Lynnfield steps up for an impressive win

LYNNFIELD – Tied midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 21-14 win against Pentucket, Lynnfield High coach Neal Weidman dusted off an oft-practiced but unused gadget play.Lining up to punt on fourth-and-6 from Lynnfield’s own 36, Pioneers up-back Alex Roper – who partially blocked a punt on Pentucket’s previous possession – took a direct snap and lobbed a 14-yard pass to Tyler Palumbo for a first down at midfield.One play later, quarterback Mike Karavetsos found Steve Yobaccio free on the sideline behind the Sachems’ secondary for a 50-yard scoring strike with 5:40 remaining to complete Lynnfield’s climb out of a 14-0 halftime hole and cap a most satisfying win.”They (Pentucket) had nearly gotten a couple earlier. It was a good down and distance and we had to use it eventually – we’ve been practicing it for four years,” Weidman said. “It helps to have our back-up quarterback (Roper) in the position to execute it.”Lynnfield (3-3) executed scoring drives of 80, 99 and 69 yards on its first three second-half possessions, using only 7:04 to run off 23 plays. The defense yielded 87 net yards after the break and denied a Pentucket first down and/or touchdown on fourth-and-inches from just outside the Lynnfield one late in the third quarter when the entire right side of the defense collapsed on the Sachems’ Cody Rothwell, keeping the score at 14-7.”That changed the momentum. A score there makes it awfully tough to come back. What a great effort by the defense after last week (42-35 loss to Danvers),” said Weidman. “They listened to what we told them all week in practice, did what we asked and improved by leaps and bounds.”Junior Andrew Kirabian spearheaded the performance by Lynnfield’s lines. He harassed Pentucket quarterback Ryan Kuchar throughout, had the Pioneers’ lone sack and was credited by Weidman for his role in getting “the best linebacker in the league (Nolan Dragon) blocked.”The offense continued to ride the deceptive Karavetsos, who rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries and completed 7-of-12 passes for 88 yards and the game-winner.”Mike’s a glider. He doesn’t look like he’s running very hard but, for his weight (165 pounds), pound for pound, he’s very strong. And, he’s fast,” said Weidman.Sophomore Kyle McGah continued to emerge as a complementary piece in the absence of senior captain Mike Thomas (shoulder), rumbling for 88 yards on 15 carries.Pentucket (3-3) built its lead on a one-yard run by Dragon (who left in the third quarter with an arm injury) with 7:14 left in the first quarter, set up when the Sachems recovered a punt that glanced off a Lynnfield blocker at the Pioneers’ 19; and on Rothwell’s 11-yard run with 2:14 left in the half.McGah’s fumble at the Pentucket six halted the Pioneers’ best first-half chance. They didn’t cross midfield for the rest of the half but opened the second with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive helped by a pass interference penalty and finished by Karavetsos’ 31-yard TD dash. Roper’s PAT made it 14-7.Following its goal-line stand, Lynnfield covered 99 yards on the ground. Karavetsos’ 29-yard burst brought the Pioneers to their own 41. Five plays later he found the end zone from 35 yards and Roper’s PAT tied it, 14-14, with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.Lynnfield now turns to CAL/NEC Tier 4 play and Weidman feels his young club is ready to compete for the division’s postseason berth.”We’re a little beat up but the good news is we’re battle-tested,” he said.