PEABODY — Two games, two wins. Peabody’s football team won a thriller Friday night, halting a late Winchester comeback to escape, 27-20, at Coley Lee Field.
When the Tanners needed their defense most, it stepped up, stopping a marching Winchester offense four straight times on the 10-yard line.
Consider Winchester’s comeback hopes, spoiled.
“With the money on the table, we have got to step up,” said Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt. “We’ve got great pass-rushers… we had our hands up and did everything right.”
The Tanners were led by their strong quarterback play. Junior Luke Maglione went home with a pair of early quarterback keepers (1- and 5-yard scores). He also bolted for a 29-yard gain in this one.
He followed with a dime over the middle to captain Jayce Jean-Pierre for a 12-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Fast forward to the second half. The result of Peabody’s opening drive: a screen pass to Dorlyn Morel for a 65-yard touchdown. Tyler Rappold fit nicely into the passing game during the second half, too.
When asked about Winchester, the players who stood out to Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt were the linemen.
“We have to give their offensive line and defensive line a lot of credit. We were bigger than them, but they fought for all four quarters,” he said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage, even while being undersized.”
With two minutes remaining in the game, Winchester was driving, but Peabody’s defense was up for the challenge and forced the huge stop.
Truth be told, Winchester dialed up a perfect screen to Gianni DePrimeo for a 40-yard gain, but that would be all.
“It was a great call and something we should have seen coming,” Bettencourt said. “We sent the house and it was the perfect call. That’s something we will take a look at.”
Peabody aims for a 3-0 start next Friday at Blocksidge Field against Swampscott (7 p.m.).
Owen Finn is a student at Endicott College studying journalism
