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Hillies avoid winless season

HAVERHILL | Just take what the defense gives you | a simple theory but usually difficult to apply.

When Lowell brought its defensive backs and safety up near the line of scrimmage to take away Haverhill's option running attack, the Hillies had the weapons to respond.

Cook dazzles while Hillies struggle

Even his impressive statistics are not much comfort to Haverhill High senior Justin Cook.

By almost any measure, the 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver is enjoying a superb season. He leads the region with 43 catches, good for 738 yards and an area-leading seven touchdown passes, which accounts for the total number thrown by nifty quarterback Peter Byron.

Winless Hillies can salvage season

There is nothing like a "winnable" game on Thanksgiving morning to keep a winless football team going through the dog days of November.

Countless hours of practice in the cold, mud and rain can't stop your typically driven high school senior, not if victory is within his grasp.

Thanksgiving Day Preview: Lowell at Haverhill

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: Tim Briggs

Quarterbacks: Peter Byron

Parking: There is immediate parking in the dirt and gravel lot outside Haverhill Stadium, between the entrances to the baseball field and the football field. There is also parking in the lot beyond the Stadium close to the softball fields and playground area as well as some parking on nearby streets.

Tewksbury steamrolls Haverhill

HAVERHILL | It was a frigid night at Haverhill Stadium, with a light snow falling. Unfortunately for the homecoming crowd in attendance, both the snowflakes and the Hillies were finished before the whistle blew on the game's opening half.

Hillies fall short to Exeter

EXETER, N.H. | Haverhill was hoping to spoil Exeter's Senior Night festivities but the Blue Hawks made sure that wouldn't happen.

The Blue Hawks' punishing ground game tore up the Hillies' defense, racking up 334 yards on the ground, en route to a 38-18 interstate victory.

Haverhill no match for Billerica

HAVERHILL | Without question, Billerica is at a far higher level of play than Haverhill.

With senior quarterback Timmy Morrison relaxing behind daunting pass protection and delivering bullets to wide open receivers, the Hillies were picked apart to the tune of a 31-7 decision that left the locals winless (0-8).

Haverhill comes close, but falls

The Haverhill Hillies came close again, but fell short at Dracut, 20-14, last night.

The Hillies had a chance to win the game late, but couldn't capitalize as senior quarterback Peter Byron | who otherwise had a fine game | threw an interception with 1:48 left to allow Dracut to hold on.

Leavitt vaults Central Catholic to win over Haverhill

HAVERHILL | No one in attendance was quite prepared for what happened in the first half last night.

"We were hurting going into halftime," said Central captain Mike Leavitt. "We came out slow. We were tied at the half and we knew we should have been up by at least a touchdown. Going into the second half, we knew what we had to do."

Byron, Hillies remain resilient

In four varsity years, his on-field role models have gone from Sammy Baugh to Dan Marino to J.C. Watts.

Not for the congressman from Oklahoma's politics either. Haverhill High quarterback Peter Byron is no football historian or political scientist for that matter. He's just a kid who's been force-fed three wildly divergent offenses in four years of high school.

Andover rallies to dominate Haverhill

ANDOVER | Andover needed a big win.

After dropping two of its last three games with a messy win over Dracut in the middle, the Golden Warriors finally came up with a clean victory, a 35-7 defeat of Haverhill last night on the new turf at Eugene V. Lovely Field.

Methuen ends MVC drought at 33 games

HAVERHILL | Methuen senior and tri-captain David Koerner has enjoyed plenty of fine moments in athletics, but they all paled compared to last night.

"This is the best feeling I've had by far, and I play three sports," said Koerner after the Rangers snapped a 33-game Merrimack Valley Conference losing streak, dating back to 2002, with a convincing 28-7 victory over Haverhill before more than 1,000 fans.

Haverhill is thrown to the Lions in Chelmsford

CHELMSFORD | The night started with Haverhill two-way lineman Chad Hafford leaving the Chelmsford High football field via ambulance with a leg injury and things never got much prettier for the brown and gold after that as Chelmsford jumped all over the winless Hillies, 46-20.

Haverhill can't convert, falls to Catholic Memorial 28-0

Haverhill didn't have any trouble moving the ball but had problems scoring in a 28-0 loss at Catholic Memorial. The Hillies (0-2) moved the ball deep into Catholic Memorial territory four times but came away empty as two interceptions in the end zone and two turnovers on downs spelled doom for the Hillies. "We had two 12-play drives that came up empty," said Haverhill head coach Tim Briggs. Running backs Noel Figuereo and Nick Vazquez each had fine games.

Malden's backup QB shocks Hillies

HAVERHILL | Sophomore quarterback Marcos Almeida made the most of his opportunity for Malden last night in a 20-6 season-opening victory over Haverhill.

Pressed into duty when star junior QB Justin Richardson was hit with a one-game suspension, Almeida threw two touchdown passes and scored on a brilliant 45-yard scramble on what was supposed to be a pass play.

Haverhill football preview

2006 record: 4-7

Returning starters (12): Peter Byron, Sr., QB, 5-8, 175; Troy Warcewicz, Sr., RB/LB, 5-10, 200; Dan Saunders, Sr., LB, 6-0, 200; Dan Triplett, Jr., DL, 6-0, 220; Nick Vazquez, Jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 170; Kenny Perkins, Sr., WR/DB, 5-9, 165; Isiah Ocasio-Pantoja, Jr., DB, 6-0, 175; Joe Natale, Jr., WR/LB, 6-0, 190; Justin Cook, Sr., WR, 6-1, 170; Brian Paszko, Sr., OL, 5-10, 220; Tim Wallace, Sr., OL, 6-1, 250; Miguel Rosario, Sr., OL/DL, 5-10, 230