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Haverhill Hillies Football '16

Thu, Nov 24, 2016 10:00 AM @ Lowell
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Haverhill 18 8 20 18 64
Lowell 21 0 15 0 36

McGovern, Hillies cap brilliant 9-2 season; best season in 80 years

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LOWELL – Lowell High went for the immediate kill shot, looking to sap the life out of Haverhill quickly with a double-reverse, flea-flicker for a 65-yard TD on the game’s opening play.
The 2016 Hillies are far too talented and way too resilient to let a tiny 7-0 deficit alter their course.
Set on making history, Haverhill High did just that, pounding the host Red Raiders, 64-36, to finish the school’s best football season in the modern era at 9-2.
The last 9-win season by the Hillies? You’d have to go all the way back to the 9-0 championship team in 1936. 
The Merrimack Valley Conference champs swept through the large division at 5-0, the dominant force in the league from Day 1 in September to yesterday’s finale.
“It’s been a great year, and I’m proud of the kids,” said coach Tim O’Connor, whose club lost only the season opener to St. John’s Prep and a Division 1 North playoff game to Everett. “We didn’t reach the ultimate goal, but Haverhill 9-2 compared to (32 straight losses from 2008-10)? I will take it.”
O’Connor’s crew featured 22 senior starters, and it felt like every one of them had an impact, starting with the QB and his receivers.
Broghean McGovern made it look easy through the air, hitting 11 of 15 passes for 295 yards and six scores.
“I have the best receiving corps in the state, and I mean that,” said the three-year starter.
Jukka Morales caught TDs of 51, 37 and 49 yards to lead the way. Aaron Brooks struck with touchdowns of 8 and 57 yards, while Teshaun Watson had the other, a four-yarder on 4th-and-goal on the Hillies’ opening possession.
But the heroes were everywhere.
McGovern (14 carries, 181 yards, 2 TDs) and J.C. Laguerre (19-89, 2 TDs) worked the read-option to perfection.
Ryan Panici, Josh Gendron and Mason Wilkins anchored a monster effort up front on the offensive line. Defensively, Elias Gaetano, Jason Tufts and Jacob Dion laid the lumber and made big plays. No play was bigger than defensive tackle Kirk Murray’s end-zone interception that thwarted Lowell on the final possession of the first half.
Haverhill made it two straight Turkey Day wins over Lowell and closed out this year with three straight victories following the playoff disappointment against Everett.

Game Statistics:

Haverhill (9-2) 18-8-20-18  — 64

Lowell (4-7) 21-0-15-0 — 36


First Quarter

L — Brendan Tighe 65 pass from Daniel Smith (Mike Menezes kick) 10:44

H — Teshaun Watson 4 pass from Broghean McGovern (rush failed) 7:37

H — McGovern 29 run (rush failed) 3:51

L — Ajay Proeung 17 pass from Smith (Menezes kick) 2:38

H — Jukka Morales 51 pass from McGovern (pass failed) 2:27

L — Smith 12 run (Menezes kick) :41


Second Quarter

H — J.C. Laguerre 13 run (Laguerre rush) 7:40


Third Quarter

H — Aaron Brooks 8 pass from McGovern (kick wide) 9:06

L — Menezes 22 field goal 7:29

H — Brooks 57 pass from McGovern (Dominic Rafferty kick) 6:33

L — Tighe 16 pass from Smith (kick wide) 3:22

H — Morales 37 pass from McGovern (Rafferty kick) 2:22

L — Keith Lynch 35 pass from Smith (pass failed) :47


Fourth Quarter

H — Morales 49 pass from McGovern (kick wide) 10:00

H — McGovern 30 run (rush failed) 4:40

H — Laguerre 6 run (kick blocked) 3:05



STATISTICAL LEADERS

RUSHING

Haverhill (41-331)  —  J.C. Laguerre 19-89, Broghean McGovern 14-181, Teshaun Watson 2-7, Jacob Dion 2-20, Jason Tufts 4-34

Lowell (36-127) — Anthony Doung 11-16, Daniel Smith 14-70, Ajay Proeung 11-41

PASSING

Haverhill — McGovern 11-15-0, 295

Lowell — Smith 9-17-1, 269

RECEIVING

Haverhill — Jukka Morales 3-137, Pedro Santiago 1-52, Watson 3-38, Aaron Brooks 5-68

Lowell — Brendan Lynch 4-155, Brendan Tighe 2-81

  

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