RallyNorth.net

Pinkerton, Guinto (4 TDs) make it 10 straight over Londonderry

Friday, October, 16 By Christopher Smith
Staff writer

DERRY, N.H. — Pinkerton players were fired up and very rowdy in the locker room during halftime yesterday after scoring 14 points in the final 33.3 seconds of the first half.

That outburst erased Londonderry's early lead and gave the Astros a 9-point advantage.

Pinkerton running back Eric Guinto said, "All of a sudden we had momentum on our side. Before we were pretty quiet and then we scored those two touchdowns and we came in the locker room and everyone was going psycho." Guinto then received the opening kickoff of the second half and sprinted 43 yards to the Londonderry 39-yard line, setting up another score that gave the Astros a 16-point advantage in the Mack Plaque matchup.

Guinto, who is back after suffering an ACL tear toward the end of last season, ran 18 times for 157 yards and scored four touchdowns to help Pinkerton rout Londonderry 54-19.

"Coming out in the second half and driving right down the field, that I thought set the game away for good," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "I was surprised they kicked to (Guinto). Usually you don't want to kick to Eric. He's what makes us go."

Guinto, a three-year starter, had some trouble finding holes early as he had three carries for 1 yard or less. But he took his 10th carry 50 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

"Eric is speedy and quick and the ACL injury from last year is still something he's getting used to but I really thought today was that final piece," said O'Reilly, whose club bounced back from a disappointing loss to Salem last week. "Today he looked like the old Eric Guinto. He made some nice cuts and people were missing him."

Junior Mike Mazzola added, "We've been waiting for him to get some runs like that."

Londonderry led 19-14 with 1:44 remaining in the first half. But Pinkerton drove 61 yards on six plays to take the lead.

Londonderry fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Pinkerton recovered and scored on its first offensive play when Ryan Simpson fired a 27-yard TD pass to Guinto.

"I think that was the nail in the coffin for (Londonderry)," Simpson said. "(Guinto's) electric. Any time he gets the ball you don't know what's going to happen. I compare him to (West Virginia running back) Noel Devine all the time. When he gets the ball, you never know. He could go 70 yards, he could go 4 yards, or 12 yards. You never know when he's going to break one."

The win marks Pinkerton's largest victory over Londonderry since 2003 (54-14).

Pinkerton has posted 10 straight victories over Londonderry, who's last win against the Astros came on Oct. 6, 2001 (35-0).

"(The fumble) certainly was not one play that turned the game around," Londonderry coach Jon Rich said. "It didn't help. It certainly was a swing in momentum. We played a pretty decent first half and then they just kind of ran it down our throats the second half."

Londonderry was boosted by the return of Joey McLaughlin, who missed the first four games after suffering a preseason concussion.