Suffield Academy: 41, Phillips Academy: 0
Last season, Andover Football beat Suffield Academy (Suffield) 24-20 preceding Andover-Exeter Weekend (A/E). However despite many efforts, number six Andover fell to number four Suffield, in the Northeast Prep League.
Wide Receiver Gio Rosenfeld ’27 noted that Andover’s defense lacked intensity, letting Suffield score past them. Rosenfeld noted how potential interceptions were missed, resulting in big gains for Suffield as momentum shifted in their favor.
“The defense just kept getting scored on with 40-yard passes. There were passes where it could have easily been picked off and we just missed the ball and it got caught in the end zone. Then momentum kind of started to shift [and] not in our direction,” said Rosenfeld.
However, despite the disappointing results, there were outstanding players like that who shined through on both sides of the ball. Byron Johnson ’25 commended Carter Aime ’25 and Denzil Pierre PG ’25 for their contributions despite suffering a defeat.
Johnson said, “Carter played well. He is the best tackler on the team and he was doing it on Saturday. Denzil also played well on both sides of the ball as a linebacker and a running back. I would say Carter probably played his best game of the season.”
Furthermore, Rosenfeld highlighted the energy that Quarterback Jackson Slack ’26 brought on in the locker room. Despite the let-down, Slack encouraged his teammates to return to action.
Rosenfeld said, “One of our Quarterbacks, Jackson Slack, was really upbeat during the game. He was trying to pump everyone up at the start of the second half and trying to give us some motivation which was helpful because the energy was low.”
Johnson elaborated on the defensive issues, noting form problems while tackling. He acknowledged how the team will correct these issues during practice before the highly anticipated Andover/Exeter match.
Johnson said, “On the defensive side of the ball, [we’ve] got to get low when we’re tackling. They got a lot of big runs on us because we’re trying to tackle their shoulders, tackle their arms and that’s just not how you’re going to get a person to go down. It’s just little things that we’re trying to work on this week in practice: Installing some new plays, moving some people around so that we can really have our best team and play our best game in front of the huge home crowd this weekend.”
The focus for the team now shifts to Saturday, where Andover will take on the rival team, Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) during Andover-Exeter Weekend (A/E). With home-field advantage, the team hopes to knock Exeter out of contention for a bowl game. Johnson reflected on the bittersweetness of Saturday’s matchup.
“We’re always going to be pumped up, it’s a rivalry game, but especially since it’s the last game at home, last game for the Seniors. And with the opportunity to knock them out of a bowl game, we’re definitely more fired up than we would be on a normal week. This is my last game for Andover and I love the team, I love the coaches, and I love the energy that I get from being on that team. It’s heavy on the heart that it’s my last game, but at the same time, everybody’s time comes. Because of this, I want to play for the team, play for myself, play for the school, and finish out high school football.”
Boys Football will host Exeter for A/E on Saturday.
