ANDOVER — A year ago, Dan Guinee had hopes of making the varsity football team as a sophomore, but a season long hamstring injury kept him on the shelf.
He healed up and got ready for lacrosse season. Shortly after his successful ended in the spring, he gave a verbal commitment to join his brother J.P. (John Paul) and play lacrosse at Army West Point.
A few weeks later, football camp started. Guinee wanted to give it another try.
“I came out for the team this year thinking I would be a receiver and (first-year head) Coach (Jay) Fielding swayed my mind and he’s got me at safety now and I’m loving every minute of it,” said Guinee.
And he certainly loved it on Friday night.
The junior safety was part of a big defensive effort for the Golden Warriors when he scooped up a fumble and took it 83 yards to the end zone for his first ever varsity touchdown.
His defensive score in the first quarter ignited Andover’s 56-8 win over an extremely young and inexperienced Lawrence team.
“Braden Sullivan ripped it out the kid’s hands and the ball came out and I saw it on the ground. I knew it was my time so I picked it up and (scored the touchdown),” said Guinee. “I knew I could get to the end zone and I was pretty pumped up.”
Guinee’s addition to the team is much greater than the ability to return a fumble for a touchdown or to break up a pass or make a tackle.
“We had something go in the other day where some kids didn’t own up to something and he owned up to it but he didn’t do it,” said Fielding. “He fell on the sword. That’s the kind of kid he is. He takes ownership and he’s a great leader and such an unselfish person.”
That unselfishness actually started way back during the hot days of August.
“Honestly in a town where you have 25 wide receivers, you’re just trying to get the kids to buy-in and we needed guys at defensive back,” said Fielding. “He texted me before the season started and said ‘I can be that guy for you on defense coach’.”
Guinee, who had never played varsity and never played in the secondary, came up with a huge interception late in the fourth quarter of Andover’s season opening win against Wellesley.
“He was at cornerback but after an injury, we bumped him to safety and he had that huge interception,” said Fielding. “He would be a terrific wide receiver for any other team. He’s so athletic and he would be pretty awesome with the football in his hands. But here we need him on defense and he bought in right away.”
“Now at safety, Dan’s just really cerebral,” added Fielding. “He’s picked everything up and has improved game by game.”
Andover 56, Lawrence 8
First Quarter
A: Marcus DeJesus 21 run (Henry Belscher kick)
A: Thomas Enman 2 pass from Kyle Olson (Belscher kick)
A: Dan Guinee 83 fumble recovery (Belscher kick)
A: Michael Crowley 34 pass from Olson (Belscher kick)
Second Quarter
A: Olson 1 run (Belscher kick)
A: Ryan Moriarty 15 pass from Olson (Belscher kick)
L: Javien Tibbets 28 pass from Manny Perez (Waldy Guerrero pass from Perez)
A: DeJesus 1 run (Belscher kick)
Third Quarter
A: John Stadler 14 run (Belscher kick)
Individual Statistics
Passing: Andover, Kyle Olson 7 for 9, 118 yards; Jon Stadley 0 for 2; Lawrence, Manny Perez 10 for 19, 57 yards; Jaime Rivera 0 for 1.
Rushing: Andover, Marcus DeJesus 4-36; Kyle Olson 3-28; John Stadler 4-20; Nico DiBarri 2-14; JC Jimenez 4-9; Lawrence, Manny Perez 14-26; Jadiel Graces 5-4; Nixon Deleon 1-4; Jamie Rivera 1 – (-5); Amir Almonte 1 – (-7); Jarmany Gonzalez 2 – (-11).
Receiving: Andover, Thomas Enman 3-50; Michael Crowley 1-34; Frankie Aloi 1-18; Ryan Moriarty 1-15; Marcus DeJesus 1-1; Lawrence, Javien Tibbets 2-25; Waldy Guerrero 6-16; Amir Almonte 2-16.