The Pingree football team lost out by the slimmest of margins — twice in about an 18-hour span.
The Highlanders battled host Brooks School gallantly Saturday night in North Andover before seeing their five-game winning streak snapped after a 29-27 defeat. Pingree had scored a touchdown with 1:09 left in regulation, but the ensuing try for two points was denied.
Then early Sunday afternoon, head coach Patrick Downey’s team found out it had missed out on a spot in a New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) bowl game by mere percentage points, thus officially ending their season at 6-2.
“The NEPSAC Selection Committee chose Canterbury School over us based on the power index system,” said Downey, whose team had an 8.6 power rating as opposed to Canterburys’ 9.2. “Our two losses this season were to two excellent teams by a combined four points (one of them being in overtime).”
The Highlanders, who finished in third place in the NEPSAC’s Evergreen League, was taking on a Brooks team Saturday that plays out of the Independent School League (ISL) and, unlike Pingree, allows post-graduate players. While never holding the lead in the game, they responded to each of the host school’s four touchdowns in this back-and-forth slugfest at Truskey Memorial Field in North Andover.
Even after missing out on their two-point conversion try, Pingree successfully recovered an onside kick and drove to the Brooks’ 10-yard line in just 43 seconds before a final shot at the end zone went awry, ending the contest.
Junior quarterback Jack Spear had a stellar game for Pingree, throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns while completing 25-of-43 passes and connecting with six different receivers.
Spear was in sync throughout the evening with fellow junior Colton Downey (8 catches, 103 yards) and senior captain Jonah Richardson (7 catches for 97 yards). Richardson pulled in a pair of touchdown passes, including a 9-yarder to make it 29-27, and Downey had a number of chain-moving grabs, including a big 31-yarder during one scoring drive.
Sophomore running back Baron DiMeco also had a strong showing for the locals, running for 41 yards and a 7-yard touchdown while turning a screen pass from Spear into a 58-yard score.
Tyler Boviard successfully added extra point kicks on each of Pingree’s first three scores.
Missing 6-foot-2, 290-pound standout Jake Medeiros in the middle of the field and fellow All-Leaguer Kyle Daniels at safety hurt the Highlanders defensively, who gave up both a 91- and a 50-yard touchdown as well as a 90-yard kickoff return for a score to Brooks (4-4). Two other defensive starters, defensive tackle Ray Castillo and cornerback Finley McClintock, were lost to injuries in the third quarter as well.
“Despite all the adversity, we showed so much heart and grit,” said Downey, whose team led the Evergreen League in total offense this fall and piled up 423 yards on Saturday night.
“I’m bummed for our team, but we had a great season,” added Downey, noting his team improved greatly upon its 3-5 mark in 2024. “Plus, we return everyone but Jonah and Kyle. Jack, Colt, Baron, Jake Medeiros and Jon Panagou should make All-League next season. The future is bright on The Farm!”
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