LYNN — Different-colored helmets, rich history, and the best football players in the region coming together for one last showdown beneath the lights.
That can only mean one thing: The Agganis All-Star Football Game.
North typically points up, but not Wednesday at Manning Field. South rolled to a 24-7 win led by Most Valuable Player Alan Paulino of Peabody. The quick-footed, Curry-bound running back danced for two touchdowns.
Better yet, he wasn’t even healthy.
“I wasn’t 100 percent actually. I actually pulled my hamstring like a month ago. No excuse, though,” Paulino said. “I was skeptical about playing today.”
Say what you want about Peabody and Fenwick, but Wednesday, the Crusaders’ Costa Beechin was a teammate.
He broke free on a trick play for a 68-yard touchdown after two throws behind the line of scrimmage. The highlight put South ahead 7-0 in the first quarter.
“Well, we had a couple of plays before to set up that play,” Beechin said. “I knew I was going to get the ball, so I just sold the fake on the block.”
It’s been a few months since he’s taken the field at Donaldson Stadium, and when asked how he was feeling when the ball was in the air, Beechin tried not to overthink.
“I was just like, ‘Wow, I’m never going to get this wide open again,’” Beechin said. “Someone was on my tail, so I sped up. I’m glad I scored.”
Good teams respond, and North did just that in the first quarter with Triton quarterback Max Ciaramitaro finding North MVP Will Shannon of Masconomet for a 2-yard touchdown in the corner of the endzone (7-7).
The lone scoring of the second quarter may have been worth three points, but it oozed entertainment. St. John’s Prep’s Maximus Rizza nailed a 39-yard field goal to put South ahead 10-7 at halftime.
Other first-half highlights included North’s Aidan Breen (Fenwick) tackling a runner short of the endzone, South’s Jose Lendor (Peabody) picking up a fourth-down sack, and South’s David Brown (St. Mary’s) swatting down two passes in succession.
“The play kind of broke down and they were scrambling around,” Brown said. “I just found the receiver and broke it up… I was a little sore at the start of the week. I wasn’t used to hitting, but I think I’m in the mood now.”
Speaking of Brown, who’s headed to play football at Bentley, he said he chose to play in the game because he knows its history and had family members take part.
“[It was a] great experience. I just met these kids this week, most of them, and we really bonded as a family throughout the week,” Brown said. “It was a great experience.”
Not that this is breaking news for Peabody fans, but South quarterback Shea Lynch started dealing in the second half. The righty lofted a beautiful pass to Revere’s Domenic Boudreau for 18 yards in the third quarter – to thundering applause as Boudreau went up and over two defensive backs.
“It’s kind of easy when you’ve got the receivers you’ve got out there, and the line that blocked for us,” said Lynch, who’s attending Endicott College this fall. “It’s great to get back in the pads.”
Then came the Paulino show. He rushed into the endzone with 5:19 remaining in the third to extend South’s lead to 17-7.
“I love it. Up the hole, I feel like one-on-one, I can make a move,” Paulino said.
But it didn’t stop there. After three quarterback rushes from Lynch to get South to the 1-yard line in the fourth, the yardage set Paulino up for more.
“Coach (Lou Cicatelli of Revere) didn’t really know I could run, so I had to show him today,” a laughing Lynch said. “It’s (the game) been a huge boost off, and Endicott, I’m ready to go.”
And Paulino did the rest, squeezing in another rushing touchdown for a 24-7 cushion – the eventual final score.
“I guess it was the adrenaline, I don’t know,” Paulino said.
Lynch couldn’t have been happier for his fellow Tanner.
“He stepped up huge for us. Two touchdowns, MVP, [and] earned every second of it,” Lynch said. “It was awesome seeing him step up.”
Second-half highlights included Lynnfield’s Steven Dreher of North recovering an onside kick, Fenwick’s Michael DiFelice of South recording a sack for a loss of eight yards, and Peabody’s Jayce Dooley of South intercepting Ciaramitaro for a 40-yard return.
