NORTH ANDOVER — For non-playoff teams in MIAA football, November is the start of next year.
For North Andover, “next year” has been part of the football agenda for a bit longer than that.
“Next year started for us back in July … Obviously, we have to get through this,” said first-year coach Matt Cerullo, after his Knights absorbed a 43-7 loss to Lowell at Walsh Stadium on Friday night.
“We knew the roster we had coming in. We love what we have. Unfortunately, we have to get through a year with a lot of young guys. We’re cool with that, it just stinks to go through what we’re going through right now. Growing pains … we’ve just got to get through them.”
Lowell High is not in a rebuilding stage. In fact, the Red Raiders, now playoff-bound at 7-1 and heading to the Division 1 tourney, are one of the best stories of the fall campaign.
Lowell scored on each of its first three possessions, building a 21-0 lead while holding the Knights to just 38 yards of offense and two first-half first downs.
“Much improved, better team, experienced team … we’re not there yet. It’s that simple,” was the way Cerullo summed it up.
“We’re young, we’ve just got to continue to work. We knew what this year was going to be. It’s tough, obviously, if you’re a senior. We have seven of those, luckily. We’re building toward the future right now. That’s kind of been the mission all year.”
The lead bumped to 36-0 before the Knights found some offensive life.
North Andover matriculated 79 yards on 13 plays, cashing in on a nine-yard Austin Allen to Tommy Farrell TD connection.
But that would be the lone stretch of prosperity as the Knights, at 1-7 — despite their current ranking of No. 15 in Division 2 — did not meet the MIAA’s three-win playoff requirement.
They will play a pair of non-playoff battles, again sending a slew of underclassmen (just three senior starters) into the fray before their Thanksgiving morning collision with Andover.
“To get to the future, you have to get through the present,” said Cerullo. “The present is rough, but it is what it is, and we have to go through it to get where we want to be.”
Lowell 43, North Andover 7
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
L — Steven Many 7 run (Ben Durkin kick)
L — Ryan Conley 19 run (Durkin kick)
Second Quarter
L — Anthony Perez 15 run (Durkin kick)
Third Quarter
L — Seth Ly 1 run (Durkin to Colin Christiansen pass)
L — Durkin 18 interception return (Durkin kick)
NA — Tommy Farrell 9 pass from Austin Allen (Christian Valentino kick)
Fourth Quarter
L — Ly 1 run (Durkin kick)
NORTH ANDOVER STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: Austin Allen 13-63, Dave DePrizio 3-8, Darren Bernat 4-7, Billy Vincent 3-8, Jason Meaney 4-19
Passing: Allen 10-17-1, 74 yards
Receiving: Bernat 1-4, Dan Thompson 1-9, William Gray 1-4, Tommy Farrell 5-40, Dan Fitzgerald 1-8, Marcus Peralta 1-8