Londonderry football ousts Pinkerton, wins first playoff game since 2001

LONDONDERRY - It’s been a year to remember for the Londonderry High School football team and it does not appear the Lancers have intentions on ending the run without a Division I championship.

That was all but clear in Saturday’s D1 quarterfinal round, where the Lancers dismantled rival Pinkerton Academy 45-3 at Lancer Park. 

It proved to be a three-in-one win for the undefeated Lancers (10-0). Most importantly, the triumph sends Londonderry off to the semifinals on Nov. 16, where the Lancers will host Salem. It was also the first playoff win for Londonderry since 2001 and the second time they’ve beaten the Astros (6-4) this year after dropping the previous 22 meetings.

“It says a lot about the players,” Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said. “It’s a good group of guys that ultimately make the coaches look good with how they buy in. When you’ve got talent and you work hard, you get to games like this.”

It took Londonderry a bit longer to rev its engine on Saturday, but the Lancers were firing on all cylinders by day’s end. A 7-3 Londonderry lead halfway through the second quarter became 28-3 by halftime and the Lancers never looked back.

It was Londonderry quarterback Jake McEachern’s turn to steal the show in the Lancers’ star-studded offense. The senior completed 11 of 14 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 45 yards and a score.

“He’s an efficient quarterback and preparer for a game every week,” Lauzon said. “He’s great with his run reads and pass reads. You’re talking about a guy that’s been in the program and learned from some great quarterbacks. Hopefully he can just keep it all going.”

After getting Londonderry on the board first with his running score, McEachern connected with Cole Keegan on two of the three scores Londonderry posted in the final four minutes of the first half. The 57-yard drive that ended with Keegan’s second score, a 9-yard touchdown with 35 seconds before halftime, was manufactured mostly by McEachern.

“My linemen were giving me all day to throw,” McEachern said. “I was just zoned in and delivered a good ball. My receivers got open too, so I really have to give it out to them.”

McEachern’s other touchdown pass was a 25-yard hookup with Alex Tsetsilas late in the third quarter to send the game into running time at 38-3. The rest of Londonderry’s scoring came from a running touchdown each for Jeff Wiedenfeld and Tyler Kayo while Zach Fawcett booted a 26-yard field goal along with going 6-for-6 on extra-point tries.

Brandon Roy’s 32-yard field goal in the second quarter helped Pinkerton (6-4) avoid the shutout. Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly spoke highly of his team’s improved ball security heading into Saturday, but the Astros regressed to the tune on seven turnovers against the Lancers.

Pinkerton lost lost four fumbles, including one on its opening drive, while throwing two interceptions and turning the ball over on downs once.

“The plan was to keep the ball on the ground, run the ball as much as possible and limit their possessions,” O’Reilly said. “It’s been a problem the whole year, right from the first game. We worked on it in practice but even (Saturday), they were all different turnovers. Two were from running backs, one was a quarterback-center exchange, two interceptions and one off a kick return, which I’m still trying to figure out what that was all about.”

Will Reyes, Dylan McEachern and Cam Babine recovered fumbles while Keegan and Tsetsilas had interceptions. 

While all the celebratory vibes will undoubtedly stick around a few days, Londonderry still has unfinished business as it relates to the ultimate goal. That business shifts its focus to Salem, who scored the most points of any opponent the Lancers faced this season despite falling to Londonderry 42-26 all the way back on Sept. 14.

“They are always a battle, especially with our guys growing up playing against those guys in the big games,” Lauzon said. “We’re very familiar with each other. We’re two hard, tough and physical teams. We’re expecting a war next week.”