With high school football kicking off last Friday, Peabody High came up short in Melrose, while St. John’s Prep delivered an up-and-down, roller-coaster win against Springfield Central in a meeting of powerhouses.
Peabody (0-1) trailed by just seven points at halftime, but couldn’t find the promised land in a 21-0 final. Marc Mendonca of the Tanners played well on the defensive end.
Melrose’s Richie Harrison got things started with a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of scrimmage – a telling first chapter of a dominant book.
Coach Mark Bettencourt’s Tanners never quit, however. Mendonca hauled in a pair of catches for 30 yards, Cory Dooley caught two for 22 yards, Christ Jeune rushed for 20 yards, and Luke Maglione completed five passes for 57 yards to go with an interception.
Peabody visits Winchester Friday at 6:30 p.m.
In St. John’s Prep’s 36-35 win, Jordan Toribio scored a touchdown – followed by his own game-winning two-point conversion – with seven seconds remaining, and the Eagles (1-0) delivered a last-second victory to the fans at Glatz Field. A last-second Hail Mary attempt was intercepted.
The Prep trailed, 35-21, in the fourth quarter. Maxwell Parent, a transfer from St. Mary’s, scored an 8-yard touchdown in the first half.
The Prep visits Marshfield Friday at 7 p.m.
