NORTH ANDOVER — Behind a superlative defensive effort, the Marblehead High football team extended its win streak to 23 with a 12-7 win over non-league rival North Andover Friday night on a cold and wind-swept night at Walsh Stadium in North Andover.
A 39-yard touchdown reception by senior wide receiver Connor Cronin from 6’5″ junior quarterback Miles O’Neill with only 23 seconds left in the first half was the difference. O’Neill finished the evening with 201 passing yards.
Both teams excelled on defense for most of the game with all of the game’s scoring packed into a 95-second spurt at the end of the first half.
North Andover struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on a 29-yard touchdown reception by Cam Partridge, who fought off two Marblehead tacklers to hold onto the ball with 1:35 left in the second quarter.
Marblehead responded with a 51-yard drive, all in the air, capped by a touchdown pass from O’Neill to Ryan Commoss that made it 7-6 (extra point was blocked). A long kickoff return by Connor Cronin to the Marblehead 49-yard line set up the drive, giving the Magicians a short field. O’Neill took full advantage, completing five of seven passes on the drive.
North Andover fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing Marblehead a couple of chances to punch it in but the Magicians squandered the opportunity after a North Andover interception in the end zone.
A superlative defensive stop gave the Magicians another chance. Cronin hauled in what turned out to be the game-winning score to give Marblehead a 12-7 lead (pass failed) with 23 seconds left in the half.
Both teams stepped up defensively in the second half.
With 4:33 left in the game, a Magicians’ fumble gave North Andover a last shot to steal the game, only to be denied. But the Magicians’ defense stood strong, anchored by junior Christian Pacheco, who came up with several key plays to thwart the Knights’ final drive.
With the win, the Magicians improved to 3-0. Their next game is Friday night at home at Piper Field against NEC rival Peabody (2-0). The Tanners are scheduled to be played Saturday at Beverly at 1 p.m.
