Tewksbury rally topples Danvers

TEWKSBURY — It took nearly the entire first half to get its offense rolling, but Tewksbury got on track and defended its Division 3 North title yesterday. After trailing by 14 midway through the second, the top-seeded Redmen scored 28 unanswered points to upend No. 3 Danvers, 28-21, at Doucette Stadium. “These guys fought hard,” Tewksbury coach Brian Aylward said. “Danvers is such a good team and well-coached program. They got off on the ball on us early and our guys just fought to stay in it. I’m proud of the way they hung on there.” Senior captain Jay Connolly took over with his team down 14-0 as he got Tewksbury (9-1) on the board with a 2-yard rush going into the half, just two plays after completing a 45-yard pass to junior Shane Aylward. “On a day like today to have that happen is really good,” Aylward said of the ability of the offense to get going through the air as well as the ground. “It’s hard conditions to throw in and (Connolly) was able to make some key throws at key times.” Connolly took his team seven plays and 53 yards on the opening drive of the second half. He found Aylward from 11 yards out to knot the score 14-14, and then he iced the game with a 62-yard rushing score to make it 2814 with 2:38 remaining. “It looked not promising at the beginning,” said Connolly. “But we knew we could play we just had to get tougher and make the right plays.” The senior finished 6-of-9 for 120 yards through the air in addition to 94 yards and the score on the ground. The go-ahead score came on a 26-yard scamper on a reverse pitch from Connolly to junior captain Jack Kelly with 3:31 left in the third quarter. The defense also settled in during the second half. A goal-line stand by the Redmen with 5:56 to go was big, and an interception from junior Zachary Weitz on the final play sealed the win. Danvers (7-3) trailed 21-14, but went on a 14-play drive that stalled on an incomplete pass at the Redmen two-yard line for a turnover on downs. The Falcons had a first-andgoal at the five and tried to punch it in three times with senior captain Matt McCarthy before the missed conversion on fourth down. “(Danvers) pushed us around a lot and we answered,” Connolly said. “I’m proud of the defense.” McCarthy scored all three touchdowns for Danvers as, including rushes of 8 and 4 yards to build the early 14-0 lead. He got the final score with 1:48 to go after a 20yard TD grab from senior Brendan Treacy.