Pioneers keep rolling, rout Georgetown

LYNNFIELD – Following last week’s defining victory against Hamilton-Wenham, Lynnfield did what championship-caliber teams do Saturday – take care of business early and efficiently against a decided underdog. The Pioneers scored on their first two plays from scrimmage and their first four possessions in a 35-0 romp past depleted Georgetown.Regardless of the outcomes of next weekend’s games, the win guaranteed that the Pioneers (6-2, 3-0) and North Reading will square off on Thanksgiving Day for the CAL/NEC Tier 4 championship and the playoff berth that goes with it.Quarterback Mike Karavetsos completed 6-of-10 passes for 127 yards and two TDs and added 71 yards rushing. Tyler Palumbo had scoring runs of seven and 45 yards while running back Kyle McGah found the end zone from 58 yards.Meanwhile, the Pioneers’ defense (9.3 ppg) recorded the shutout by repelling Georgetown’s game-opening foray into the red zone, mounting one goal-line stand late in the second quarter and then another to preserve the shutout late in the game. Matthew Kramich and Cameron Rondeau recorded interceptions.”We knew we had to show up and take care of business. They (Georgetown) are young and they’ve had a bunch of injuries but they’re still doing some nice things. They had the nice drive to start the game but we were able to stop them and one play after that Mike had the 81-yard touchdown pass. A play like that can be deflating,” said Lynnfield coach Neal Weidman.Royals quarterback Jackson Fritz completed three passes for 52 yards on that game-opening drive that eventually stalled at the Lynnfield 19. On the Pioneers’ first snap, Karavetsos found Anthony Mancini behind the secondary in stride near midfield and he outraced the pursuit to complete the long-distance score. Alex Roper’s first of five PATs made it 7-0.Less than two minutes later, on the first play after the Lynnfield defense forced a three-and-out, McGah swept the right side untouched for a 58-yard scoring dash and 14-0 lead. Palumbo added to the first-quarter carnage with a seven-yard scoring run in the final minute for a 21-0 lead.Karavetsos connected with Kramich from 21 yards midway through the second quarter and Palumbo rumbled in from 45 yards late in the third to complete the scoring.