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Lebowitz big play sparks Andover

Friday, October, 02 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER — For the better part of 20 minutes, it was Haverhill that controlled the game. But then Jake Lebowitz struck.

“The quarterback kind of juggled the ball,” he said. “I pushed him out of the way, caught it and tried to get into the end zone. I didn’t but I feel like that kind of turned the game around.”

Lebowitz recovered the fumble, and a play later Nick Enxing pounded in for the touchdown with 47 seconds left before halftime that gave the Golden Warriors the lead to stay as they continued on for a 34-6 victory over the Hillies last night.

Haverhill dictated the pace of play early, marching in for a touchdown after the opening kickoff. Then, the Hillies delivered a goal-line stand at their own 3-yard line and halted another Warriors drive at their 40-yard line.

But, as they started a drive at the Andover 12-yard line, nose guard Lebowitz burst through the middle and stole the ball out of QB Connor Tufts’ hands.

“That was huge,” said Enxing. “That was great for him to come up with that play. I really feel like that’s when the game shifted.”

After that point, the Warriors scored on four of their next five possessions. But it was the defense that made an even bigger switch.

In the first half, Haverhill running back Malcolm Novello torched the Warriors to the tune of 116 yards on just 11 carries, highlighted by a 52-yard scamper. He also returned a kickoff 53 yards.

However, after the break, Novella was limited to just 23 yards on nine carries. And Andover was just as tough on the pass, limiting Tufts to 0-for-6 throwing after he completed three passes in the first half.

“After that first couple drives we said we weren’t going to let that happen again,” said Lebowitz. “We made a few changes. We switched to four linebackers (from their normal 3-5) because the kid kept bouncing outside.”

Ned Deane led Andover with a team-high eight tackles, while Lebowitz notched six stops and Craig Hornung (interception) and Peter Theodorou each had five tackles.

“We threw out a different shade here and there and we were able to slow them down,” said Andover coach John Rex. “Then we could get rolling.”

Enxing continues to shine in his only year as a starter at running back. The senior carried 18 times for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was his second 100-plus yard rushing game of the season, and he has scored at least one touchdown in every game.

Quarterback John Hennessy hit on 12-of-18 throws for 185 yards and two scores and added a third touchdown on an eye-popping 43-yard run.

Hennessy’s favorite target was junior Brian Miller. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder caught eight passes for 149 yards and two scores, the first of which a dazzling catch-and-run which the showed speed that has made him Division 1-A football recruit.

“I think Brian is starting to realize the type of player he can be,” said Rex. “That big catch against Tewksbury really got him going. Now he’s feeling good. He’s a raw talent, but he’s got great ability. And Enxing is really running hard.”

For Haverhill, Tito Morel sacked Hennessy twice while Markis Santiago (team-high eight tackles) and Miles Miller each also got to the quarterback once.