SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Opinion

November 25, 2009

Our view: Hail the Highlanders

One doesn't normally think of Hamilton's Pingree School as a football powerhouse. But the private institution located on a former estate may be one of the only North Shore schools to bring home a title this fall, having secured the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference's Clark-Francis Bowl with a win over North Andover's Brooks School last Saturday.

The Highlanders finished with an 8-1 record as a result of its thrilling 7-6 win in a game played at Endicott College in Beverly.

After a lackluster first half, Pingree came alive in the final quarter. A fumble recovery by safety John St. Pierre (one of six forced by the Highlanders' defense) led to quarterback Brendan Oliver's winning touchdown pass to wide recdeiver Kyle Jamieson with less than a minute remaining in the game.

Pingree doesn't enjoy the historic Thanksgiving Day rivalry that will draw thousands to games in the region tomorrow regardless of the teams' records. Nor does it have the tradition of longtime gridiron powers like a St. John's Prep, Peabody or Swampscott.

"But putting a championship up there, now I think people will notice," Pingree coach Chris Powers said after the game. We think he's right.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion

Nelson Benton Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Salem News Opinion Poll
AP Video
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Comments Tracker
Roll Call
Helium debate
Helium