For openers, Pioneers topple Newburyport

LYNNFIELD – There are kinks to work out and adjustments to be made but, all things considered, Lynnfield gave a pretty solid account of itself in Saturday?s season-opening 21-13 Cape Ann League crossover decision over Newburyport.?I think we?re two pretty similar teams. We have some definite kinks to work out but we won,” said Lynnfield coach Neal Weidman. “We played a good team and competed hard for four quarters, so that?s a good start.”While the Pioneers lost heavily from last year?s Division 3A Super Bowl squad, two holdovers led the way. Senior wide receiver Matt Kramich squashed any Newburyport momentum with a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown seconds after the Clippers took a 7-6 lead midway through the third period. Senior back Kyle McGah (16 carries, 80 yards) punched in for the knockout score with 4:01 to play.The middle of the Pioneers? defense held fast against Newburyport?s retro Power I option attack, clogging the middle to take away the dive game while limiting the Clippers to 98 yards rushing.?We knew they planned to be more of an ?I? team this year. They ran it a bit last year. We had the extra time to prepare for it and did a good job. We?re pretty stout on defense. It?s assignment football,” Weidman said.What about those kinks? The Pioneers? first two possessions died in the red zone, on downs at the Newburyport 10 and on a lost fumble at the Clippers? eight. Lynnfield also committed major penalties on Newburyport?s two second-half scoring drives.Lynnfield began the scoring in the final minute of the first half, covering 49 yards in 2:08. Junior quarterback Dan Sullivan delivered on a 4th-and-3 keeper from four yards. The PAT failed, leaving the Pioneers with a 6-0 edge 52 seconds before intermission.Chance Carpenter?s 50-yard kickoff return to the Lynnfield 35 gave the Clippers a legitimate scoring shot before the half but Cam Rondeau intercepted quarterback Mike Shay at the 15 with 19 seconds left in the half.Newburyport seized the initiative to open the second half, sailing 63 yards on 10 plays, highlighted by Trevor Bradbury?s 29-yard burst to the Lynnfield three. Carpenter swept the left side for the score and Brandon Treago?s PAT gave Newburyport a 7-6 lead with 5:40 left in the period.It lasted 16 seconds — the time it took Kramich to find a seam in the middle and outrace three pursuing Clippers for a 78-yard kickoff return. Sullivan?s two-point conversion flip to Rondeau made it 14-7.?We really controlled the first half but even though we were winning, 6-0, it felt like we were losing. Matt?s runback was huge — momentum had switched to them for the first time and he grabbed it right back,” Weidman said.The Pioneers? defense then halted consecutive Newburyport threats on downs at the 25- and 32-yard lines. Following the second, Lynnfield launched the clinching drive, sparked by McGah?s 38-yard rumble to the Newburyport nine. Three plays later he powered in from a yard out and Daniel Bronshvayg?s PAT made it 21-7 with 4:06 to play.?We had the big fourth-down stop, then put the drive together. Danny (Sullivan) did well. This is the first time it?s his team to take and he will continue to get better,” said Weidman.Newburyport didn?t go quietly, countering with a 64-yard scoring drive. Shay completed three passes for 46 yards and Carpenter bounced in from a yard out, cutting the lead to 21-13. However, the Pioneers recovered the ensuing onside kick with 1:09 left and ran out the clock.