GRIFFIN HAWKINS
Hamilton-Wenham Junior
Tight end/Linebacker
It was going to take a complete team effort — and then some — for the Generals to grab their first victory of the 2024 season Saturday afternoon against Essex Tech. Fortunately, Griffin Hawkins understand that mandate and played a near-flawless game to help deliver that wish.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was a force on both sides of the ball in Hamilton-Wenham’s 28-21 win at Hyland Field in Manchester. His outstanding perimeter blocking helped set the edge for the Generals’ outside run game. All told, he helped his backfield mates run for a season high 153 yards. Asked to do a lot offensively — blocking in line, in space, and knowing all of the squad’s route concepts — he conquered all of those tasks with ease.
The highlight for Hawkins, however, was his first touchdown catch. He snagged a 5-yard pass from quarterback Caden McCollum to hit paydirt for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
Head coach Tim Freiermuth stated that Hawkins is not only an extremely coachable player, but one that has improved continuously throughout the season. He and his teammates hope to ride the momentum of last Saturday’s victory to more of them before the season concludes.
KIERNAN MOSS
Marblehead Senior
Wide receiver/Free safety
The strength of this year’s Marblehead football squad lies in a pack mentality: there are no lone wolves on this team, no one player who is better or more important than the rest. It’s a true team mentality where any one player can step up and make a major contribution for a play, a series, or even an entire game.
Kiernan Moss is a perfect example of this. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds with gridiron intelligence, good hands and an anticipatory ability, Moss is able to shine wherever the coaching staff needs him.
In last Friday’s unbeaten Northeastern Conference Dunn showdown against visiting Masconomet, he did just that by stepping into a starting role at wideout when two fellow receivers were out. Moss didn’t just make some key blocks in his role, but also snared a pair of passes to help keep drives going in the Magicians’ 21-7 triumph.
Blanket coverage in the secondary by Moss helped shut down Masconomet’s air attack, and he also came up with two huge tackles on special teams. A hard worker who has become one of the more valuable players for the Magicians, he’ll lead them back into battle this Friday on the road at Danvers with a chance to clinch the league championship outright.
MICHAEL ALBANO
Danvers Senior
Strong safety
It took all three phases for the Danvers High football team to hold off Peabody on the road Friday night — and captain Michael Albano made a difference in all three of those phases.
The 6-foot-2, 185 pound safety had perhaps his biggest impact defensively. Shading to the wide side of the field more often than not, he made sure the Tanners couldn’t hit a home run over the top in the pass game. His supporting tackling in the run game accomplished the same goal, as over and over again Danvers forced Peabody on long, time consuming drives that didn’t produce points.
After one such drive in the third quarter, which went 14 plays for 8 minutes and 41 seconds, Albano busted through the line and blocked Peabody’s only punt of the night. While the block didn’t lead to DHS points it prevented the Tanners from flipping field position and swung momentum.
Offensively, Albano (a natural wide receiver) assuming the change-of-pace back’s role and moved the chains a few times. More important, he functioned as a capable edge blocker and sealed off the defense to allow fellow captain Owen Shanbar to get outside for three touchdowns in the first quarter.
After the thrilling 27-22 victory last week, Danvers turns the page to this week’s home battle with Marblehead (6:30 p.m. Friday) before gearing up for the Division 5 playoffs.