Post publication update:
Lynnfield defeats Saugus 28-0 (Nov. 7)
Published November 5, 2025
Gridmen end regular season with 35-14 win over Hamilton-Wenham
DAN LEMIEUX returned to the field for the Pioneers following a two-game absence due to injury and promptly went off for 85 receiving yards and 2 TD’s in Lynnfield’s 35-14 win over Hamilton-Wenham last week. (Courtesy Photo)
By JAMES CRANNEY
SOUTH HAMILTON – It has been a season of ups and downs for the Lynnfield High football team. Injuries mounted early and often for the team this Fall, and the Pioneers never seemed to find their footing. Last Friday, Lynnfield traveled to Hamilton-Wenham for the final game of the regular season riding a four-game losing streak.
On this dark and windy Halloween night though, the Pioneers would finally exorcise those demons delivering a statement 35-14 road victory, improving to 2-6 on the season.
Lynnfield was extremely happy to see senior captain Dan Lemieux (5 catches, 85 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns) return to the lineup. The captain had missed the past two games due to injury, but was ready to go for the regular season finale.
Lemieux received the opening kickoff for Lynnfield and returned it all the way to the Pioneers’ 39-yard line. From there, junior quarterback Spencer Brown (11-15, 130 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns) led the offense onto the field for his second career varsity start under center. Lynnfield’s offense was in the hole early facing a 3rd and 13, but a screen pass would extend the series. Brown dumped the ball left to junior running back Lucas Deraps, who followed sophomore linemen Jack Tranfaglia and Alexander Amico for a gain of 14 yards.
Having scored three touchdowns in the past two games, junior running back Chase Buoniconti (5 carries, 100 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns) was on a hot streak. Three plays after the 3rd down conversion, the Pioneers turned to the red-hot running back. Buoniconti received a handoff up the middle before quickly darting into the Generals’ secondary. With one man to miss, the junior running back spun right and faked the Hamilton-Wenham defender out of his cleats; 39-yards later, Buoniconti was celebrating in the end zone with his teammates.
With Lemieux back from injury, he was also able to return to his kicking duties. Following the opening touchdown, Lemieux drilled the first of his five extra points on the night giving Lynnfield a 7-0 lead.
During the four-game losing stretch, the Pioneers struggled mightily on defense giving up an average of 358 yards per game. On this night, Lynnfield’s defense slammed the door shut on the Generals. Not only did Hamilton-Wenham (1-7) never score a single point in the first half, they also never crossed the 50-yard line. Additionally, the Pioneer defense came up with two huge sacks from Tranfaglia and Buoniconti which kept the Generals at bay. Lynnfield’s offense failed to produce anymore points following the opening drive until a strike in the final minute of the 2nd quarter. After getting the ball to the Hamilton-Wenham 10-yard line, Brown looked for the returning captain. The quarterback dropped back and fired a bullet to Lemieux on a slant pass over the goal line with only 17 seconds remaining before halftime.“Dan’s [Lemieux] touchdown was big,” said Pioneers head coach Pat Lamusta. “We got hit with a couple penalties on the same drive, so we were starting to lose momentum. Then Spencer [Brown] was able to connect with Dan on a great route over the middle.”
Lynnfield came out of the locker room in the second half with all the momentum and a 14-0 lead. If the Generals had any belief they could get back into this game, the Pioneers were there to quickly thwart any hope. Lynnfield’s defense delivered another three-and-out to start the 3rd quarter, and when the Pioneers got the ball back, they delivered the kill shot.
Near midfield, Lynnfield faced a 3rd and 6 and turned to a familiar face. To keep the drive alive, Brown threw a tunnel screen pass to Lemieux who quickly side stepped an oncoming defender and had plenty of open space thanks to a block from senior captain Luke DiSilvio. With room to run, Lemieux exploded 55-yards down the left sideline. The receiver made three more defenders miss on his way to the end zone as the touchdown extended Lynnfield’s lead to 21-0.
To this point, the Pioneer defense had done everything they could possibly do to slow down Hamilton-Wenham except score points of their own. Late in the 3rd quarter, even that changed.
With their best field position of the game, the Generals had moved the ball to their own 46-yard line. On 4th and 1, Hamilton-Wenham tried handing it off to the outside, but senior captain Matt Tracy sealed the edge forcing the running back inside. That is where junior defensive lineman Joe Rosa was able to knock the ball loose onto the turf. In prime position was Deraps, who picked the ball up and ran 43-yards the other way for a touchdown.
“A great team defense play and finishing run by Deraps,” commented coach Lamusta. “I saw some great knock-back by defensive lineman Matt Tracy and Joe Rosa. Matt forced the play back to Joe and it appeared that Joe’s wrap on the ballcarrier jarred the ball loose.”
Lynnfield’s commanding 28-0 second half lead was simply too much for the Generals to come back from. Hamilton-Wenham would eventually get two touchdowns on the board, but a 65-yard rushing touchdown from Buoniconti in the game’s closing seconds put a bow on the Pioneers final regular season game.
“I’m proud of their effort,” stated Lamusta after the 35-14 victory. “There is still a good amount of football left, so looking forward to see who we get matched up with.”
On Sunday afternoon, it was announced the Pioneers will go on the road this Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. consolation game against 1-7 Saugus.