20 seniors lead Lynnfield into first battle

Published in the September 6, 2017 edition

THE 2017 PIONEER leaders heading into Friday night’s home opener against Newburyport are (pictured left to right): head coach Neal Weidman, Nick Kinnon, Harry Collins, Cooper Marengi, Nate Drislane and Anthony Murphy. (Tom Condardo Photo)

THE 2017 PIONEER leaders heading into Friday night’s home opener against Newburyport are (pictured left to right): head coach Neal Weidman, Nick Kinnon, Harry Collins, Cooper Marengi, Nate Drislane and Anthony Murphy. (Tom Condardo Photo)

By TOM CONDARDO

LYNNFIELD — If you’re unsure of what to expect from this year’s edition of the Lynnfield football Pioneers, you’re not alone. Head coach Neal Weidman is right there with you. 

“I’m not sure yet honestly,” Weidman responded when asked about expectations for this season’s squad. “We talk about ability but that is only 10 percent of it. The other 90 percent is attitude, commitment, and toughness. It’s tough to win without the 10 percent, but you need both to go anywhere.”

The Pioneers will kick off Weidman’s tenth season Friday night when they host Newburyport. Weidman comes in with a record of 70-31 in his first nine years and his teams have won five straight Cape Ann League championships and a division title, secured five straight playoff berths, and have made a trip to the Super Bowl.

Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year with only three players coming into the season with real varsity experience. The Pioneers started slowly with lopsided losses to Newburyport and Danvers, but they surged from there, running off four straight wins to capture the CAL Baker title. They won their opening playoff game against Northeast before falling to eventual D3A state finalist St. Mary’s in the North semi-finals. The Pioneers ended the year beating Greater Lawrence and losing a one point heartbreaker to North Reading on Thanksgiving to finish 4-0 in the CAL and 6-4 overall.

Inexperience will not be an issue this year. All 13 players who will see action on offense are seniors, as are 13 of 16 defensive regulars. Leading the way are captains Nate Drislane, Harry Collins, Nick Kinnon, Cooper Marengi and Anthony Murphy. According to Weidman, the senior leadership has already paid dividends the day before the final scrimmage of the year against Melrose last Friday.

“It wasn’t our best day and the seniors did a good job of righting the ship,” Weidman said. “They knew it needed to be different.”

The D5 Pioneers then went out and beat D4 Melrose 19-7 in two quarters of spirited play.

“If (the seniors) can do that as the season goes on, our expectations are definitely going to go up,” said Weidman.

Explosive Offense

The Pioneers will feature an explosive offense led by quarterback Matt Mortellite. The senior will be starting his second year as signal caller and lit things up as a junior completing 62 percent of his passes (128 for 208) for 1731 yards and 21 touchdowns – tied for most ever in a single season by a Pioneer quarterback. He will be throwing to a quartet of fleet senior wide receivers in Kinnon, Peter Look, Jason Ndansi, and Justin Ysalguez. Marengi and Drislane are the tight ends. Kinnon caught 40 passes for 597 yards, eight touchdowns and ran for 222 yards and four scores. He was Lynnfield’s leading scorer with 74 points.

The Pioneers will feature a “thunder and lightning” backfield this year with bruising Anthony Murphy and quicksilver Tyler Murphy (no relation) alternating at running back.

Opening the holes and protecting Mortellite is a senior offensive line of center Zack Huynh, Collins and Babine at the guards, and Nick Torosian and E. J. Umlah at the tackles. The line does not have the size Pioneer lines have featured in recent years, but they make up for that with speed and quickness.

Speedy Defense

Speed and quickness is also going to be a hallmark of the Pioneer defense. Babine, Collins, Umlah, Torosian, and Drislane will rotate through the defensive line spots. Senior Jack Razzaboni, and juniors Leo Quinn and Hunter Allain will man the outside linebacker spots. Marengi, Anthony Murphy, and junior Jaret Simpson will be the inside linebackers. Kinnon, Look, Ysalguez, Tyler Murphy, and Ndansi will rotate through the four defensive back positions.

Marengi will handle the punting and placekicking duties.

“We have the potential to be very decent,” Weidman said. “We just have to make sure we’re doing the right things and stop some of the sloppy play we’ve seen in the scrimmages. If we can continue to improve and not shoot ourselves in the foot, then we’ll be good. We’d obviously like to get off to a good start.”

This Week: Newburyport

Although the Pioneers will be playing the Clippers for the 45th time, they will be facing an unfamiliar foe. Newburyport comes in with their third head coach in three years and the Lynnfield coaching staff is trying to get a handle on what they will look like. Mike Levine, who replaced long time Clipper head coach Ed Guadiano last year, has returned to Texas after going 4-6 in his single season. He has been replaced by former Newburyport captain and assistant coach Ben Smolski.

The Clippers come in with a 33-man roster, but 16 of them are seniors. The Pioneers will be looking to avenge a 32-12 loss in Newburyport last year. Game time at Pioneer Stadium is 7 p.m.