MINUTEMEN DISPATCH ANDOVER; MOVE ON TO NORTH SEMIS
Lexington, MA. 10/27/2017. They had to wait patiently for nearly a year, 363 days to be exact, and when the time for revenge finally came, the Lexington High School football team was ready.
Facing Andover, the team that had eliminated them from the tournament last year, the Minutemen exploded for a satisfying, but not easy, 52 – 33 payback win over the Golden Warriors last night at Harold Crumb Field. The sweet victory also secured them a shot at defending state champs Everett next Friday night at home in the semi-final of the loaded Division 1 North.
The Minutemen were remarkably resilient, managing seven touchdowns and a field goal despite having three apparent scores called back on penalties and having flags thrown at them a total of seven times for the game.
Even so, It looked deceptively easy in the early going as they won the toss and in 15 seconds took a 7 – 0 lead. Senior co-captain Sal Frelick hit his fleet junior receiver Tony Bianchi perfectly in stride over the middle for a 68-yard touchdown. But things got more complicated.
The Minutemen proceeded to suffer through some fifteen minutes of mostly abysmal football that featured the unthinkable; not just one, but two interceptions of Frelick both by Andover junior linebacker Nick Zalanskas on successive Lexington possessions, another turnover on a lost fumble and the first of three touchdowns to be called back; this one on a procedure penalty.
“I think I had maybe one interception all year,” Frelick said. “Then I got two in one quarter. Actually, I think the interceptions woke us up,” he added. “Once we got our feet under us we were really confident.”
The good news during this stretch was provided by Ben Quint. With Lexington down 13 – 7 at the beginning of the second quarter, and facing a fourth and 2 at their own 39, the Minuteman senior co-captain took a short lob from Frelick at the 40 and turned it into a 60 yard touchdown.
But Andover answered with a five minute 15 play drive resulting in an 18-yard field goal and the lead at 16-14 making the Lexington faithful both surprised and uneasy.
Matters got worse when Lexington fumbled the ensuing kick-off giving Andover possession at the Minuteman 37, but the defense held on fourth and 1 at the Lexington 28, setting the stage for Quint’s next momentum changer.
The shifty running back took an option pitch from Frelick, froze the Andover outside linebacker with a sharp cut back to the inside and was off for a 72 yard score to put Lexington back up 21-16.
Still very much in the game, the visitors came right back on a seven play march to the Lexington 28 and appeared to be poised to take the halftime lead with 50 seconds left, when Minuteman junior linebacker Luke Butler broke through sacking Golden Warrior senior quarterback Nick Dellatto forcing a fumble. Senior co-captain Will Thomas scooped it up at the Lexington 38 and returned it all the way to the Andover 25.
But Lexington’s penalty plagued first half continued as they were called for illegal motion and an illegal block leaving them at the Andover 38 with one second left. Enter Duncan Hewitt with the unlikely task of a 48-yard field goal. The junior split the posts with room to spare, and, instead of frustrated, the Minutemen left the field celebrating a 24 – 16 lead after a difficult half.
Andover’s first drive of the second half resulted in a field goal drawing them back to a slim five point deficit at 24-19, but Lexington was just getting started.
On their ensuing possession Quint’s 50-yard touchdown run was called back on a holding penalty. Two plays later Frelick did his Houdini routine down the left sideline for another touchdown only to see yet another flag for holding. Finally, facing fourth down and 17 at the Andover 20, well within Hewitt’s range, coach George Peterson instead reached deep into his playbook.
Frelick pitched back to Quint in the right flat. Quint lateraled to Bianchi reversing from the left side. Meanwhile Frelick had sprinted downfield into the end zone. Bianchi, usually the receiver, did the throwing and hit Frelick for the touchdown and a 31-19 lead.
Peterson said, “It was fourth and forever and we had to make a play. It was something we weren’t sure we wanted to show this week, but it was the perfect time for it. So we threw it to the guy (Frelick) who’s the best playmaker in the state.”
Hewitt’s NFL-like field goal and now this play seemed to turn the momentum completely. The Lexington defense led by hard hitting junior Max Stevens, senior Jimmy Lane and senior Sean Sullivan forced a three and out and an Andover turnover (an interception by, who else, Quint) on the next two Andover possessions, and the offense capitalized taking a total of just 6 plays on two drives to score two more times; a 14 yard run by Quint and a Frelick to Bianchi 10 yard touchdown connection to bring the score to 45-19 and essentially assure the outcome with 7:46 left.
Despite the two interceptions, Frelick had another huge night accounting for over 400 yards of total offense on 8 of 15 passing for 245 yards and four touchdowns, 13 carries for 148 yards and the 20-yard touchdown pass from Bianchi.
Quint ran 10 times for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught one short pass that he converted into a 61-yard touchdown.
Bianchi had 6 catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns and the touchdown pass to Frelick.
So, now Lexington has won the dubious privilege of a visit from perennial power Everett next week. Stay tuned for the day and gametime.