North's workmanlike win in 47th Shriners Classic rooted in trenches
'There was no way I was losing this game,' said Walsh, part of a 13-0 Rams squad that
Peabody's 6-foot-4-inch defensive lineman Jimmy Festa made several huge plays alongside Walsh. Beverly's Jack Consedine and Winthrop's Gabriel Grein were also stellar on the defensive line with St. John's Prep linebacker Jackson Tucker patrolling behind.
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Billerica's Dan Moore (from left), Woburn's Caeden Davis, Haverhill's James Farrell, and Belmont Hill's Dylan Doherty helped the North All-Stars to a 7-6 win.
Nate Weitzer
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The South defense also won the line of scrimmage consistently with Lucas Tremblay (Apponequet), Jonathan Balde (Foxborough), and Matheus Cesard (Barnstable) standing out. Coming off
'I haven't seen anything like that,' said Apponequet coach Zane Fyfe, who led the South Squad along with his assistant and former Bridgewater State teammate, Andy Amaral.
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'On both sides of the ball those guys [on the defensive line] were just animals. Neither side could be blocked and it's hard to do much when you've got guys like that.'
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Walpole quarterback Noah Mackenzie (committed to Stonehill) opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but South never got back into the red zone. Masconomet's Cash Kornusky blocked the ensuing extra point, which proved to be the difference.
Belmont Hill's Nick Pelligrini was honored with the Community Service award.
Nate Weitzer
Haverhill senior James Farrell (Assumption) finished North's sole scoring drive in the first half with a 26-yard touchdown scamper on a read option. Methuen star Shane Eason (Stonehill) ripped off 53 rushing yards on just three carries, earning offensive MVP honors.
All proceeds from the game, which was moved from its usual venue at Bentley due to construction, go to the Aleppo Shriners Children's Transportation Fund.
'It was great to play football in June and for a great cause,' said Revere and North squad coach Lou Cicatelli. 'And it's all about making new relationships, meeting good people, and getting pointed in the right direction, and hopefully these kids go on to do great things in college.'
Nate Weitzer can be reached at
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