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GEORGETOWN – Manchester Essex’s defense looked mighty suspect on the first play from scrimmage but was impenetrable after that.

The Hornets held Georgetown to just seven points in a 28-7 Thanksgiving Day victory.

NORTH READING — North Reading head football coach Jeff Wall called yesterday’s Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League Division 4 matchup with Manchester Essex a grind. Fortunately for Wall’s squad, they were right in their element as they controlled the clock on offense and controlled the line of scrimmage on defense en route to a 14-0 win on homecoming. The win, North Reading’s fourth straight, moves them to 5-2 on the season. It has been quite a turnaround from 1-9 seasons in 2009 and 2010. “This game was a grind,” Wall said after his club’s second shutout of the gall. “(Manchester Essex) is a scary team, they’re tough and they’re big, but we executed and made plays on defense when we needed to make them. We bent a little bit but we didn’t break.” Manchester Essex (3-5) had it’s chances twice driving into North Reading territory late in the first half and late in the fourth quarter. North Reading, however, stopped the visitors on downs in the first half and came away with an interception late in the fourth. The Hornets were led by bruising running back Carl Lipani, who ran for 179 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. Lipani, who also added a fourth quarter interception, now has 1,225 yards and 15 TDs this season. The junior wore down Manchester Essex, picking up several key third-down conversions. On the game North Reading converted eight of 11 third-down opportunities, which may have been the difference. The biggest came on North Reading’s first drive of the game when CJ McCarthy took an inside handoff 50 yards on third down and 10 for a touchdown and a 7-0 North Reading lead. North Reading can clinch its third winning season in the last dozen years with a win next Saturday at Hamilton-Wenham.