Stoneham Runs Away From Burlington, 44-14

Stoneham was dominating the line, controlling the clock, and containing Burlington's Jake Doherty. Everything was going right for the Spartans. Everything but the score.

Less than a minute into the second half Burlington had cut a 22-0 deficit to 22-14 on the second of two long scoring passes and it was suddenly a game.

"It wasn't the way we designed it," said Stoneham coach Bob Almeida of Burlington's first 98 and then 54-yard touchdown passes. "We had opportunities to make this thing over with and we didn't take advantage of them. To their credit, we tried to undercut that route at the end of the half and that wasn't a good idea. They've got good players. They've got great skill."

But so does Stoneham and thanks to senior Christos Argyropoulos (209 yards on 24 carries) and a relentless running game, the host Spartans responded, scored the next 22 points to win, 44-14, to improve to 3-0. The loss was the first of the season for Burlington (2-1).

After Khyle Pena's 54-yard scoring pass for the Red Devils made it a one-score game, Stoneham went back to its dare-ya-to-stop-me running game. The Spartans' eight-play drive consumed almost five minutes and ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Argyropoulos. The senior back finished with four touchdowns, doubling his season total.

"He's worked really, really hard," said Almeida. "That's the difference. That kid is in the weight room all year long, baseball season, all winter too, he's in the weight room all the time. He's working on his craft. The kid has earned it and he's a great player and I'm just really glad he plays for us."

Argyropoulos didn't wait long to get on the scoreboard, carrying the ball three times on Stoneham's first possession and scoring on a 7-yard run. After Stoneham's Deshaun Chase intercepted Pena on Burlington's first possession, Argyropoulos went to work again, scoring from a yard out and adding the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0 after one quarter.

A bad snap and a short punt gave Stoneham the ball back on the Burlington 47. Seven plays later Jonathan Neal scored from 13 yards out to make it 22-0. Burlington's next drive ended in another interception but when Stoneham stalled, the Spartans punted and downed the ball on the 2-yard line. That's when Pena hit the first of his two long touchdown passes when a Spartan defender went for the interception and came up empty. Ryan O'Halloran hauled in the pass and went 98 yards for Burlington's first score. The half ended with Stoneham up, 22-7.

Stoneham kicked off to start the second half and again tried to avoid Doherty, Burlington's talented running back/return man. But the short kick set Burlington up at their 40 and three plays and a 54-yard pass to Jake McCauley later it was 22-14 less than two minutes into the third.

"Unfortunately we gave up a couple of big plays at inopportune times," said Almeida. "We gave them life. I'm happy with the way our defense played but I'm not happy we got beat on a couple big plays. But they're going to do that to you."

The 22-14 score didn't last long thanks to Argyropoulos, Chase, Seth Russell, Thomas Pizzi, and an unsung offensive line that quickly re-established control of the game.

"Everybody plays 7-on-7," said Almeida of why his running attack works. "They can play 7-on-7 all summer but it doesn't help you when you have to come up and take on a kick out block with three guys running through the middle of it. And, I've got quick players. That always helps."

It will be Wakefield's turn next to try and stop the Stoneham running game. It won't be easy.

"We're a team to be reckoned with," said Almeida. "There are other good teams and we have a long way to go. But we beat a good team last week and we beat a good team this week."

Photo by Bob Holmes