New faces, same result?

By Dan Guttenplan
Sports Editor

November 25, 2009 12:15 am

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AMESBURY — The names Serwon, Flannigan, Johnston and Mroz may still creep into Newburyport football players' nightmares. After all, it's only been 12 months since a group of Amesbury seniors, which included captains Steve Serwon, Jared Flannigan, Kevin Johnston and Kyle Mroz, led the Indians to their third consecutive Thanksgiving Day victory over Newburyport.

This year's Indians will look to become the first Amesbury team since 1952 to post a fourth consecutive victory over Newburyport tomorrow morning (10 a.m., World War Memorial Stadium). The Clippers (5-5) and Indians (4-5) will face off without a Cape Ann League Small berth at stake for the first time in three years. The Indians clinched league titles each of the last two years with Thanksgiving Day victories. However, Lynnfield (9-1) has already clinched this year's league title after sweeping league matchups with Amesbury and Newburyport.

Despite his recent success against the Clippers, Amesbury coach Thom Connors, who has a 4-3 lifetime record against Newburyport, does not believe his team has any mental edge heading into tomorrow's game.

"All that stuff happened in the past," Connors said. "This is a different year. I don't think that has anything to do with how we'll play this year. Beating a team one year doesn't mean you have its number. It all comes down to what happens that day. Anyone can win this game."

Even if Amesbury cannot claim any momentum from its recent history against Newburyport, the Indians have established momentum over the last three weeks. After starting 1-5, the Indians have won three straight. That is not uncommon for a team coached by Thom Connors, who is in his eighth season at Amesbury after serving as an assistant for several years under Newburyport coach Ed Gaudiano.

Since 2004, the Indians have a record of 15-4 in November and December compared to a 16-23 mark in September and October. By comparison, Newburyport has a record of 10-7 record in November and December compared to a 20-28 mark in September and October.

Over the last three seasons, the teams have posted nearly identical records with the exception of head-to-head matchups. Newburyport has a combined overall record of 18-13 and a league record of 13-3. Amesbury has logged a combined overall record of 19-12 and a league record of 13-3 during the same span. The major difference: Amesbury is 3-0 against Newburyport and has claimed two CAL Small titles. Newburyport has not claimed one in the last three seasons.

"We can use our recent success against them," Amesbury captain Zach Calderwood said. "They might think they're jinxed since we beat them the last three years. But I'm sure they'll use that to pump themselves up. We'll need to work extra hard to combat that."

Fellow Amesbury captain Jose Mejia believes that the similarities between Newburyport and Amesbury stem from the familiar coaching staffs.

"It's not like we've been way better than them over the last few years," Mejia said. "We're always pretty close. We lose to the same teams and beat the same teams. They probably have more experience than us this year, but we know our coaching staff is familiar with what they do."

That familiarity may have been partially responsible for Amesbury's quick starts in each of the last three Thanksgiving Day wins. The Indians have scored a defensive touchdown during Newburyport's first offensive series in each of the last three seasons.

Amesbury captain Pat Foley, who started in the game last season, believes the outcome of the game is typically decided by which team can best maintain its composure.

"The tension is so much higher," Foley said. "Everybody wants to beat them because it's one of the biggest rivalries in the state. The best feeling all season is beating our arch rival. We've been lucky enough to have that feeling for three years in a row. We'd love to say we went through all of high school without losing to Newburyport."

Coach CONNORS' record vs. Newburyport

Amesbury coach Thom Connors first coached against Amesbury in 2002. He has posted a 4-3 record on Thanksgiving. Here is his Thanksgiving Day record.

2008 — Amesbury 22, Newburyport 7

2007 — Amesbury 17, Newburyport 12

2006 — Amesbury 20, Newburyport 0

2005 — Newburyport 20, Amesbury 0

2004 — Newburyport 24, Amesbury 14

2003 — Amesbury 27, Newburyport 7

2002 — Newburyport 28, Amesbury 6