This one was never in doubt.
Marblehead High’s varsity football team defended Piper Field in style last Friday, cruising to a 48-0 win against North Andover. The team enters its bye week with a perfect record of 4-0.
The Scarlet Knights had no answer for Marblehead’s versatile, high-powered offense. Despite holding the Magicians scoreless for one quarter, Marblehead struck first when Finn Gallup rushed 16 yards to the promised land in the second (7-0).
Tim Wales (from Gallup) upped the advantage when he raced 50-plus yards to the end zone. Midway through the second quarter, it was 14-0 in favor of the hosts.
Rylan Golden hauled in a pass from Gallup toward the tail-end of the first half – one that ended with a 21-0 Marblehead lead behind some extra-point attempts from Finbar Bresnahan.
Owen Coyne, Vidal Clark, Breydan Callahan, and Armany Villar joined the scoring barrage in the second half.
Just like that, the Red and Black had defended home turf from another visitor.
Marblehead moves forward with wins against Lynn English, Bishop Fenwick, Shepherd Hill, and now North Andover under its belt.
After a week of rest, reps, and recovery, the Magicians visit Beverly Saturday, Oct. 11 for an 11 a.m. tilt. After the Panthers, remaining opponents are Peabody, Masconomet, Danvers, and, of course, traditional archrival Swampscott on Thanksgiving Day.
In the most recent MIAA power rankings, the Magicians checked in at No. 6 in Division 4 behind top-ranked Scituate, Canton, Tewksbury Memorial, Duxbury, and Wakefield Memorial.