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LYNNFIELD — Just like it has all year, North Reading gave a team with a much better record all it could handle.

But in the end, it was once again too much for the Hornets to handle. 

NORTH READING — Once Amesbury stifled the North Reading offense in the second overtime, the Indians figured they had the Hornets right where they wanted them.

Three plays later, Nick Croce made the strategy work with a 22-yard game-winning field goal that gave Amesbury a 15-12 victory in a Cape Ann Conference Small battle.

GEORGETOWN — In a game of big plays, North Reading saved its best for the end.

Spearheaded by the resilient leadership of quarterback/defensive back Nick Rosano, the Hornets shook off a sloppy field and an early Georgetown lead to score twice in the fourth quarter and prevail, 14-7, for its first win of the season.

GEORGETOWN — In a game of big plays, North Reading saved its best for the end.

Spearheaded by the resilient leadership of quarterback/defensive back Nick Rosano, the Hornets shook off a sloppy field and an early Georgetown lead to score twice in the fourth quarter and prevail, 14-7, for its first win of the season.

WEST NEWBURY — With hopes sky-high after upsetting Wilmington a week ago, Pentucket had no intention of a letdown yesterday.

“If you keep winning, it keeps snowballing,” said lineman Kevin Dunn. “Everything is on the line the next few weeks for the league title, but we weren’t looking past North Reading.”

NORTH READING — The looks on the Hornets’ faces told the story.

North Reading was shocked, watching a 22-point halftime lead slowly slip away in a 30-24 overtime loss to Bishop Fenwick.

READING — Austin Prep senior halfback Ryan Havey from North Reading bulled across two early fourth-quarter touchdowns at Father Seymour Field to lead Austin to a 30-26 comeback win over a gutsy North Reading team.

North Reading twice built up two-touchdown leads, 20-8 at the half and 26-14 after three quarters. After Austin Prep scored first on a Steve Barker 30-yard interception return (Havey added the conversion), North Reading scored three straight touchdowns, two coming after Austin turnovers.

NORTH READING — Football fans who love an offensive shootout can stop reading here. Newburyport outlasted North Reading last evening in what might best be described as a rock fight at North Reading’s new turf field. The Clippers (1-1) forced seven turnovers, including six interceptions, in a 19-2 victory under steady rain. Newburyport amassed a total of negative-six yards of offense in the first half, and still led 6-2 at the break. The Clippers (1-1) showed improvement offensively in the second half, logging two clock-eating drives that resulted in touchdowns. Andrew Sokol accumulated 44 of his 46 rushing yards in the second half, including a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. James Hundertmark added an insurance touchdown — a 29-yard rush — in the fourth. Defense was the story all evening. North Reading struck first, when senior linebacker Jamie Mantho tackled Newburyport quarterback Ryan O’Connor in his own end zone with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter. Up to that point, the Hornets dominated play, keeping Newburyport pinned inside its own 30 for three of its first four offensive possessions. Following the safety, North Reading received the kick, but the game changed on the next possession when Newburyport linebacker Dean Cataldo intercepted a pass from Ryley Warnock and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. “We self-destructed,” said North Reading coach Jeff Wall, whose club fell to 0-2. “If you take the turnovers out of the equation, I didn’t think they did much to us. We’re starting a sophomore quarterback, so a night like that is bound to happen. We didn’t want to throw, especially in this weather, but you have to put it up sometimes. They have some talented kids. We’re going to have to regroup.” North Reading sophomore linebacker Carl Lipani had a first-half interception, which he returned to the Newburyport 1 before Sam Barlow made a touchdown-saving tackle.

NORTH READING —  Disapointing. North Reading football coach Jeff Wall summed up his view of his Hornets 22-7 loss to Ipswich in just one word.

“We got everything we wanted in the first drive of the game,” said Wall. “But everything changed after that.”