CC gets tested in win over Andover

LAWRENCE — If you had told Chuck Adamopoulos before Friday night’s game with Andover that his Central Catholic team would have just one visit to the end zone by the time the fourth quarter came around, he might have been a little nervous about the outcome.

But in what proved to be the toughest test of the season for his kids, Adamopoulos saw his defense rise to the occasion time after time in a 17-0 over Andover.

The win improves Central to 5-0 and clinches at least a share of the Merrimack Valley Conference Large division title. Andover drops to 3-2, but can hang its hat on being the one team to really push Central this season.

“Give Andover a lot of credit. Their kids played their butts off,” Adamopoulos said. “(Andover) played great defense tonight. I’m really proud of our defense. I thought it played really good. It was a good win. (Andover is) a good football team. … We haven’t had a game like this. The kids had to respond and handle that, and they did a good job. I’m proud of the kids. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a good win.”

Central took the only lead it needed in the second quarter when quarterback Ayden Pereira hit a wide-open Matthias Latham for a 21-yard touchdown.

The Raiders held on to that 7-0 lead until halftime thanks in part to a bendbut-don’t-break defense that featured strong efforts from the likes of defensive end Preston Zinter, linebacker Tommy Casey, defensive tackle Uyi Osayimwen, and Latham, a safety, among others. Osayimwen, in particular, made three tackles for losses in the first half, one that ended an Andover drive in Central territory.

Andover was able to move the ball consistently but not enough to score. Sophomore running back Lincoln Beal (121 yards on 25 carries) was the main force for the Golden Warriors, who also had a strong game from fellow sophomore Scotty Brown. Beal drew high praise from Adamopoulos.

“Heck of a player. He’s as good a player as we’ve played against this season,” Adamopoulos said of Beal. “He really is a good football player on offense and defense. He was tough on defense and ran the ball really well.”

But in the end, Central was able to cash in on its opportunities. Nicholas Mazzie booted a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter, and after Andover turned the ball over on downs in its own end in the fourth, Pereira (172 yards passing) found Justice Mcgrail from 13 yards out to provide more than enough cushion.