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North Andover remains in Cape Ann Conference hunt

Friday, November, 06 By Jeff Hamrick

WILMINGTON — North Andover got its scoring from a familiar face, but it was an unlikely source that kept the Scarlet Knights conference-title hopes alive.

Playing on the road for only the third time this season, North Andover eked out a 14-12 victory over Cape Ann Conference rival Wilminton last night. Leading rusher Zac Iovanella scored both touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights (7-2 overall, 2-1 conference). Kicker Dylan Lurvey, however, was the difference maker, converting both conversions while consistently putting the Wildcats in bad field position with his booming punts.

The senior Lurvey averaged 40 yards on his six punts. His first punt — a 48 yarder which got North Andover out of a deep hole — and his last — which went 45 yards and put Wilminton at its own 1-yard line with 5:37 left — were the most memorable.

"To be honest, I go to bed at night hoping they won't need me to punt," said Lurvey, who also starts at defensive end. "(Wilmington) had a hard rush, and I was just trying to pin them back at the end zone. We had great coverage, and that's the first time I've ever left it at the 1."

North Andover appeared headed for a long night after Wilmington (6-3, 2-2) went 69 yards on the game's first  possession, using 12 plays and consuming 5 minutes, 34 seconds. The Wildcats had a first-and-goal at the Scarlet Knights' 7, but were stymied at the 2 four plays later.

"That stop was huge," North Andover coach John Rafferty said. "Obviously they had us reeling on that drive. But our kids dug in their heels and made that stop. That was really early on, but quite frankly it might have been the turning point in the game.

The Scarlet Knights did manage 25 yards on the ensuing possession, but it was Lurvey's leg that got thm out of trouble with a non-returnable punt to the Wilmonton 25. The difference in special teams was evident when the Wildcats went three-and-out then managed only 16 yards on their punt setting up North Andover at the 47.

Six plays later the Scarlet Knights took the lead for good when Iovanella made a nice end zone grab of a 38-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Brandon Walsh on a fourth-and-11 situation at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats, who had been undefeated in five home games, immediately responded with a drive capped by a touchdown pass from Sean Hanley to Brian Hurley, but had the extra point attempt blocked.

Lurvey also set up North Andover's second touchdown — a 13-yard run by Iovanella late in the second quarter, — with a 42-yard punt to the Wilmington 3. An illegal forward pass negated a 35-yard completion and forced the Wildcats to punt, which was returned 15 yards by David Foote setting up the Scarlet Knights at the 21. Although Iovanella went over the 1,000 yard rushing mark the play before his second touchdown, North Andover managed only 34 yards on the ground in the opening half.

"We knew it was going to be very, very difficult to move the ball on them," Rafferty said. "They have a very good defense and tremendous run stoppage. We figured it was going to be a real battle and it was. (Lurvey) did a really good job punting the ball. He has a big leg. I like to see him connect like that."

The Scarlet Knights have two huge conference road games remaining with Pentucket and Masconomet. 

"We have Pentucket this coming week, and that's all we care about," Rafferty said. "That's all we're going to be thinking about. We've had some unbelievable battles with them and we have another one coming up."