Sullivan carries Lynnfield past Amesbury

AMESBURY ?The undefeated Lynnfield football team has this script down pretty well.For the third time in as many games, quarterback Dan Sullivan uncorked an early touchdown pass of more than 80 yards and the Pioneers (3-0) rolled past Amesbury, 33-6, in their Cape Ann Baker Division opener at James J. Landry Jr. Memorial Stadium Friday night.The play came after the Pioneers’ defense repelled a 41-yard Amesbury drive on downs at the four-yard line. Sullivan (9-of-16, 237 yards, 2 TDs) found Cam Rondeau (6 receptions, 190 yards) on a go route near midfield and Rondeau outran the pursuit. Dan Bronshvayg’s PAT made it 7-0 with 3:56 left in the first period.This season has been a coming out for Sullivan, who has passed for 569 yards and three TDs through three games.ÒHe could’ve done this last year but we had so many running backs and offensive linemen he didn’t need to. This year we’ve asked him to do more and he’s done it. It’s really helped the running game – we’re starting to get some big chunks,” said coach Neal Weidman.Little aside from untimely penalties slowed the Pioneers out of their bye week. Jake Rourke (16 carries, 124 yards, two TDs) and Kevin Lee (9 carries, 59 yards, TD) led a punishing ground game that amassed 273 yards. Lynnfield had 463 total yards and 20 first downs while holding the Indians (0-3) to 215 yards and nine first downs.Rourke capped a 13-play, 95-yard scoring drive from a yard out for a 13-0 lead with 6:24 left in the second quarter. The drive featured five plays of 10 or more yards, four on the ground.The Pioneers set up shop at the Amesbury 46 following a short punt with little more than four minutes left in the half and covered the distance in seven plays with Sullivan flipping a seven-yard scoring strike to Kyle Hawes for a 19-0 lead at the break.Lynnfield opened the second half with a 75-yard scoring drive, finished by Rourke’s 13-yard rumble around the right side and his two-point conversion for a 27-0 lead.Doug Macy’s 75-yard scoring dash got the Indians on the board in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Lee matched that from four yards two minutes later, accounting for the final.”Kevin is so valuable on defense that we haven’t used him a lot on offense. But, he ran well in scrimmages and we felt tonight we would give him a shot,” Weidman said.”We could’ve been cleaner. There were too many penalties. But we’re 1-0 in the league and the only guarantee to the playoffs is winning your league. So it’s a good start,” he said.