LYNNFIELD — It was close for a little more than a quarter, but the Lynnfield offense was on fire in the Pioneers’ home opener at Pioneer Stadium Friday night. The hosts turned a 7-7 game early in the second quarter into a rout, defeating the Hawks 42-13 in the teams’ first-ever meeting.
The Pioneers (3-0) scored on all seven of their possessions.
Junior quarterback Tyler Adamo put on a clinic, completing 9-of-13 passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions while senior counterpart David Tracy (2-for-3) threw for one. Senior running back Niccolo Antidormi was a beast in the backfield, picking up 83 rushing yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns, while junior Jesse Dorman had two touchdown receptions. Junior kicker Massimo Lograsso was a perfect 7-for-7 in extra points. Junior Spencer D’Augusta had the defensive play of the game, snagging an interception in the second half to snuff out a promising Tech drive deep in Lynnfield territory.
After the defense forced a three-and-out on the Hawks’ first possession, Pioneer senior Kyle Schmidtz exploded for a 38-yard return on the punt, giving the Pioneers great field position at the Essex Tech 22-yard line. Lynnfield needed just five plays to find the end zone, the big play being a 17-yard pickup by Niccolo Antidormi giving the Pioneers a first-and-goal at the 8. After Antidormi picked up another five yards to the 3-yard line, AJ Chiaradonna finished the drive with a 3-yard run. Massimo Lograsso added the point after to give Lynnfield a 7-0 lead with about eight minutes left in the first quarter.
Essex Tech responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to make it 7-7 on the first play of the second quarter. Bey Makaio did the honors, hauling in a 5-yard pass from quarterback Jacoby Casinelli-Tarasuik.
After that, it was all Lynnfield as the Pioneers went on to finish the half with two unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead into the ‘Helicopter Ball Drop’ halftime break. The Pioneers traveled 62 yards in six plays to make it a 14-7 game with 9:26 left in the half. Dorman caught a 23-yard pass to convert on third down and keep the drive alive. Antidormi then set up a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line with scampers of 23 and 8 yards. Dorman then finished the drive with a touchdown reception from Adamo.
The D’Augusta pick gave the ball back to Lynnfield on its own 27 six minutes later. The Pioneers marched 73 yards in 10 plays in a little more two minutes, the final play a 5-yard touchdown pass from Adamo to Antidormi to make it a 21-7 game with less than two minutes to go in the half.
Lynnfield picked up where it left off in the third quarter. Senior Ethan Francis made it 28-7 after hauling in a 10-yard pass from Adamo. Sophomore Zahir Mitchell had a big play on the drive, catching a 20-yard pass to give the Pioneers a first-and-goal from the 10.
Senior Kyle Schmitz set up the Pioneers’ next score with a 24-yard punt return, giving the Pioneers good field position at the Essex Tech 33. Three plays later, Dorman scored on a 17-yard pass from Adamo to make it a 34-7 game.
Tracy took over the final Pioneer drive of the night. He completed a 25-yard beauty to Antidormi to complete the scoring for the Pioneers.
Essex Tech’s Michael Indelicato polished off the Hawks’ final drive, plunging in from the 1-yard line with about a minute to play.
The Pioneers are back in action Friday night at home against Pentucket (6:30). Essex Tech’s next game is Friday at home against Triton.
