LYNNFIELD — In a game that featured markedly different styles of offense, the North Attleboro Rocketeers came to Lynnfield in the first-ever meeting between the two programs and grounded-and-pounded their way to a 14-11 win. The win ended the Pioneers’ six-game win streak, who fell to 6-1.
The game ultimately came down to an onside kick at the start of the second half. Trailing 7-3, the Pioneers were starting with the ball, but the kick ricocheted off a Lynnfield player, giving the Rocketeers a short field at the 50. Eight plays later, North Attleboro’s Ryan Bannon powered his way into the end zone from the 2-yard line to make it 14-3.
Lynnfield battled back and cut the deficit to 14-9 with about four minutes to go in the game on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Adamo (16-of-22, 189 yards) to Ethan Francis (3 catches, 44 yards). Adamo then dove inside the right pylon to add a two-point conversion and make it a one-score game at 14-11 with 4:23 to go.
The Pioneers went for an onside kick, but couldn’t pull it off, handing the ball to the Rocketeers at the Lynnfield 48. The Rocketeers (3-4) ran out the clock to seal the win.
Going into the game, on paper, the Pioneers had yet to be tested. Their average margin of victory was 28 points.
Before the game, Lynnfield coach Pat Lamusta said he expected a tough challenge as the Rocketeers play in a strong Hockomock League.
He was right.
The Rocketeers relied on their ground game for much of the contest, while, playing from behind, the Pioneers turned to their aerial attack, running the ball infrequently.
The Rocketeers served notice on their opening drive. A textbook ground-and-pound, 80-yard drive in 12 plays was capped by a 2-yard touchdown on Chase Frisoli’s quarterback keeper.
North Attleboro showed it could also play defense, forcing a Pioneer punt. The Pioneers shot themselves in the foot after advancing it to their own 44 with a double penalty, effectively stalling the drive.
The Rocketeers went back to their bread-and-butter on their next drive, starting on their own 20 after Jared Bernabei boomed a punt from the 48 into the end zone.
They marched methodically downfield, advancing to Lynnfield’s 2-yard line, only to fumble.
Lynnfield marched to the Rocketeers’ 10 where it faced fourth-and-10. Massimo LoGrasso put the Pioneers on the board with a 27-yard field goal to close the gap to 7-3 with 1:51 remaining in the first half.
Lynnfield’s defense stepped up after the aforementioned onside kick, forcing the Rocketeers to punt on their next two possessions.
Starting at their own 35 with six-and-a-half minutes left in the fourth, the Pioneers traveled 65 yards in seven plays in a little more than two minutes to pull to within three. Zahir Mitchell (3 catches, 61 yards) and Joey Cucciniello (3 catches, 34 yards) had the key plays with Mitchell hauling in a 10-yard Adamo pass to put the Pioneers in enemy territory at the 45, and Cucciniello catching a 17-yarder to set the Pioneers up at the 23 with a first-and-10. From there, it took Adamo one play to find Francis.
Madux Iovinelli was a frequent target for Adamo, catching four passes for 38 yards.
The Pioneers are back in action on the grass Saturday at Hamilton-Wenham. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. North Attleboro’s next game is Friday night at King Philip (7).
