RallyNorth.net

Power Players, September 10, 2007

Every Monday RallyNorth.net will salute bone-crunching linebackers, elusive running backs, immovable linemen and rocket-armed quarterbacks from the 37 area high school football teams. We've dubbed them Power Players and you won't want to miss who the best and the brighest were from the weekend's schoolboy gridiron action.

Chris Abreu, Andover, Senior: The rugged 6-1, 191-pounder made his presence felt on both sides of the ball as Andover blanked North Andover. The two-year starting linebacker contributed four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on defense and gained 85 yards on just eight carries.

Bobby Tarr, Bishop Fenwick: Senior workhorse scored three times and finished with 209 yards rushing on just a dozen carries as the Crusaders blew out host Newton South, 34-12.

Jake Cotter, Hamilton-Wenham, Senior:Tailback had a game for the ages in his team's 32-20 season opening victory at Pentucket, scoring all five of his team's touchdowns and rushing for a career-high 221 yards.

Zach Smith, Pinkerton, Senior: Trailing 24-21, Manchester Central was on the verge of the upset when Smith saved the day. With the Little Green at the Pinkerton 5, the 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back stepped in front of a potential game-winning pass in the final seconds and returned it 98 yards for an insurance touchdown as time expired.

Angel Rivera, Greater Lawrence sophomore: Stepping up to play a Cape Ann League foe, the Reggies had to bring their A game. Rivera certainly did. The 5-8, 170-pound linebacker starred as Triton went 0 for 10 passing with two interceptions. A fierce pass rusher, Rivera forced a key fourth-down incompletion that helped secure the 14-0 Reggie win.

Melikke Van Alstyne, Salem, MA: Picking up where he left off a year ago, junior tailback rushed for 227 yards and had a pair of touchdowns as the Witches blanked host Danvers, 26-0, in their season opener.

Salem N.H. linebackers: Jharid Pratt (7 tackles) and Chris Sousa (6 tackles) led an inspired defensive effort in the Blue Devils' 42-7 romp over Memorial. Sousa, a tri-captain, also caught a pass for 29 yards. Both the 5-10, 190-pound Pratt, who patrols the inside, and Sousa, a 180-pound outside linebacker, are returning starters.

Greg Pierce, Beverly: The Panthers' senior co-captain and tailback scored three touchdowns and rambled for a career-high 250 yards on the ground as the Black and Orange knocked off Lynn Englsh, 28-13.

James Dionne, Timberlane junior: After suffering a tough Game 1 loss, Timberlane couldn't afford another sub-par effort. The speedy back made sure it didn't happen. Dionne ran roughshould over Spaulding, racking up a whopping 234 yards on 15 carriesa nd scoring on runs of 21 and 27 yards.

Matt and Michael Smith, Central Catholic junior: All-Scholastic Mike Leavitt is out with an injury, but the Smith twins played like All-Scholastics against Lawrence. With Central trailing 6-0 early, Matt recovered a fumble, which lead to an 18-yard TD run by Michael and the Raiders were off to the races. Michael had a game-high 77 yards on 10 carries and Matt was right behind with 67 yards on just five totes.

Joe Esposito, Georgetown junior: The Royals' signal-caller had a hand in all 28 points in a 28-20 win over Lynnfield. Esposito completed 9 of 17 passes for 130 yards and two scores and added TD runs of 15 and 57 yards. He also surpassed 100 yards on the ground (16 for 105).

Stephan Khouri, Swampscott: Broke through the Winchester line and blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt with a minute-and-a-half to play, preserving his Big Blue's 14-12 opening day triumph.

Darren Hartwell, North Reading junior: Hartwell was the hero in a 14-8 thriller over Austin Prep. With the game knotted up at 8-8, he caught the Hornets' lone pass of the day, a 29-yard scoring strike from James Campbell with 11 seconds to play.

Jeff Beauregard, Whittier senior: It appeared the Charlestown-Whittier game would go to the last team to get the ball. That almost happened but Beauregard was at the right place at the right time to clinch a 36-32 Wildcat victory. The 6-3, 180-pound linebacker from Lawrence corralled the Townies' exciting quarterback Jonathan Turner for the sack in the final seconds to secure the victory.

Rashad Sims, Beverly junior: Was a jack-of-all-trades for the Panthers Saturday, rushing for a 46-yard touchdown; picking off a pass, recovering a fumble and blocking an extra point attempt.