RallyNorth.net

Turnovers doom Andover

Friday, October, 28 By David Willis
Staff writer

DRACUT — Andover coach E.J. Perry simply identifying what cost his team.

“You can’t turn the ball over six times in a game,” said Perry. “When you allow turnovers like that, you are in big trouble.”

Andover committed four turnovers in the first quarter alone, and two more the rest of the way as the Golden Warriors were shocked by struggling Dracut 26-10 last night.

“Last year we went into their house expecting to win and they beat us bad,” said Middies quarterback Jimmy Ryan, whose team had lost five straight going into the game. “That was in our minds all week, and we wanted to show them.”

The Warriors turned the ball over four times in the first half — two interceptions, a fumble and a muffed punt — falling behind 26-2. Andover was outgained 195-48 in those two quarters.

“You can’t allow a team to jump out to that kind of lead,” said Perry. “We played Andover football in the second half, but the deficit was too much.

Andover rallied back with a fourth-quarter touchdown on a 20-yard pass from C.J. Scarpa to Will Heikkinen, who finished the game with six catches for 91 yards. The Warriors also allowed just 70 yards to the Middies after the break.

But another pair of turnovers ended any chance of a miracle comeback. Ryan connected with receiver Bryant Tuff nine times for 111 yards and three scores on the night.

The Golden Warriors’ biggest bright spot was an impressive 107-yard interception return of a two-point conversion by Andy Coke.

Mark Zavrl led the Andover defense with two sacks and eight tackles while Will Eikenberry added a sack of his own.

“We needed to play disciplined football on every play, and we didn’t do that,” said Perry. “We will fix that this week. We pulled everything out, some things worked by too many didn’t.”