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ANDOVER | The torch was passed in Commonwealth Conference football yesterday, but it was far from an easy transfer. In a battle royal before around 300 sun-soaked fans at Gleason Field, a near school-record rushing effort from Nate Adames and an athletic late TD run from quarterback Jonathan Delossantos lifted Greater Lawrence to a satisfying 29-20 victory over defending champ Whittier.

BALDWINVILLE | Knotted at 16-16 in the second quarter, Whittier Tech saw Narragansett Regional High run off 32 points and dominate in a 48-16 win.

It was a tough night overall for the Whittier community as volunteer assistant coach Fred Bradley, the father of head coach Kevin Bradley, was rushed to Gardner Hospital minutes before the game.

Michael Emerson scored a goal and assisted on another, leading Rockport to a 4-0 win over Whittier. Andreas Contreras, Ethan Clarkson and Bob Tibert assisted on the other Rockport goals. Colby Osier and Keady Segal combined for eight saves in the shutout.

Kevin Bradley is a football man through and through. The Whittier Tech coach is no less excited about the sport today than he was during his days as a schoolboy star at Methuen High.

Last Saturday, his Wildcats, who are coming off a trip to the Division 3 EMass. Super Bowl, opened with a 36-32 victory over Charlestown.

HAVERHILL | On the difficulty meter you would have to rank the job of corralling Charlestown's elusive quarterback Jonathan Turner in 93-degree temperatures yesterday somewhere just above trying to catch Red Sox hurler Tim Wakefield with a Little League mitt.

2006 record: 12-1, lost in EMass Division 3 Super Bowl

Returning starters (3): Cam Taylor, Sr., TE/LB, 6-2, 210; Matt Miles, Sr., RB/DB, 5-6, 150; Anthony Rivela, Sr., OL/DL, 6-1, 235

Returning lettermen: Craig Eaton, Sr., RB/CB, 6-2, 180; Cameron Gadd, Jr., TE/DB, 5-6, 145; John Tricomi, Sr., FB/LB, 5-11, 185; Matt Burke, Jr., QB/DB, 6-1, 180; Jim Nickerson, Sr., QB/DB, 5-9, 160; Mike Gertz, Sr., QB/DB, 5-8, 160; Jeff Beauregard, Sr., TE/LB, 6-3, 180; Josh Oliver, Jr., TE/DL, 6-2, 180; Ryan Demaria, Jr., TE/LB, 5-10, 175; Tyler Page, Jr., RB/LB, 5-10, 175; Alan Gosselin, Jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 165; Bryan Trickett, Jr., RB/LB, 6-2, 200; Carlos Candelario, Jr., RB/DB, 5-6, 160; Nathan Buck, Jr., RB/LB, 5-8, 170; John Connor, Sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 190; Corey Chabuz, Jr., OL/DL, 6-4, 290; Pat Scheidegger, Jr., OL/DL, 6-3, 225; Matt Desroches, Sr., OL/DL, 5-7, 240; Bob DeBenedetto, Soph., OL/DL, 6-4, 310; Mike Brown, Jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 250; Jeremy Scannell, Sr., TE/LB, 6-1, 225

2006 record: 4-14, didn't make tourney

Returning starters (7): Dave Campbell, Sr., defense; Zack Drapeau, Sr., defense; Miguel Velez, Sr., defense; Sahin Dayioglu, Sr., forward; Fernando Lazaro, Sr., forward; Andrew Lesiczka, Jr., goalie; Matt Capprini, Soph., defense

HAVERHILL | As Whittier players strolled out of the locker room after the game toward their cars yesterday afternoon, many stopped to take a long look at the scoreboard, where the score was still posted: Whittier 24, Tyngsboro 13.

HAVERHILL | Whittier notched a number of season firsts against Greater Lawrence yesterday.

The Wildcats were shut out in the second half. They suffered their first turnovers of the season. They punted the ball for the first time. And the Reggie offense outgained Whittier in the final 22 minutes, 77 yards to 75.