Pinkerton football’s defense bends, doesn’t break in win over Londonderry

LONDONDERRY – On the sideline in the pouring rain, Pinkerton Academy head master Griffin Morse spoke about an annual tradition at the start of rivalry week.

Each year all of the fall athletes from both Londonderry High School and Pinkerton get together and share a meal. Apparently, this year the table with the football players was very quiet. It seemed like the players from these institutions wanted to do their talking on the field.

They succeeded.

The stadium was filled to the brim. Students from both Pinkerton and Londonderry stayed in their seat until the last play of the game, and with good reason, as this back-and-forth game ended as a 21-14 win for the Astros.

The scoring opened up with a touchdown pass from Londonderry quarterback Jake Stevens to Pete Navaro. The first score of the game not only got the crowd involved, but made Pinkerton  coach Brian O’Reilly nervous.

“Our defense has been a concern of mine to start the season,” O’Reilly said. “Drives like that first one have been far too common this year.”

Pinkerton responded with three touchdowns from senior captain Nico Buccieri.

“Three touchdowns in one game are the most I have had since I was a little kid,” Buccieri said.

The second of the three touchdowns came on the play of the game, which was a 78-yard run that gave Pinkerton a 14-7 lead going into halftime.

Of Buccieri’s performance Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said, “He’s a great player, just one in a series of backs (O’Reilly) has had come through his program and he does a great job getting his stars the ball.”

After a Londonderry turnover – something that has plagued the Lancers (0-4) all year – Buccieri put the ball into the end zone a third and final time making it a two-score game.

O’Reilly viewed the two-score game as a disadvantage in the inclement weather.

“Everyone knows (Pinkerton quarterback Aiden Goujon) can throw, but we didn’t want to throw in the rain with the lead,” he said. “(On the other hand) Londonderry had their entire playbook available.”

Late in the third quarter, Londonderry responded with a touchdown pass of its own from Stevens to junior receiver Adam Wilkinson, resulting in a tip-drill reception. Londonderry seized the momentum from the touchdown catch by executing a successful onside kick.

That’s when the defense O’Reilly was concerned about really shined. Despite Londonderry dominating time of possession and the field position in the fourth quarter, Pinkerton’s defense did not let the in the end zone.

“I think we outgained them like 400-190 something,” said Lauzon. “But stats do not win games, points do and we just could not get the ball over the goal line.”

Bucceieri who also plays outside linebacker was proud of his defense just as much as his three touchdowns. ”

“We really dug in deep, there were not a lot of penalties, and we battled,” he said.

Londonderry looks to get into the win column Sept. 30 at Concord, while Pinkerton looks to build on it rivalry week success as the Astros face a tough Bedford opponent.