry Lancers (174<1/2>) for top honors.