RallyNorth.net

Billerica Indians Football '18

Fri, Nov 09, 2018 07:00 PM @ Andover
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Billerica 0 7 7 15 29
Andover 7 0 7 7 21

Consistency plagues Andover

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ANDOVER — Consistency, which has plagued the Andover football team all season, proved to be a problem once again Friday night against Billerica.

Especially on defense.

Deadlocked at 7-7 at halftime, the Andover defense gave up several big plays in the second half and eventually fell, 29-21, to drop to 3-6 on the year.

“We had some good things tonight in spurts but then we had some breakdowns,” was the way Andover coach EJ Perry put it.

The Golden Warriors started the game looking sharp, taking the opening kickoff and driving 76 yards for a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Victor Harrington was 3 for 4 for 53 yards through the air on the drive and scored the TD on a nifty 10-yard run up the middle.

But, showing its lack of consistency, Andover could only manage 49 yards and one first down on its next five series of the half and Billerica tied it on the first play of the second quarter on a 48-yard pass from Nolan Houlihan to Colby Cyrus.

Other than that one pass, the Andover defense was stout in the first half, allowing just 47 yards and giving up only one first down. Junior linebacker Michael Slayton was particularly impressive. 

But Billerica’s offense came alive in the second half and shredded the Warriors, scoring on its first three possessions and moving the ball through the air and on the ground.

Shifty back Robert Moore rushed for 126 yards on 16 carries, scoring on runs of 11 and 63 yards, and Houlihan completed 3 of 4 passes for 71 yards.

A highlight for the Warriors in the second half was the receiving of senior Nick Zalanskas, who caught three Harrington passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns of 39 and 8 yards.

In both cases, Zalanskas outbattled the Billerica defender for the ball, the first time rambling 25 yards after the catch and the second time securing the ball in the corner of the end zone. His first score tied the game, 14-14, but the Indians scored the next two times they had the ball to pretty much put the game out of reach.

The Warriors (3-6) now must prepare for the monumental task of facing unbeaten North Andover on Thanksgiving.

“We’ve got some things to work on,” said Perry. “We have to just keep battling.”

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

A — Victor Harrington 10 run (Conor Moses kick) 5:50

Second Quarter

B — Colby Cyrus 48 pass from Nolan Houlihan (Ian Gibbons kick) 10:52

Third Quarter

B — Jared Fultz 11 pass from Houlihan (Gibbons kick) 5:19

A — Nick Zalanskas 39 pass from Harrington (Moses kick) 2:01

Fourth Quarter

B — Robert Moore 11 run (Gibbons run) 10:55

B — Moore 63 run (Gibbons kick) 8:14

A — Zalanskas 8 pass from Harrington (Moses kick) 7:17

 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Andover (25-73) — Tommy Duncan 15-60, Victor Harrington 10-13; Billerica (29-197) — Robert Moore 22-176, Shawn Colby 2-(-6), Colby Cyrus 1-(-4), Nolan Houlihan 2-14, Stephen Brennan 1-15, Nichola Guiltieri 1-2 

PASSING: Andover — Victor Harrington 11-20-1, 134; Billerica — Nolan Houlihan 5-11-1, 126

RECEIVING: Andover — Nick Zalanskas 6-75, Brendon Moody 2-38, John Gemmell 2-21, Tommy Duncan 1-0; Billerica — Colby Cyrrus 3-108, Shawn Colby 1-7, Jared Fultz 1-11

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