Lynnfield rebounds, pounds Georgetown

GEORGETOWN – A so-so week of practice had Lynnfield High football coach Neal Weidman concerned the Pioneers were suffering a hangover following their excruciating loss to Hamilton-Wenham on Oct. 29.It took the Pioneers (2-1, 5-4) all of 27 seconds – the length of their first possession – to assuage Weidman’s worries. Lynnfield required only 19 plays and 6:41 elapsed game time while scoring on its first five possessions during a 35-7 romp past Georgetown Saturday afternoon.Junior quarterback Mike Karavetsos passed for two scores and ran for another; sophomore Kyle McGah rumbled for 77 yards and a touchdown; junior Alex Pascucci (92 yards) and senior Steve Yobaccio (38 yards) both hauled in long-distance scoring passes; and the Pioneers welcomed back senior captain Mike Thomas, out for most of the year with a broken collarbone, earlier than expected. Thomas made his one carry count, sprinting 76 yards for the Pioneers’ final score on the first play of the second half.”We didn’t practice great this week, so it’s nice we came out like this after a loss like last week’s. The line blocked well, McGah is getting better each week and Karavetsos has come such a long way,” Weidman said.”I didn’t expect Mike (Thomas) to be back at all this year, maybe for Thanksgiving. We wanted to get him a little work, but not more than a series,” Weidman said.The Pioneers began their first possession at the Georgetown 43 after the defense turned back the Royals’ fourth-and-one bid. McGah’s 21-yard burst was followed by Karavetsos’ 22-yard scoring run. Alex Roper kicked the first of his five PATs for a 7-0 lead with just 2:58 expired.Tyler Wade’s 35-yard punt pinned the Pioneers at their six to start their second possession. No matter – Karavetsos’ perfectly thrown ball on third-and-eight found Pascucci in stride five yards beyond the Georgetown secondary at the Lynnfield 40 and he took it the distance, completing the 92-yard hook-up for a 14-0 edge.Matt Prescott’s 35-yard return of the ensuing kickoff set up the Royals at the Lynnfield 43. Wade completed three passes on the quick five-play drive, capped by sophomore Colby Ingraham’s leaping 18-yard TD grab. Wade’s PAT made it 14-7.The Royals, though, were simply overmatched. McGah’s 24-yard scoring dash finished off a 66-yard drive and Yobaccio’s 38-yard catch and run on a deep slant completed a 59-yard advance. Roper’s PATs sent the Pioneers into the locker room with a 28-7 halftime lead. Thomas’ scoring jaunt to open the second half signaled the day’s end for Lynnfield’s regulars.”It was good get the back-ups some game time, especially (back-up QB) Alex Roper in case we need him,” Weidman said.With the NEC/CAL Tier 4 race all but settled following Hamilton-Wenham’s convincing win against North Reading on Saturday, the Pioneers will focus on taking care of their remaining business – Saturday’s home game against Manchester-Essex and Thanksgiving Day’s visit to North Reading – and let the chips fall where they may.