The Lynnfield football team finished 4-6 last season, losing six of eight games to end the year. Despite losing on Friday at the hands of St. Mary’s to be eliminated from the Division 6 state tournament, 2022 was a major success for the 6-4 Pioneers.
On Sept. 9, things began smoothly for Lynnfield. In an opening-night matchup against Saugus, Lynnfield annihilated the Sachems in front of their hometown faithful. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Adamo tossed two touchdowns to two receivers in the win – the pass-catchers being Charlie Capachietti and Joey Cucciniello.
Then, the Pioneers lost two of their next three games, defeating Ipswich but coming up short against Marblehead and Newburyport. Against the Magicians, the defense was sliced by quarterback Miles O’Neill who threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Against Newburyport, it was an overtime heartbreaker (11-9) that didn’t go their way.
Like a light switch, Lynnfield scored 71 points in its next two games to defeat Hamilton-Wenham and Pentucket. Against the Generals, Robert Marley rushed for 73 yards on 12.2 yards per carry, and Madux Iovinelli hauled in five catches. In the Pentucket game, Lynnfield’s run-game dominated the opposition and four Pioneers recorded more than 30 rushing yards (Marley, James Sharkey, Arthur Chiaradonna, and Ethan Francis).
With Amesbury next in line, the momentum didn’t stop there. Against a previously-undefeated Indians team, the Pioneers handled them, 27-16, in front of an emotional crowd as the game was dedicated to Sonny Tropeano – a Lynnfield youth football player who passed away in elementary school from lung cancer in 2015. Lynnfield Head Coach Pat Lamusta said the night was a community coming together, and the Pioneers picked up a win for Sonny.
Unfortunately, Triton stole a win from Lynnfield on the Pioneers’ Senior Night, 27-21. Lynnfield had more rushing and passing yards, but the Vikings conquered and it was time for postseason action.
Bellingham stood in the way in the first round of the tournament, but Lynnfield kicked them out of town and thrashed the Blackhawks, 38-7. Adamo played the role of the hero, dishing out nine completions for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Marley rushed eight times for 65 yards and a touchdown, while five Pioneers registered sacks (Marley, Conor Ryan, Kevin Connolly, Steven Dreher, and Arthur Chiaradonna). A magical night at Pioneer Stadium came to an end, and the home team was victorious.
This past Friday, St. Mary’s got the best of Lynnfield, winning 20-6 at Manning Field. A versatile running attack and capitalizing on chances were themes from the Spartans’ win, and the Pioneers’ season came to an end.
Despite the always-tough-to-swallow elimination, Lamusta said he couldn’t be prouder of his boys – a team that scored 250 points this season compared to 133 allowed, went on a three-game winning streak in Oct., and advanced to the second round of the tournament.
Lamusta also added that he has so much respect for his seniors, and that ever since they entered high school, they’ve been “so locked in and so committed.”
“It hurts a ton because I really feel they deserve to go the distance, that’s what really hurts,” Lamusta said. “They’d do anything for this program.”
A season of football may have ended, but the memories it held will never be forgotten. The Pioneers never cowered after starting 2-2, and even after elimination, Lamusta said his team’s mental toughness is something that will never be lost.
“That’s how they are, that’s the type of football we have,” Lamusta said.
The Pioneers take on North Reading in their Thanksgiving Day game on Nov. 24 at North Reading High School with kickoff set for 10:30 a.m.
