TYLER ADAMO had a great game on the ground and through the air on Friday night, accounting for both a rushing TD and passing TD to lead Lynnfield to a 41-7 win over Triton. The Pioneers will stay on the road for Week 2 as they go to Newburyport on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (Jen Doyle Photo)
By JAMES CRANNEY
BYFIELD – The 2023 Lynnfield Pioneers began their football season on the road not only having to battle Triton, but the conditions.
It was a muggy and overcast Friday night with heavy rain off and on throughout the contest. While it may not have been the ideal climate for football, it was of no issue for the road team as Lynnfield crushed the Vikings in a 41-7 rout to begin their season.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Pioneers began from their own 20-yard line. Led by returning junior quarterback Tyler Adamo (11-21, 198 yards, 1 passing touchdown 1 rushing touchdown), Lynnfield quickly began moving down the field. Following a huge 22-yard gain from senior captain Joey Cucciniello (5 receptions, 119 yards, 1 touchdown), the Pioneers were now nearing midfield.
However, two Lynnfield penalties brought back what would have been two first down plays, making it look as if a Pioneer punt would be imminent. That was until Adamo found senior receiver Ethan Francis (5 catches, 115 yards, 1 touchdown) down the left sideline for a 47-yard pickup. Five plays later, senior running back Niccolo Antidormi (8 carries, 69 yards, 2 touchdowns) opened the scorer’s sheet following his blockers for a 4-yard touchdown run. After junior kicker Massimo LoGrasso’s (5/5 PAT’s) extra point the Pioneers lead 7-0.
Much of the talk this offseason surrounding Lynnfield football was the experience level on defense. Senior defensive back Kyle Schmitz was the only returning player on the defensive side of the ball, so many questioned how the new-look defense would perform.
They would be dominant.
Triton’s offense earned only 69 total yards the entire night, they moved the chains for a first down just twice and Pioneer junior defensive back Spencer D’Augusta had two interceptions in his first career start. Additionally, it seemed as if the Vikings could only go backwards as they had 8 plays result in either gains of either zero or negative yards.
“We are proud of the effort and each game will give the defense more experience,” commented Pioneers head coach Pat Lamusta on the defensive performance. “Even though many are new on the defense, we are fortunate to have our senior leaders out there playing with intensity. Kyle Schmitz and Niccolo Antidormi are really stepping up for us. On the front, you have Morales, Hardisty, O’Connor and Gorman who are all seniors contributing. AJ Chiaradonna, Alex Baldini, and Cole Hawes were also great at linebacker.”
Following Lynnfield’s first three-and-out on defense, the Pioneers got the ball back in the shadow of their own endzone. At their own 4-yard line, Lynnfield faced a daunting 3rd and 10. In a situation where so many things could go wrong, the 11 men on offense never flinched. Adamo was able to find Cucciniello in the open field before the senior receiver turned on the jets for a 65-yard gain.
“That was a huge third down conversion,” stated coach Lamusta on the play. “We were losing momentum and potentially field position. It was a great athlete to athlete connection from Adamo to Cucciniello as they are both capable of explosive plays.”
Out of the hole, Lynnfield was now deep into Vikings territory. A 25-yard touchdown run once again from Antidormi would extend the Pioneer lead 14-0.
Following several more Pioneer penalties, Triton finally found themselves in striking distance. In the 2nd quarter on a 4th and 6 from the Lynnfield 33-yard line, the Vikings connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Liam Frills making it 14-7.
That would be the last magic Triton could muster all night. The Pioneer offense immediately responded to the Vikings score with a methodical, 13-play series. Adamo capped the drive off scrambling for a 9-yard 3rd and goal score with 1:18 left before halftime.
When Lynnfield entered the second half, they did not lift their foot from the gas. Adamo threw his first touchdown pass of the season to Cucciniello, sophomore running back Nick Kelter (4 carries, 25 yards, 1 touchdown) got his first career rushing touchdown, and senior backup quarterback David Tracy found Ethan Francis who appeared to make all 11 men on defense miss before running 45-yards to the endzone.
The 41-7 drumming of Triton is exactly how the Pioneers wanted their season to begin. While the scoreboard reflected a near perfect game though, there are still many areas for Lynnfield to clean up. The Pioneers committed 8 penalties during the game accumulating for 80 yards lost. If the Pioneers want to stay in the win column next week as they travel to Newburyport (1-0), coach Lamusta knows this is a critical facet of their game to correct.
“We anticipate a good Newburyport team, so practice needs to be sharp this week. We want to focus on making smart plays and be disciplined avoiding penalties.”