Tewksbury cruises

Tewksbury halfback Brandon Winn knew where yesterday’s big Merrimack Valley Small showdown with Chelmsford would be won.

“We knew it would come down to the trenches,” Winn said. “Our guys up front did a great job and they got me to where I needed to go.”

And on a sun-splashed day at Doucette Stadium that spot proved to be the end zone. Winn scored three times and rushed for a season-high 157 yards as Tewksbury crushed the Lions, 41-21.

Leading 15-7 with 5:23 left in the third, Tewksbury (5-1) notched the critical score of the game, converting a third-and-13 from the Lions 14-yard line behind a terrific play from quarterback Jim Connolly. Flushed from the pocket, the heady junior eluded a pair of tacklers and was about to go down when he spied the ever-present Winn in the flat for the score.

“Connolly is an amazing quarterback and he kept the play alive,” Winn said.

That broken play put the hosts up 22-7 late in the third, but Chelmsford (3-3) was not fazed. Lions quarterback Matt Hooton (two TD passes) found a wide open Joe Vecchione in the seam from 19 yards out to make it a one-score game (22-14) with 1:51 left in the third.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the Redmen were just getting going. A 45-yard jaunt by Winn along the sideline set up backfield mate George Matovu’s (two TDs) 2-yard plunge a minute later to make it 28-14.

“We always talk about fighting to get the momentum and then fighting even harder to keep it,” said Tewksbury coach Brian Aylward, who was pleased with the solid work up front by his offensive line. “I thought that we blocked better on the perimeter than we have the last couple of weeks.”

A pretty pump fake by Connolly helped set up a 62-yard scoring strike to Kyle Zervas on the ensuing possession, and two plays after Sal Lupoli and the resilient Lions cut the lead to 13, Matovu’s 15-yard burst up the middle closed out the scoring for the smallest school in the MVC.

“We always know that we have to work hard for any win we get and we appreciate every win,” said Aylward.

In other games yesterday:

Will Thompson threw for 126 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 125 yards and a fourth score as Newton North (33) coasted past Brookline, 30-0, in Bay State Conference Carey Division play. ... Zach Harris ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Braintree’s (4-2) defense forced five turnovers to stifle Needham for a 14-0 victory.

Shiloh White and Jake Tishman each rushed for two scores as Wellesley (33) rolled past Norwood, 420, in the Bay State Conference Herget Division.

In a Catholic Conference game, Ike Irabor rushed for a pair of touchdowns as Xaverian (3-3) defeated Malden Catholic, 34-6.

Bill Whelan finished with 226 yards and four touchdowns to lead Hamilton Wenham (6-0) over Manchester-Essex (2-4), 29-22, in the Cape Ann League.

Zach Dillon booted a game-winning 38-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to give Danvers (5-1) a 2422 victory over Beverly in Northeastern Conference North play.

Shane Fougere rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries as South Shore (3-3) erased a 30-6 deficit to win 48-30 over Blue Hills in the Mayflower Small.

Tristan Edwards ran for 103 yards and three scores as St. George’s (1-3) defeated Rivers, 42-0, in the Independent School League . ... John Grady had a pair of rushing touchdowns while Julian Tarpey added one on the ground and returned a kick for score as Nobles (3-1) edged Roxbury Latin, 34-30.

The official announcement is not expected for a few days, but we know that the No. 1 high school football team in the state will be playing at Fenway Park.

Undefeated Everett will play Masconomet on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. Winthrop and Revere were invited to play in the 8 p.m. game, but the Winthrop School Committee declined last week.

Winthrop has been on the road the past two years as Miller Field has been undergoing an extensive renovation and the field is expected to be ready in time for the annual Thanksgiving Day tilt.

There is no word on whether there would be Thanksgiving Day games at Fenway, but sources indicate the odds are against it.