North Andover Secures Playoff Spot After Narrow Win Over Lowell

North Andover entered the MIAA Division 2 playoffs with a winning record for the first time since 2019 after defeating Lowell 27-26 on Friday night.

The season began with the Knights struggling to maintain momentum in the Massachusetts Vocational Conference. They dropped close decisions to rivals Chelmsford and Billerica during the regular season. However, a surge of offensive consistency in late October changed the team's trajectory. Sophomore tailback Jason Meaney emerged as a primary threat, aided by improved edge blocking from junior Dan Fitzgerald and senior David DePrizio. Coach Matt Cerullo noted that the team relied heavily on senior quarterback Austin Allen's athletic ability throughout the year. The staff brought Meaney up from freshman year, and the player's increased physicality in the weight room translated to aggressive runs on the field. The team's regular season concluded with the victory at Lowell, which solidified their standing in the division rankings.

Lowell took a 26-21 lead in the late stages of the third quarter. Free safety Will Gray made a critical defensive stop in the hole to deny Josh Amankwaah on a two-point conversion attempt. That play set up a decisive sequence for the Knights. Allen, Marcus Peralta, Fitzgerald, and Meaney advanced the ball methodically to the one-yard line. The team managed the clock effectively until Allen carried the ball into the end zone with 16 seconds remaining. In the fourth quarter, Jakobe Osborne recorded a fourth-down sack that stalled a Lowell drive. This defensive stop provided North Andover with possession when less than four minutes remained on the clock.

North Andover finishes the regular season with a 5-3 record. The Knights were seeded ninth in the Division 2 playoff field. This seed placement meant they missed the opportunity for a first-round home game. They will open their postseason campaign as visitors at Bishop Feehan. Cerullo expressed confidence in the squad's resilience despite the lack of home-field advantage. He stated that the team is a tough MVC opponent and had high expectations for its players. The coach told his team that they did not need to be the most polished group at the event to receive an invitation. The team remains focused on the upcoming trip to Bishop Feehan for the first round.

Other results in the region included a historic victory for Durfee, which beat Brockton 21-8. This win ended a streak dating back to 1909. Durfee is now 4-42-3 against that rival. The Hilltoppers are 6-2 and will face New Bedford for the Big 3 title on November 25 at Fenway Park. Nauset won four consecutive games after starting 0-4, allowing only 23 points in that span. The Warriors will play Dennis-Yarmouth for the Cape & Islands title on Thanksgiving morning. Bishop Fenwick's Andrew Kiricoples became the program's career passing leader with three touchdowns in a 48-26 win over Arlington Catholic. Twelve teams needed wins in Week 8 to reach the three-win minimum for playoff eligibility. Only three teams achieved that goal, ending postseason hopes for the other nine contenders.