Lynnfield brought a new meaning to “explosive” Friday night, romping over Wakefield, 34-13, at Landrigan Field to pick up win No. 1 of the season.
Quarterback Tyler Adamo (9-for-14, 179 yards) not only ended the night with four touchdown passes, but the final one (a 55-yarder to Jesse Dorman) – his 40th career – broke a school record, formerly held by Clayton Marengi (39).
“It’s great to see Tyler play at such a high level,” said Lynnfield coach Pat Lamusta. “It’s no surprise that his career numbers are what they are. I believe this game moved him into first place for career touchdown passes. He was really spectacular against Wakefield.”
Madux Iovinelli (3 receptions, 55 yards, TD) got the party started early. Let’s just say if you got there late, you missed it. He took the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Wakefield 22-yard line. The Pioneers needed just four plays to find paydirt when Adamo hit Dorman (4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD) from 11 yards out to stake the Pioneers to a 7-0 lead after Massimo LoGrasso tacked on the extra point.
The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions. Wakefield found some rhythm on its next possession, driving all the way to the Lynnfield 10-yard line where the Warriors faced fourth-and-5. Enter Spencer D’Augusta, who sacked Wakefield quarterback Westin McNeilly for a 9-yard loss to give the ball back to the Pioneers on downs at the 19.
“That sack play was a huge momentum swing for us,” Lamusta said.
The Pioneers made it a 14-0 game early in the second when Iovinelli took a pass from Adamo, who powered his way 40 yards into the endzone while dragging a pair of defenders on his back the final 5 yards.
Wakefield returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to the Lynnfield 36. Dan Lemieux (2 receptions, 38 yards) saved the day with an interception and a 19-yard return.
Again, both defenses stepped up, forcing punts on the next two possessions. Wakefield wasn’t as lucky on the Pioneers’ next possession when Adamo hit a wide-open Jared Bernabei (8 carries, 49 yards) from 3 yards out to extend Lynnfield’s lead to 21-0 after LoGrasso (4-of-5 PAT, missed field goal) hit the extra point. Adamo provided the key play on the drive. Facing second-and-18 at the Wakefield 45, Wakefield’s pass rush forced Adamo to scramble for his life. Backpedaling away from the pressure and about to be sacked for a double-digit loss, he somehow threw a strike to Lemieux for 26 yards into the Warriors’ redzone.
Again, Wakefield moved the ball, driving to the 50 only to turn the ball over with 1:10 to go on an Iovinelli pick. A couple of plays later at the Pioneers’ 45, Dorman slipped behind the secondary and Adamo threw a perfect strike to him to make it 28-0 heading into halftime.
The Pioneers capitalized on another Warriors’ turnover on their first drive of the second half, this one an interception by D’Augusta. Facing third-and-11 at Wakefield’s 41, Adamo pulled another rabbit out of his hat – aided by huge blocks by Walt Radulski, Iovinelli, and D’Augusta – and scrambled 37 yards down to the 4. Two plays later, Bernabei punched it in from the 1, making it 34-6 with about seven minutes left in the third, allowing Lamusta to give the bench some minutes. Wakefield added a second score with 14 seconds remaining in the game.
Lucas Deraps (2 carries, 9 yards), Matt Tracy (carry, 9 yards) and Luke DiSilvio (reception, 7 yards) also contributed to the win. Tracy also completed 2-of-3 passes for 20 yards.
Lamusta said he likes the way the defense is shaping up.
“It’s great to see the defense playing fast and making plays,” he said. “Ian McCarthy went up against their big tight end all night and did a great job. It’s great to see guys like Spencer D’Augusta and George Labros step up in big third-down situations. When you have guys like Dan Lemieux and Madux Iovinelli on the field, there is big-play potential. They are great athletes with incredible football sense on defense. Winning the turnover battle and those explosive plays ultimately helped us cross the finish line in this one.”
Lamusta said he was happy with the performance of the offensive line.
“Getting into the win column was big, especially for our newer offensive line,” he said. “It’s great for them in terms of building confidence. Walter Radulski’s leadership and Oliver Ventolieri’s physicality have been crucial on the line. Maximus Nastari, Nick Lozada, Ben Gazit and Alex Fleming are evolving and getting better every week.”
Lynnfield heads to Ipswich Friday night to take on the Tigers in the Pioneers’ third straight game on the road.
