Scarpa Leads Bentley Past Saint Anselm 35-21
Scarpa Leads Bentley Past Saint Anselm 35-21
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior quarterback CJ Scarpa (Andover, Mass./Andover HS) threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as Bentley University opened its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a 35-21 win over Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium.The Falcons outscored the Hawks by a touchdown in each of the first three quarters while bouncing back from a season-opening loss to West Chester. Saint Anselm, which was flagged for 15 penalties, dropped to 0-2.
Bentley went into the locker room riding a two-touchdown advantage, 28-14, after scoring on four of five first-half possessions. Four different Falcons reached the end zone with TD catches by senior Sean Myers (Foxborough, Mass./Roxbury Latin HS) and junior Brendan Burke(Norristown, Pa./Haverford School) sandwiched around scoring runs by seniors George Craan (Hyde Park, Mass./Concord-Carlisle HS) and Martin Bannerman Jr. (Pawtucket, R.I./La Salle Academy).
The Falcons' first possession of the afternoon lasted 16 plays, covered 69 yards and featured four third-down conversions. Myers caught four passes from Scarpa on the drive, including a five-yarder for the score, and sophomore tight end Marc Kazdan (Weston, Fla./American Heritage Plantation HS) also played a key role, with two catches, including a 19-yarder.
After Saint Anselm answered with the first of two TD first-half TD catches by sophomore Kyle Hill (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Bentley regained the lead with 9:39 left in the second quarter. Craan took it in from the three-yard line, finishing a drive that saw the Falcons gain a pair of first downs by penalty. T ree plays later, the visitors had the ball back at the Hawk 23, the result of an interception and 25-yard return by Bentley senior safety Junior Chery (Waltham, Mass./Waltham HS). Following a seven-yard gain on first down, Bannerman took it outside for a 16-yard scamper for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 7:56 left in the quarter.
The lead was cut in half with 4:12 left until intermission, senior Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) finding Hill for an 18-yard TD pass. After an exchange of punts, Bentley worked the two-minute drill to perfection with a 31-yard pass from Scarpa to Burke finishing a 64-yard, six-play drive that took only 52 seconds. The only scoring of the second half came on the final play of the third when Scarpa called his own number, carrying it in from five yards out to finish a 12-play, 62-yard drive.
Scarpa finished 14 of 20 through the air for 185 yards and no interceptions. Myers was his prime target, with six catches for 55 yards, and Bannerman led the Falcons in rushing with 71 yards on 16 carries. Chery was Bentley's leading tackler with eight, one more than senior linebacker Bryan Hardy (Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable HS). Senior corner Lamar Hardy(Centreville, Va./Westfield HS) had the Falcons' fifth interception of the season and also a pair of pass break-ups, and junior linebacker Joey Piatnik (Bethel, Conn./Bethel HS) had the game's only sack.
Gavalas put the ball in the air 41 times, completing 21 for 238 yards with Hill making a dozen catchess for 125 yards. Saint Anselm, which controlled the ball for 33:43, outgained the Falcons by two net yards, 304-302, and Bentley had one more first down, 19-18. Both teams were very efficient on third down with the Falcons eight of 12 and the Hawks 11 of 16.
Next up for the Falcons is Merrimack at home Friday night.
Ryan Hanigan's Hard Work is Paying Off
Andover High School Hockey Players Run Youth Clinic
Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2016 7:00 am
Staff report
It was all sticks and smiles at the Phillips Academy rink last month, as skaters from the Andover High School varsity team took part in its annual tradition of working out with the younger kids from the Andover Hockey Association.
According to Chris Kuchar, coach of the varsity team, the Warriors ran a clinic with 125 skaters from the age of 3 to 8.
They practiced skills and skating technique and then the Warriors stuck around to autograph sticks and jerseys.
Also, that night, each player from Andover youth hockey who wore their AHA game jerseys got into the varsity game for free.
“We had a sellout crowd for the 4-0 game over Waltham and the majority was AHA players,” Kuchar said.
Between the first and second periods of the game, two Andover Mite teams played a 6-minute mini-game called “6 Minutes of Fame,” similar to a custom at the Boston Garden when youth teams play between periods at Bruins’ home games.
Laramie, Belluche Heroics Give Andover Upset of Central Catholic
MVC hockey: Laramie, Belluche heroics give Andover upset of Central Catholic
- David Willis dwillis@eagletribune.com
- Feb 14, 2016
- LAWRENCE — As the final moment ticked off the clock, Zach Laramie was relying on instincts.
Slide to his right for a spectacular pad save with 34 seconds left in the game.
Aggressively move up in the crease for a glove save with 24 seconds left.
Settle in and calmly cradle a slap shot from the point with his body with just 0:19 left. Then, as the horn sounded, Laramie found himself flat on his back as the Andover High hockey team mobbed him.
”It was like a massive weight was lifted off of my shoulders,” said the junior goalie. “Just awesome. We felt prepared, we were ready and we believed and got this huge victory.”
Matt Belluche’s blast from just inside the blue line found the back of the net to give Andover the lead with 11:15 to go in regulation, and Laramie was simply dominant making that stand up as the Golden Warriors upset archrival Central Catholic 1-0 on Saturday night.
Roughly 1,000 fans jammed into the Valley Forum despite negative-2 degree temperatures.
”It’s unbelievable,” said Belluche. “What an effort by this team. I’m speechless. It is just such an incredible feeling that I will never forget.”
The win marked the first for the Golden Warriors over Central since 2013, a 3-0 stunner.
”It means so much,” said senior Nate Abbott. “We haven’t beaten them in so long. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Since Day 1 of this season we had this Central game circled on our calendars, and to do it is just awesome.”
The Golden Warriors improve to 10-5-2, and can play for the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 1 title on Feb. 22 when they host Acton-Boxboro.
The Raiders fall to 13-6-1 and suffer a major hit to their Super 8 prospects.
”We are thrilled,” said Andover coach Chris Kuchar. “This was a terrific effort. We have played some very good teams, but we are a very good team, too, and it’s a thrill to beat our rival.”
For the better part of two periods the rivalry battle was a goaltender dual between Laramie (24 saves) and Central freshman Matt Pasquale (38 saves).
Laramie delivered huge saves like his blocker stop from point blank or when he dove to his left to cover up a loose puck.
Pasquale was there to match him, making saves like his huge glove save on a 2-on-none breakaway.
“Matt and I train together and he is a terrific goalie,” said Laramie. “He made some huge saves. But I had no idea we were going to be in that kind of battle.”
Andover, however, found a way to slip the winner in.
At 3:45 of the third, Belluche took a pass from Steven Schuhwerk and fired a slap shot into traffic. It bounced around and ended up in the net.
“The guys were screening the goalie,” sad Belluche. “I just threw it on net. I didn’t know if I scored or someone else, but it was a goal and that’s what counts.”
From there, Laramie continued to dominate, shutting down the Raiders, who are without sophomore sensation Jake Wise (Junior Olympics), until the final buzzer.
And he was treated to a dog pile in front of the net.
“Laramie played one of the best games I have ever seen,” said Belluche. “He kept us in this game, especially at the end. He really saved us. And once we saw the puck on (Michael) Reilly’s stick and he cleared it, it was the best feeling of my life.”
Andover 1, Central Catholic 0