NORTH ANDOVER – Marblehead and North Andover went toe-to-toe in a defensive battle that ended up with the Magicians squeezing out 12-7 win over the Scarlet Knights. Scoreless after one, sophomore quarterback Drew Fitzgerald hit senior receiver Cam Partridge with a 28 yard touchdown pass that finished off a 9 play, 50 yard touchdown with 1:35 left in the first half to give North Andover a 7-0 lead. A minute and 13 seconds later, Miles O’Neil (15/25 for 195 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT) passed to Ryan Commoss for an 11 yard score that brought the Magicians to within a point after the PAT failed. 7-6 North Andover at the half.
Late in the third quarter O’Neil connected with Connor Cronin from 39 yards out that finished off an 11 play, 90 touchdown drive with 23 seconds left to give Marblehead the 12-7 lead that they never gave up. (A two-point conversion attempt failed.)
Two tremendous defensive plays by Marblhead junior Christian Pacheco late in the fourth quarter forced North Andover to turn the ball over to the Magicians, who were able to finish the game in “victory formation.”
Total yards from scrimmage: Marblehead, 276 – North Andover 208
Scoring summary
North Andover touchdown by Cam Partridge
Marblehead touchdown: Ryan Commoss 11 yd (pass from Miles O’Neil)
Marblehead touchdown: Connor Cronin 39 yd td (pass from O’Neil)
Game broadcast OnDemand
Photos from North Andover
MARBLEHEAD / NORTH ANDOVER
Note: Marblehead player Jake Scogland’s father Jeff Scogland passed away just prior to last week’s Marblehead game vs. Lynnfield. This is discussed in the Rudloff interview.
Marblehead Head Football Coach Jim Rudloff with Bill Newell
Note: Marblehead lineman Jack Aneshansley was selected this week as MSO’s / Harrington Trophy north shore football player of the week Click here for details.
NORTH SHORE – The Marblehead Magicians (2-0) travel to North Andover (2-0) to take on the Scarlet Knights of coach John Dubzinki. The North Andover coach is in his 8th season having won 46 games and lost only 20. The Knights are riding a 4-game winning streak with wins over Lincoln-Sundbury and Beverly to start this season. North Andover’s starting offensive lineman average 226 pounds per player.
Magicians’ coach Jim Rudloff is in his 14th season with an 81% winning average and a record of 118 wins against just 28 losses. Marblehead has wins over Concord-Carlisle and Lynnfield to start its 2022 schedule.
Feature Interviews: Jim Rudloff / Marblehead Athletic Director Greg Ceglarski (Below Live Listen Link
Marblehead High School football coach Jim Rudloff (with MSO’s Bill Newell)
Marblehead Athletic Director Greg Ceglarski with MSO’s Bill Newell
