RallyNorth.net

Jen Newman had a goal and an assist to pace the Pingree School girls' soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Newton Country Day School in the quarterfinals of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) playoff quarterfinals.

The Highlanders ended their season at 3-5 by snapping a four-game losing streak with an emphatic victory.

Derek Pratt had a 12-yard touchdown run and later caught a 64-yard scoring pass from quarterback Carlos O'Donnell (who also kicked 6 extra points). Lemarre Rey had scoring runs of 1 and 7 yards for Pingree (3-5), while Pat George had a 5-yard TD run and Dan Rogers returned a blocked punt 10 yards for another score.

Because he doesn't play in a local league such as the Northeastern Conference or the Cape Ann League, Pingree's Carlos O'Donnell is probably the best unseen quarterback on the North Shore. A senior from Salem, O'Donnell is 92 for 158 passing for 1,372 yards and eight touchdowns for the Highalnders.

Since he plays at Pingree, on the private school stage, senior Billy Nickerson of Middleton may be the best kept secret in local soccer. The four-year starter has 53 career goals, including 16-2-18 numbers this season, and is Pingree's most prolific scorer in Coach Eric Olson's 13 years, as well as the quickest player Olson has had.

Lemarre Rey's 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter cut Tilton's lead to 20-7, but the Highlanders couldn't draw any closer as they slipped to 2-4.

Derek Pratt had another strong all-around game for Pingree, catching four balls for 95 yards, while rushing for 47 yards. Senior quarterback Carlos O'Donnell completed 11-of-24 passes for 165 yards.

The Pingree football team could only fool Proctor Academy for so long.

Derek Pratt scored three first-half rushing touchdowns, but the Highlanders couldn't hold on to an 11-point halftime lead against a physically stronger Proctor team. Proctor scored six straight touchdowns for a 42-25 win.

Pingree football coach Chris Powers knows there is a secret to senior quarterback Carlos O'Donnell's success this fall. Actually, it's five small (relatively speaking) secrets.

Through four games, O'Donnell has completed 43-of-71 passes for 662 yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception. He's also run for 115 yards on 19 carries, and he is coming off a dandy individual performance where he tossed for 281 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-31 setback to Holderness. Of course, the stats represent an individual's performance, but saying that anything O'Donnell does is individual is a minor mistake.

Though his team trailed 44-10 entering the fourth quarter, Pingree quarterback Carlos O'Donnell didn't hang his head. Instead, he unleashed three TD passes as the Highlanders scored 28 unanswered points but fell just short, 44-38, against Holderness.

Derek Pratt was a jack-of-all-trades this weekend for the Pingree football team.

Pratt scored on two touchdown runs, caught one touchdown pass, and threw another as the Highlanders rolled to a 48-14 win over Hebron Academy.

Senior captain Billy Nickerson scored three goals, adding to his league-leading total of 11, as Pingree (5-1-1) rolled on the road over Chapel Hill, 6-2.

Nate Leach added a goal and two assists while Amory Parker and Andrew Smealie also scored in the win.