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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.