By Phil Stacey sports editor

DANVERS — Now that's how you turn the page on a new season.

Coming out and dominanting from the opening kickoff, the Danvers High football team scored on its first two possessions, got 416 rushing yards as a team and played stellar defensively to win its season opener last night, 20-0, over the defending Super Bowl champions from Manchester Essex.

Senior co-captain Eric Burgos got his season started with a bang, rushing for 190 yards on just 17 carries and three touchdowns. He broke off a 24-yard scoring run on his team's opening drive, then capped off the second with a 4-yard scoring burst around the left side.

Burgos' prettiest play came on Danvers' first play of the second half, following a Dan Skinner fumble recovery. Going off tackle on a sweep, the tailback took the ball from his own 44-yard line and sped into the end zone untouched for a 56-yard score.

"Just to win on opening night like this is great," veteran Danvers head coach John Sullivan said after his team equalled the number of victories the 2008 squad achieved. "But to win the way we did was even better."

Burgos had an equally effective backfield mate in senior John McInnis. Lining up as the team's fullback, McInnis — who missed all of last season with an injury — rambled his way to 160 yards on 18 carries. His 21-yard scamper set up Burgos' first touchdown one play later, and a 13-yard inside trap paved the way for Burgos' second score, again on the following play.

McInnis also had a 37-yard run later in the game and had some big hits from his spot at inside linebacker defensively.

"You could see what we missed not having John (in the lineup) last year," said Sullivan. "He's going to be a difference maker for us."

The victory was the first for the Falcons on opening night since 2005, when they blanked Salem at home, 27-0.

Skinner had a terrific all-around game for the Falcons, recovering two fumbles and making a pair of touchdown-saving tackles from his outside linebacker spot while opening up running lanes to the outside with his blocking at split end.

Sullivan also praised the play of right tackle Shane Tobyne for his work in the trenches, as well as center Nick Serino, who only had one mishandled snap with quarterback Greg Ladd despite playing a new position on a wet and rainy night.

Manchester, which went 13-0 in winning the Super Bowl a year ago, moved the football into Danvers territory six times in their first seven possessions, but could never punch it over the goal line. Six fumbles (three of which they lost), a blocked punt (by Danvers' Zach Ryan, recovered by Nick Valles) and getting swarmed by the Falcon defenders all contributed to their woes. They also allowed 443 yards of offense to the hosts.

Danvers 20, Manchester Essex 0

at Deering Stadium, Danvers

Manchester Essex0000 — 0

Danvers14060 —20

D-Eric Burgos 24 run (Dana Skinner pass from Greg Ladd)

D-Burgos 4 run (kick failed)

D-Burgos 56 run (rush failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Manchester Essex — Ben Kekeisen 10-95, Brian Ciccone 10-79, Alex Carr 3-18, Pat Hoffmann 3-17, Cooper Riehl 2-7, Steven Laforge 1-2; Maverick MacEachern 1-(-3); Danvers — Eric Burgos 17-190, John McInnis 18-160, Clinton Lutz 5-30, Zach Ryan 1-16, Cameron Robair 4-14, Nick Valles 1-6.

Passing: Manchester Essex — Carr 3-9-69-0-0; Danvers — Greg Ladd 3-9-37-0-0.

Receiving: Manchester Essex — Kekeisen 2-39, Ciccone 1-30; Danvers — Ryan 1-19, Dan Skinner 1-12, Burgos 1-6.