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Masconomet football defense stymies North Andover

TOPSFIELD | Masconomet defensive end Teddy Reed waited patiently under the goalposts as he was the last player to be introduced to the crowd before the Thanksgiving Day game against North Andover yesterday.

Masconomet football routs North Andover, makes playoffs

TOPSFIELD | Earning a playoff spot was of paramount importance to the Masconomet football team yesterday in its annual Thanksgiving Day tug-of-war against North Andover.

But even if Masco had come into the game with a 25-game losing streak, North Andover would've been as big a target as the Grand Canyon.

Knights could earn share of title

Masconomet Regional might be the only team playing for a postseason berth, but don't underestimate the power of a banner.

North Andover, like Masco, stands at 3-1 in the Cape Ann Large, and a win tomorrow would earn the Scarlet Knights a share of the title with Wilmington. But only Masco, which beat Wilmington, can go on to the EMass Division 2A playoffs.

Thanksgiving Day Preview: North Andover at Masconomet

Where: Roberts Field, Topsfield

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: John Rafferty, North Andover; Jim Pugh, Masconomet.

Captains: North Andover: Steve Boudreau, Sr. QB/DB; Matt Burckhardt, Sr. RB/DB; Masconomet: Dom Bavaro, Sr. WR/S; T.C. Mannetta, Sr. RB; Clay Cleveland, Sr. RB/LB; Mike Nazzaro, Sr. OG/DT.

Iovanella racks up 320 yards in North Andover win

NORTH ANDOVER | Sophomore Zac Iovanella rushed for a career-best 321 yards and North Andover needed just about every single inch in a 35-27 win over upset-minded Lawrence.

The Scarlet Knights can nail down a Cape Ann League Large co-championship with a Turkey Day win at Masconomet, but they won't be returning to the postseason for the second time in three years. Wilmington locked out the Knights by beating Pentucket last night, 20-13.

North Andover playoff hopes take late hit

Desperation affects football teams in strange ways. Last night, it brought out the best in Wilmington, which was just minutes from being all but ousted from the Cape Ann League race.

Instead, the frenzied Wildcats escaped a 7-0 hole in the final minutes, pinning an excruciating 10-7 loss on North Andover High.

Clippers' offense shut down by North Andover

NEWBURYPORT | The Newburyport football team's passing offense was bound to stall sometime.

Fortunately for the Clippers, it happened last night in a 14-7 loss to North Andover that won't count against them in the Cape Ann League Small standings.

Burckhardt, Knights grind it out

North Andover's game plan was to mix things on the offensive side. But, by the second half, the blueprint centered around Matt Burckhardt's ability to grind out yardage and valuable time off the clock.

Knights' Boudreau conquers all hurdles except for one

Steve Boudreau and his old-school mid-range jump shot captivated North Andover High fans last winter, helping lead the Scarlet Knights to the Division 2 North sectional title game.

The senior quarterback would like nothing better than for his deadly short-passing game to do the same on the gridiron. Saturday at Pentucket, the Knights take the first big step toward that goal when they collide with the very similar Pentucket Sachems.

North Andover midseason coach's chat

Kudos to the Scarlet Knights, who summer seem impervious to graduation, no matter how painful the losses were. After two defeats to open the year, they've ripped off four straight wins. Road dates at Pentucket, Wilmington and Masco will tell North Andover's fate.

Iovanella paces North Andover past Lynnfield

LYNNFIELD | Zac Iovanella appears to be finding his comfort zone at precisely the right time for North Andover. But the sophomore tailback will be the first to admit that his contribution during this season is more than he expected.

Boudreau, North Andover roll over Triton

NORTH ANDOVER | Steve Boudreau went 8-for-8 passing on North Andover's first two series. Mixed with the Scarlet Knights' traditional running attack, North Andover scored on both long scoring drives and took the wind out of Triton's sails.

North Andover halts North Reading win streak

NORTH ANDOVER | North Andover played like a spoiled kindergartener at recess refusing to give up his precious football.

The Scarlet Knights owned the pigskin against a game but overmatched North Reading squad, grinding out a convincing 13-0 victory for their second straight victory while ending the Hornets' three-game winning streak.

Cadogan's 4 TDs can't push Ipswich past North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER | The Ipswich High football team finally found some offense in its third game of the season.

Unfortunately, host North Andover had a little bit more.

Despite four touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 receiving) from Jimmy Cadogan, the Tigers fell for the third time in as many games, dropping a 40-27 decision to the Scarlet Knights at Walsh Stadium.

Coach's Corner: North Andover's John Rafferty

Football has taken John Rafferty from New England to New York and back.

The North Andover coach, 53, grew up in Wakefield, where he starred as a schoolboy, and eventually earned a scholarship to Syracuse.

Masterson helps lead Generals past North Andover

HAMILTON | It was hard to tell who had worked harder, sweat more or was more exhausted at game's end.

On the one hand, you had Nate Masterson. A senior captain for the Hamilton-Wenham football team, Masterson scored two touchdowns, booted a 40-yard field goal and scored all 16 of his team's points against North Andover.

Defense, Pierce (4 TDs) do the trick as Andover wallops Knights

NORTH ANDOVER | Andover quarterback and tri-captain Mike Pierce made it a point to pat most every defensive player on the back after last night's game.

"What more can you ask for than zero points," said the returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star. "We really came into our own late yesterday and it especially showed in the defense."

Big Foote steps to follow: Boudreau and Burckhardt look to keep Knights in contention in the CAL

NORTH ANDOVER | Despite their considerable optimism for the upcoming season, neither Matt Burckhardt nor Steve Boudreau is going to duck, side step, juke or simply avoid the question of what a daunting void has been created with Andrew Foote's graduation.

North Andover football preview

2006 record: 7-4

Returning starters (4): Andrew Bogosian, Sr., OL/DL, 6-1 225; Steve Boudreau, Sr., QB/DB, 6-1, 185; Matt Burckhardt, Sr., FB/LB, 6-0, 190; Nick Faucher, Sr., WR/DB, 6-3, 190