LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield football team is on a roll.
Friday night at Pioneer Stadium, the Pioneers (3-0) used a stifling defense and outstanding special teams play to cruise to a 33-6 win over Malden.
John Lee became the first Pioneer in program history to return a punt for a touchdown in three consecutive games.
“Kudos to the defense and special teams units that can really pop one at any time,” said Lynnfield coach Pat Lamusta. “We made big plays in all three phases of the game, so we’re just going to keep pushing that.”
Anthony Floramo, Jr. (55 carries on 7 carries) ran for three touchdowns, while quarterback Clay Marengi (7-of-13, 50 yards) threw for another.
D.J. Capachietti had a team-high six tackles.
Lynnfield set the tone on the first drive. Starting at the Malden 49 after a 35-yard kickoff return by Lee, the Pioneers needed five plays to find the end zone, the final a 7-yard run by Floramo. Blake Peters added the point after to make it 7-0 just 1:58 in.
Lynnfield forced the Golden Tornadoes into a three-and-out on their first possession, and had a short field after Lee return the punt to the Malden 40. But Lynnfield couldn’t get going and elected to punt from the 41. That decision set the stage for the rest of the half in terms of field position.
“The way the defense has been playing, I really wanted Malden to have to go the full field. So on fourth down, we punted,” said Lamusta. “I trusted our defense to do its job.”
And that it did.
Lynnfield started in Malden territory on seven of eight first-half possessions, while Malden started behind its 23 on six of seven possessions, gaining only 22 yards from scrimmage. Lynnfield forced four punts, ended two drives by interception (Jack Contardo and Bakari Mitchell) and also forced a turnover on downs.
“Kudos to coach John O’Brien and the rest of the staff because the kids (on defense) have been really prepared,” said Lamusta.
Late in the first quarter, Lee set up the Pioneers with a 22-yard punt return to the Malden 18. From there, Floramo scampered into the end zone to make it a 14-0 game (Peters kick).
Jack Ford bumped the lead to 20-0, hauling in a 9-yard pass from Marengi with 3:25 left in the half.
Contardo set up the Pioneers next drive, picking off JJ Costa’s pass and returning it to the Malden 16. Floramo carried it the rest of the way, capping the first-half scoring from seven yards out to make it 27-0 at the break.
Any doubts about the outcome were settled early in the second half. Lynnfield’s defense forced a Malden punt at the Malden 41, then Lee (3 catches, 31 yards) picked up the punt at the Pioneers’ 35 and raced 65 yards into the end zone.
“It was one of those times when the double teams hit at the right time and everyone did their assignment,” said Lamusta. “We also may have caught them in a little over pursuit. John Lee is our guy, but he can’t do what he has done without the rest of that unit, which is really doing some special things.”
The Pioneers look to make it four straight wins next week against Pentucket. The game, originally scheduled to be played at Trinity Stadium in Haverhill, is in the process of being rescheduled due to concerns about Eastern Equine Encephalitis. It will be played either Friday night at Pioneer Stadium or Saturday afternoon at Pentucket (TBD).
