Fri, Oct 28, 2016
07:00 PM @
Lexington
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
OT |
Final |
| Andover |
8 |
21 |
19 |
0 |
6 |
54 |
| Lexington |
22 |
20 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
48 |
Andover beats previously unbeaten Lexington in OT
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Friday, October, 28
By David Willis
LEXINGTON — E.J. Perry IV, ever the soft-spoken and reserved figure, scrambled around the field in joy, covered in mud as he searched for any teammate or coach to embrace in joy.
After the game he had just delivered, Perry IV had the right to any celebration he saw fit.
“This is unbelievable!” said Perry. “I can’t believe it. Amazing win.”
Having already accounted for all eight of Andover’s touchdowns, Perry IV turned the game’s deciding play on defense.
With the Golden Warriors leading by a score in overtime, Lexington QB Sal Frelick rolled out of the pocket and threw a desperation heave into the end zone on fourth down.
Perry IV read the play, positioned himself and batted down the pass to clinch a wild 54-48 overtime victory for No. 7 seed Andover over previously-unbeaten No. 2 Lexington on Friday night in the Division 1 North first round.
“We have been looking for that signature win all season and we got it,” said receiver Cedric Gillette. “We have been hearing everyone doubt us. No one believed in us, but we have 120 kids on that roster that believe in us. And we pulled off an amazing win.”
The win sends Andover to the Division 1 North semifinals against the winner of Saturday’s matchup between No. 3 St. John’s Prep and No. 6 Acton-Boxboro.
“This is the best day of my life,” said lineman/linebacker Jason Lynn. “It’s just unreal. We came together like we never have before and we got it done. In the end, it was just relief. E.J. was amazing.”
With his team in trouble early, Perry IV placed his team on his shoulders.
Trailing 21-8 after one quarter, Perry IV connected on touchdown passes to John Marotta and Joe Rockwell, then finished the second with a 15-yard run for a score.
Lexington scored just before halftime to retake the advantage.
But Perry IV opened the third with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Gillette, then on his next pass hit Gillette for a 43-yard score.
He ended the third with another rushing score, Lexington scored in the fourth to send it into overtime.
Andover took the ball first in OT, and two plays in Perry IV plowed in from 8 yards out to give the Warriors the lead.
“We were prepared,” said Perry IV. “I had to just put my shoulders down and get in, and that’s how it went.”
Lexington then took the ball, and after the Warriors stuffed Frelick on first down and caught him for a loss on third down, the QB could only throw up a final Hail Mary.
“No. 12 for them (Spencer Kendall) is about 6-5 and he is great,” said Perry IV. “He lined up in the slot and I knew I had to cover that kid because the ball was probably going to him. It went up and I was able to knock it down.”
All that was left was the celebration on the mucky Lexington field.
Perry IV ended the game with 376 passing yards, 303 of those to Gillette in his breakthrough performance.
“E.J. and I have been working together every day all season and all offseason,” said Gillette. “And we do it all for moments like this. Doing it on this field, it’s an amazing win. We just can’t wait for next week.”
Game Statistics:
Division 1 North First Round
First Quarter
L — Sal Frelick 44 run (Ben Quint rush), 10:15
A — Cedric Gillette 82 pass from E.J. Perry IV (Perry IV rush), 8:14
L — Quint 9 run (Spencer Kendall pass from Frelick), 5:53
L — Frelick 15 run (pass failed), 3:35
Second Quarter
A — John Marotta 16 pass from Perry IV (Charlie Ziegenbein kick), 10:21
L — Quint 30 run (rush failed), 9:16
A — Joe Rockwell 20 pass from, Perry IV (Ziegenbein kick), 7:08
A — Perry IV 15 run (Ziegenbein kick), 6:06
L — Quint 16 pass from Frelick (rush failed), 4:14
L — Kendall 31 pass from Frelick (Kendall pass from Frelick), 0:28
Third Quarter
A — Gillette 52 pass from Perry IV (kick failed), 8:52
A — Gillette 43 pass from Perry IV (Ziegenbein kick), 6:50
A — Perry IV 6 run (pass failed), 0:32
Fourth Quarter
L — Quint 28 pass from Frelick (kick failed), 6:38
Overtime
A — Perry IV 8 run (rush failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Andover (34-246) — E.J. Perry IV 24-184, Jeremy Travaglini 10-62; Lexington (28-195) — Sal Frelick 17-127, Ben Quint 9-66, Anthony Bianchi 1-4, Jack Marcin 1-(-2)
PASSING: Andover — Perry IV 18-35-2, 376; Lexington — Frelick 7-16-1, 171
RECEIVING: Andover — Cedric Gillette 11-303, Joe Rockwell 5-57, John Marotta 1-15, John Boese 2-15; Lexington — Quint 3-73, Bianchi 3-67, Kendall 1-31
