The Big Blue train just ran right over the poor Loomis Chaffee Pelicans. Andover Football kicked off the 2003 season last Saturday with a 29-12 victory over the Pelicans. Loomis, known for their confusing option-based offense, struggled to keep up with the relentless Big Blue aerial assault. Loomis passed the ball just nine times, two of which landed in the hands of Andover defenders in interceptions. Bobby Spang ’05 and Paul Tassinari ’04 aided the Big Blue’s defensive efforts by each picking off a Loomis pass. Defensive lineman Alex Bongiorni ’04 harrassed the Pelicans’ QB all game, tallying a big five sacks. Evan Platt ’06 and Co-captain Connor Hoesley ’04 also played solid defensive games, shutting down Loomis’ vaunted running game. Tassinari, playing in his first-ever varsity game, picked off a Loomis pass, giving PA great field position at the Pelicans’ 49 yard-line in a scoreless game. On the ensuing drive, the Big Blue marched down the field towards Loomis’s goal line. Within striking distance of the end zone, new quarterback Nick Stamas ’04, after fleeing the pocket, launched a thirteen-yard pass that found wide receiver Tolu Wusu ’04 in the back left corner of the end zone for Andover’s first score of the season. PA then completed a successful two-point conversion in the form of a fake extra-point. On the Pelicans next possession, after two incomplete passes, the Loomis quarterback threw another pick, this time into the arms of Spang, who returned the ball 20 yards. Stamas then found his favorite target, Wusu, on three consecutive passes, the third of which resulted in a touchdown. Kicker Hobie Boeschenstein ’04 was dead-on for the extra-point and put PA up 15-0 at the half. Andover started a promising drive at the start of the second half after a big reception from Co-captain Tyler Simms ’04. The drive stalled, however, when wide receiver Bryce Loidolt ’04 fumbled, giving Loomis the chance to put some points on the scoreboard. The Pelicans drove down the field and scored on a short TD run. After a missed Loomis extra point, PA had the ball once again. Stamas found Loidolt three straight times, the third time being a thirty-one yard pass to the end zone for the third PA TD of the game. Boeschenstein then made a successful kick for the extra point bringing the score to 22-6. Loomis punted the ball back to Andover but immediately countered by picking off a Stamas pass. The visitors handed the ball to their halfback on the very next play from scrimmage. That Pelican could fly, and the back took the ball in for six on a long TD run. Sealing the deal in the final minutes of play, Andover ate up the clock and Loomis’ hopes. Michael Eruzione ’04 took care of the leg work, gaining 43 yards in two plays. The PG totaled 87 on the day, and scored the final touchdown of the game. Boeschenstein split the sticks for his third extra point. Back-up quarterback and starting left cornerback Stephen Sherrill ’05 said, “We won and that’s great, but we’re going to really need to step it up if we want to beat Hotchkiss next week.” Spang agreed, saying, “The team had a solid performance with our seniors leading the way; we will need to kick it up a notch to beat Hotchkiss, however.” Next week the Big Blue plays Hotchkiss, another rushing-heavy team with a future Division I-A running back. On the upcoming game Coach Leon Modeste said, “They are a strong team that crushed us last year and we will need to tackle better if we want to win.” Last week however Hotchkiss lost to Trinity Pawling, in what lineman Uzoma Iheagwara ’04 described as a “shocker.” He continued, “This team has the same offense as last year, they’re just going to try to wear people out. We plan on going to a special defense designed to stop their potent running attack.” While it is still very early in the season, there is something to be said for an opening day victory. As Iheagwara put it, “It was a good first win. We have a lot of stuff to improve on however, especially on D. But overall it was solid opening day and after a disappointing year last year, this year we are coming back with something to prove.”
