Football: Many North Shore teams to face first real action Friday

For many of the area?s teams, Friday represents the first week of real action, and that would include the Lynn English and Peabody squads.The Bulldogs and Tanners meet at newly-refurbished Coley Lee Field in Peabody (7), with both teams trying to improve over last year?s records.English is looking to improve on its three-win 2013 season, and the Bulldogs hope their outside speed does the trick. Coach Peter Holey will be relying on quarterback Lucas Harris to steer the ship, and he?s also looking for big things from Stevie Collins, who had to miss last year?s season with a leg injury. Holey won?t have speedy receiver Kyle O?Connor until October, as he is recovering from a knee injury.Other English players to be conscious of are Daquan Shepard and Anthony De La Cruz, both of whom also have speed to burn.On the other sideline, the Tanners are in Season 2 of the Mark Bettencourt era, and, like the Bulldogs, hope to build on last year?s 3-8 season. Unlike English, however, the Tanners did not make the post-season playoffs.Peabody will rely a lot on its offense, with returning quarterback Mike Raymond leading the way. Also in the mix are running backs Doug Santos and Ryan Collins.If there?s an area where Peabody must show improvement, it?s defense, something Bettencourt knows all too well, as that was the Tanners? stumbling block last year as well.Other games Friday:Saugus at Northeast RegionalAt Northeast, on Hemlock Road, Wakefield (7), the Sachems opened their season last Saturday with an excruciating 44-41 loss to Winthrop — a game that saw them leading, at one point, 35-14.On the upside, the Sachems had no problem running the ball, amassing well over 500 yards on the ground, with star back Dan Cacciola garnering 381 of them. But once Winthrop quarterback Dylan Driscoll got going, the Sachems couldn?t slow him down. Driscoll finished with 200 yards through the air, and spearheaded the Vikings comeback by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.The Golden Knights got their season off to a successful start last Friday with a 30-0 shutout win over Manchester-Essex.Lynnfield at NewburyportAt Newburyport (7), Pioneers quarterback Dan Sullivan threw for two touchdowns and 175 yards in a season-opening win over Pentucket. The Pioneers had no trouble moving the ball, as they had 373 yards on total offense, with a balanced split of 198 on the ground, and 175 through the air.This is Newburyport?s season opener. Last year, the Pioneers beat the Clippers, 21-13.Ham-Wenham at FenwickAt Donaldson Field (7), the Crusaders begin their quest to duplicate the best season in their history with the Generals. The teams? meeting last year saw the Crusaders rack up 54 points and give up 27 (the most points scored in a game against them).Lynn?s Rufus Rushins, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark as a junior, is back and will undoubtedly be the focal point of the offense. Gone, however, is Item 2013 Player of the Year Nick Bona, who is at Stonehill College now. Matt Renzulli and Mike Campatelli have both taken snaps at quarterback in the preseason.This is the season opener for the Generals.Revere at MedfordAt Hormel Stadium (7), the Patriots are looking to get the season started on the right foot while the Mustangs will try to build on last week?s 37-27 win over North Quincy.The Patriots bring back a veteran team, with 16 starters returning. They?ll need the experience, too, as they?ll be playing all but one game — on Thanksgiving — away from DellaRusso Stadium, which is being renovated.Senior running back Kaleb Silva will be the bellwether for the Patriots, with help from quarterback Dan Murphy, lineman Brandon Brito and linebacker Martin Kecherian.St. John?s at BrocktonAt Marciano Stadium (7), the Eagles scored an impressive season-opening win last Saturday afternoon at Bridgewater-Raynham, with Cody Harwood rushing for 142 yards in the first game of coach Brian St. Pierre?s tenure.Harwood also ran for a touchdown, and Owen Rockett hauled i