Generals Knock North Reading From League Undefeated

North Reading coach Jeff Wall said his game plan coming into the game at on Saturday – a marquee match-up of top Cape Ann League Tier 4 teams – was to keep the Generals 1-2 punch of Trevor Lyons and Elliot Burr to the outside and then contain them with support.

In his words “that didn’t work” as Lyons, the dynamic and lightning-quick quarterback, torched the Hornets defense for 262 yards on 22 carries and three of his four touchdowns on sweeps to the outside as the home team recorded a 28-12 victory.

“We basically wanted to keep them outside … and stuff the middle,” said Wall, whose team fell to 5-3, 2-1 in the CAL. “That didn’t work as they got guys outside and took care of us (on blocks).”

It very easily could have been a game when Hamilton-Wenham (8-0, 3-0) had a slim 14-6 advantage at the half and North Reading opening the third quarter with the ball. But the Hornets went three-and-out and the Generals followed with a one-play, 76-yard Lyons sweep around the right side untouched to grab a 21-7 lead. Burr sprung his backfield mate with a monster block to open the alley.

Even though Reading answered with a 60-yard scoring pass play from Jackson Kellogg to Charles McCarthy, Lyons did it again to the “containment” when he again scored on a one-play drive – a 61-yard sprint, again down the right side untouched.

“What we wanted to do was get outside because (North Reading) was blitzing up the middle,” said Lyons. “At first we wanted to ground and pound (in the first half) but that didn’t work, so we started to run it outside.

“That’s what’s dangerous about us, we can do both.”

Burr proved that point when he iced the game as he gained 61 of his 83 yards to run out the clock after Hamilton-Wenham took the 28-12 lead.

“Burr … always wants the ball, but he understands his role, and he made a monster block on one of the TDs,” said coach Andrew Morency of his co-No. 1 runner. “But it is great to have a 200-pound running back in the fourth quarter.”

Wall knew what his team faced going into the game. He said he didn’t worry about the pass but in the end it didn’t matter.

“Hamilton-Wenham is a very talented team, no doubt about it,” he said.

“They came out ready in the second half. They took care of us at the line and once (their running backs) got to our linebackers we were in trouble.”

North Reading opened the scoring on its first drive, after holding Hamilton-Wenham to 3 yards when it first got the ball. On the fifth play of the drive fullback Ryan Sanborn took a direct snap and went up the middle for 41 yards and the score.

The Generals answered on its signature long drive – 10 plays and 68 yards. Lyons had two longs runs of 32 and 13 yards before he capped the drive with an 11-yard TD. Wide receivers Pete Duval and Cody Cohan blocked the cornerbacks in order to allow the quarterback to sneak into the end zone with 1:45 remaining the first quarter.

Hamilton-Wenham upped its advantage to 14-6 on a 13-play drive, helping H-W to a 26-15 advantage in offensive plays in the first half. Despite having a score called back on the drive, the Generals marched on and scored on a third-and-goal one yard sneak by Lyons with 1:04 showing in the second quarter. Duval kept the drive alive when he recovered a fumble on a second-and-goal run.

“The kids settled in,” Morency said. “We’re a veteran team and were able to overcome a little adversity.”

The Generals special teams also contributed to the victory. Paul Kim was perfect on his PATs and freshman Ryan Gray, who took over for Kim on kickoffs, kept the Hornets from starting any further than the 30-yard line in the second half.

Matt Putur had an interception at the end of the first half.