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Pentucket

Fri, Nov 14, 2008 07:00 PM @ North Andover
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Pentucket 12 8 0 13 33
North Andover 7 7 0 0 14

Pentucket runs away from North Andover

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Friday, November, 14 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

NORTH ANDOVER — The start certainly wasn’t a tip-off to the finish.

Both Pentucket and North Andover had its offenses clicking from the get-go. Scarlet Knight freshman quarterback Brandon Walsh and wideout Aaron Brunette were an unstoppable team while the special teams created excellent field position. On the other side, the offensive line for the Sachems made stars of the backfield while converting almost every third- and fourth-down attempt, giving the Green a 20-14 edge at the break.

But Pentucket’s second-half defense enveloped North Andover like the warm November fog hovering over Hayes Stadium, cutting production by almost two-thirds (154 yards down to 53). Possessions that were starting around midfield now were pushed back to the 25. And standout running back Zac Iovanella (64 yards on 15 carries, one touchdown) wasn’t allowed to bust loose.

And all the while, the Sachem ground game kept on clicking to the tune of 304 yards and eventually a commanding 33-14 victory.

“The defense had a little trouble in the first half,” said Pentucket offensive guard Nick Mottola, “but we got it together and just pounded it at North Andover.”

Brunette ended up with 124 yards on nine catches and a touchdown, the third-best performance in the area this year, but only had three grabs and 32 yards in the second half shutout. Pentucket double-teamed the 6-3 senior to good effect in the late stages and Walsh couldn’t find another productive cog.

“We got out of our rhythm when they doubled Aaron,” North Andover head coach John Rafferty said. “I think Pentucket played better, we played poorly and that continued for the course of the game.”

The Sachems cooked behind Mottola and the “O” line, rewarding senior Dan Johanson (110 yards and Pentucket’s last three touchdowns), junior Austin Perreault (88 yards on eight carries), senior Chris Modlish (104 total yards, 40-yard scoring run and 29-yard TD reception) and even quarterback Jordan Silva (35 yards with two big fourth-down conversions).

“For the seniors, this was our last game under the lights and our last away game,” Mottola said. “It’s great, because we got to run the clock (getting a six-minute possession advantage) and pound the football, which is what we love to do.”

Pentucket grabbed control with 28 seconds left in the third quarter when Dan Dragon got to North Andover’s punter at his own 11 before he could kick the ball. Johanson scored two plays later from the 4 and, after a three-and-out, wrapped up a 10-play march with a 14-yard romp to the end zone with 4:40 left to play.

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

P — Chris Modlish 29 pass from Jordan Silva (kick failed), 7:41

NA — Zac Iovanella 10 run (Dylan Lurvey kick), 4:51

P — Modlish 40 run (pass failed), 1:12 

Second Quarter

NA — Aaron Brunette 24 pass from Brandon Walsh (Lurvey kick), 10:01

P — Dan Johanson 16 run (Johanson pass from Silva), 3:54 

Fourth Quarter

P — Johanson 4 run (run failed), 10:56

P — Johanson 14 run (Silva kick), 4:40

 


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Pentucket (48-304) — Dan Johanson 18-110, Austin Perreault 8-88, Chris Modlish 9-65, Jordan Silva 10-35, Cam Spofford 2-5, C.J. Lataille 1-1; North Andover (23-57) — Zac Iovanella 15-64, Brandon Walsh 5-6, Chris Buco 2-(-2), Dylan Lurvey 1-(-11)

PASSING: Pentucket — Silva 3-6-0, 49; North Andover — Walsh 14-27-0, 150

RECEIVING: Pentucket — Modlish 2-39, Johanson 1-10; North Andover — Brunette 9-124, Buco 4-24, Mike Weisman 1-2

Additional stories:

2 Story Comments

0         GoBigGreen

Great game!! But not to take anything away from Dan Dragon who is an awesome player and a force on defense, but # 52, Jordan Pinzone clobbered that punt. Maybe the writer had a bad angle? Give the kid his props! Go Big Green!

Report! #1 11/15/2008 10:59 AM

0         SachemMom

I'm sure it was just a mistake with the numbers -- #32 (Dragon) and #52 (Pinzone). I know the reporter was at the opposite end of the field, too. Both players had great games, though! Let's end the season with another win over Triton -- go Sachems!

Report! #2 11/17/2008 08:38 AM