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NORTH READING — It didn’t end on a high note, but that can’t diminish North Reading’s season. Yesterday’s 28-10 loss to Thanksgiving rival Lynnfield dropped North Reading to 8-3 for the year. “This was a great season,” said coach Jeff Wall, whose club beat Ipswich in the Division 4 North playoffs before being ousted in the North semis by Watertown. “After losing to Watertown, we asked them to reflect on it and asked them if they were going to continue and play and they have.”  Yesterday began like much of the season — with North Reading hanging tough against a much larger opponent.  The Hornets spotted Lynnfield a long opening-game drive that netted an 8-0 lead, but responded with a 16-play drive of their own. The possession included a pair of third-down conversions and one on fourth down. It took 9:52 off the clock before wrapping up on a 3-yard run by Kyle Bythrow.  “It was the seniors’ last game and they wanted to look back on it and know we left everything we had on the field,” junior running back Matt McCarthy said. “I definitely think we did that. This is the hardest I’ve ever worked with a team. It started in the summer, and it lasted the entire season. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t want (success), and I think our record reflects on that.”  North Reading grabbed a 10-8 lead moments after its touchdown on Angelo Disanto’s third field goal of the year, a 32-yarder. It was set up by Brian Cotter’s fumble recovery at the Pioneer 14.  But Lynnfield (8-3) used its size advantage — lines that included three players at least 6-foot-1 and each weighing closer to 300 than 200 — to wear down the Hornets after intermission. The Pioneers scored the game’s final 20 points, including 14 in the decisive third quarter, to seal the victory.  “The seniors (who have gone 19-14 the past three years) played a huge role in establishing this program,” said coach Wall.  McCarthy was held in check with 20 carries for 59 yards. He still finished the season with area highs in touchdowns (22, tied for first) and rushing yards (1,546). He’ll be back as will sophomore quarterback Bythrow and four of their five offensive linemen. “We’re bringing a lot of kids back,” Wall said. “We’re very excited for next year. I believe we’re bringing back eight on defense and the same on offense, so the future looks bright.”

WEST NEWBURY — Pentucket stormed back from a 21-point halftime deficit to pull off an impressive 28-27 consolation round victory over Lynnfield. The Sachems gambled and made a 2-point conversion late but still had to survive a 25-yard field goal which was narrowly wide left on the final play of the game. Senior running back Kiernan Haley ran for 135 yards and junior quarterback Finn Graham tossed two touchdown passes for the 8-1 Sachems. “We knew we only had a few games left in the season, so we decided to dig deep,” said Haley. “It may not have been a playoff game, but it still feels really good and the atmosphere today was like a playoff game.” Jake McHugh threw two TD passes in the first half and Drew McCarthy (16 carries for 177 yards on the day) scored on a 41-yard run for the Pioneers (6-3). Pentucket registered just 48 yards of total offense in the first two quarters. The second half was a completely different story. Junior Robert Porter took the second-half kickoff to the Lynnfield 36-yard line. Haley, Liam Sheehy and Brennan McGuirk rushed six consecutive times before a 9-yard Graham touchdown pass to Travis Bounsy. After a three and out by Lynnfield, Pentucket drove 52 yards on eight plays capped off by Graham’s 19-yard TD strike to Sheehy. Pentucket shut down the Pioneer passing attack and got the ball back. Sheehy cashed in on a 9-yard TD run. The 2-point conversion failed and Pentucket trailed 21-20 with 5:55 left. McCarthy answered with a 29-yard run but Lynnfield botched the PAT. Haley broke free for a 60-yard run on the first play of the drive before Sheehy punched it in from 1-yard out for his third score of the day. All Pentucket had to do was kick the extra point and the game would be tied, but coach Steve Hayden wanted the win. Graham found a wide-open Haley in the corner of the end zone to give the hosts their first lead of the game. “We knew they could come down the field again so we went for it,” Hayden said. With 3:28 remaining, Lynnfield had one more chance and drove deep into Pentucket territory. But Joe Raimondi came up huge with a tackle on third down to force a 25-yard field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide left as time expired. The Sachems will host Ipswich (5-4) next weekend. Pentucket 28, Lynnfield 27 Lynnfield (6-3):     6     14     0     7 – 27 Pentucket (8-1):     0     0     14     14 – 28 SCORING First Quarter L — Kyle Hawes 23 pass from Jake McHugh (kick failed) Second Quarter L — Drew McCarthy 41 run (McHugh 2-point conversion run) L — Louis Ellis 6 pass from McHugh (Dan Bronshvayg kick) Third Quarter P — Travis Bounsy 9 pass from Finn Graham (Stevie Johanson kick) P — Liam Sheehy 19 pass from Graham (Johanson kick) Fourth Quarter P — Sheehy 9 run (2-point conversion failed) L — McCarthy 29 run (kick failed) P — Sheehy 1 run (Graham pass to Kiernan Haley 2-point conversion) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING: Pentucket — Kiernan Haley 15-134, Liam Sheehy 13-69, Brennan McGuirk 3-19, Finn Graham 1-10; Lynnfield — Drew McCarthy 16-177, Jake McHugh 12-31, Nick Kinnon 1-4 PASSING: Pentucket — Graham 5-8-49, 0 intercept; Lynnfield — Jake McHugh 15-23-158, 0 intercept RECEIVING: Pentucket — Travis Bounsy 2-24, Liam Sheehy 2-23, Kiernan Haley 1-2; Lynnfield — Kyle Hawes 6-68, Ricky Johnson 3-46, Drew McCarthy 3-29, Louis Ellis 2-24, Dan Bronshvayg 2-10, CJ Finn 1-7