Update: . Peabody wins 42-20
PEABODY – Peabody quarterback Shea Lynch ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more in the first half to lead the Tanners (5-0) to a 42-20 win over Leominster (4-1) Friday night in a battle of Division 2 top-ten-ranked teams. Jayce Dooley also scored on a 65-yard pick six to give the Tanners a 35-0 lead before the Blue Devils got six with no time remaining in the first half.
The second half was anti-climatic, although Leominster did pick up a couple of scores in what was a penalty-filled final 24 minutes.
The Tanners return to NEC play next Friday with a home game against the Winthrop Vikings (3-2)
Salem News coverage with assistant sports editor Matt Williams:
Peabody wins another battle of unbeatens, drops Leominster
The Peabody Tanners, unbeaten at 4-0 so far this season, will probably be facing their biggest challenge to date when they host the Leominster Blue Devils, who have won their first four games outscoring the opposition by a count of 152-20. Leominster features a versatile offense, led by speedsters Ricky Encarnacion at wide receiver and Ma’Kai Stinson Newton at running back. And, of course, their defense has been superb allowing an average of 5 points per game.
Meanwhile, Peabody’s numbers are similar : Pitching two shutouts so far, the Tanners have scored 155 points and have allowed just 15 over their first four games.
Leominster beat Fitchbug 48-6, Doherty Memorial 42-0, Nashoba 27-0, and Shepherd Hill 45-14.
Peabody’s wins were 40-0 over Revere, 35-8 vs Lynn Classical, 40-0 against Beverly, and 40-7 over Marblehead.
The most recent MIAA Division 2 Power Rankings have Peabody seeded third, with Leominster checking in at no. 9
Leominster at Peabody, kickoff at 7 Friday night.
Leominster Athletics Director David Palazzi
