By Chris Paul
After over two decades of the Londonderry High School football team being defeated by the Pinkerton Academy squad in Mack Plaque games, the Lancers started a new streak in back 2019 with a 42-24 win and since then, they have won three in a row. The latest win, to continue the streak, came on Friday night, Sept. 24, in Derry, with a 21-10 win over the the rival Pinkerton squad.
Both teams were undefeated heading into the game, and overall, the stats were pretty close in the contest with PA getting 243-yards of total offense and LHS accumulating 294, but the Londonderry shut Pinkerton down in the second half after trailing 10-7 for the convincing victory.
Lancer quarterbacks Aidan Washington and Drew Heenan combined efforts in the win with Heenan throwing for 11-yards and rushing for 47, while Washington added 10-yards passing.
Two long runs for both sides in the first quarter started the scoring in the game, Lancer Jake Schena ran for 92-yards on their second play of the game for LHS and a touchdown with Dylan Wrisley adding the point after kick for the 7-0 lead.
Pinkerton followed that with some impressive runs of their own. Cole Yennaco ran for 20-yards and then for 40-yards through some very heavy defensive traffic for an Astros touchdown with the point after kicked by Picasso Bates for the 7-7 tie to start things.
The only other offense mustered for either side in the first half was by the PA with Bates kicking 34-yard field goal before the half.
In the second half, on the initial drive by the Lancers, Heenan connected with Trevor Weinmann for a 26-yard completion to set up ideal field position into PA territory.
The second LHS touchdown came with a Heenan pass completion to Andrew Kullman for 38-yards into the endzone at 9:02 in the third quarter. Heenan hit Kullman from the 45-yard line to the 12 and the LHS receiver ran it in. Wrisley’s leg added another extra point for the 14-10 Lancer lead.
The Londonderry defense was able to keep the Astros out of the end zone in the second half despite some very good runs by Yennaco and Jacob Albert.
Londonderry widened their lead with 5:11 left in the game when Heenan ran the ball in from the two-yard line. Wrisley’s kick added to the 21-10 final score and the Lancer celebration.
Schena led the way in rushing for LHS with 103-yards on 10 attempts. Heenan had 47-yards and Weinmann had 11-yards on two carries.
Lancer Anthony Salcito had 44-yards in receiving yards with Kullman getting 38-yards.
Although the win didn’t have an impact on keeping the Mack Plaque in Londonderry, with Pinkerton winning five of the nine games played over the week, it was the Lancers third win in as many years against PA.
The Lancers will try to continue the undefeated season with a home game against Alvirne on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.