Reprinted From September 26, 2009 Salem News Triple Lutz DANVERS — Clinton Lutz, welcome to the club. The enthusiastic senior knew his Danvers High football team needed a third running back to step up and compliment captain Eric Burgos and fullback John McInnis in the team's backfield this fall — and he's taken it upon himself to do something about it. Scoring three touchdowns, each from two yards out, last night to go along with an even 100 yards rushing on 13 carries, Lutz had his breakout game last night as the Falcons cruised past Revere, 25-13, at Dr. Charles Deering Stadium. Lutz worked nicely with Burgos (136 yards on 23 carries) and the workmanlike McInnis (32 yards on 7 carries, plus 7 tackles and an interception on defense) to help the surprising Falcons to their third straight win to open the 2009 season. He scored once before halftime, then added a pair of scores in the third quarter as the Blue-and-White broke the game open. "I had to prove to myself that I could do it, that I could join Burgo and Johnny Mac in that top rotation. I'm in the group now," Lutz beamed. "I was so pumped after scoring that first TD. My mindset was I just wanted to keep trucking, trucking, trucking every time I got the ball; keep moving forward and getting yardage. If we could keep getting 3-4 yards a whack every time we ran it, things were going to be fine." As it turns out, the Falcons — including a 13-yard keeper by speedy backup quarterback Greg Little in the second quarter — averaged a whopping 7.2 yards per carry last night, (281 yards on 39 carries combined). On eight different occasions, the hosts had a running play go for at least 10 yards or better. The 17-year-old Lutz showed he can also do some damage catching the football, too. On the first play of the second half, with the Falcons holding a 13-6 edge, a double reverse in the backfield resulted in Little launching a long halfback option pass to a wide open Lutz. He caught the ball in stride and was hauled down inside the Revere 10-yard line, good for 53 yards. On two other plays, the 6-foot-1, 186-pounder almost made acrobatic catches on beautifully thrown passes by QB Greg Ladd in the left corner near the end zone — which theoretically could have given Lutz five touchdowns on the night. There were stars all over the field for Danvers last night, which is off to its best start since the 2005 team won its first seven games of the year. Senior Dan Stanton and McInnis were monsters at inside linebacker; 6-foot-4 senior defensive end Kell Falite batted away two passes, one leading to a McInnis pick; talented senior lineman Nik Longo returned to action and played very well on both sides of the ball; junior Zach Ryan caught a beautiful fade pass from Ladd in the right corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score in the second quarter, Danvers' first TD of the night; senior Dan Skinner (who, like Ryan, stands 6-foot-4) also tipped a pass and made a nice 13-yard catch; and junior two-way tackle Shane Tobyne, who never came out of the game, anchored an offensive and defensive line that drew praise from Falcons head coach John Sullivan. "This was a true team victory," said Sullivan, whose team has given up just 19 points in its first three contests. "We made some big third and fourth down stops; got some big plays offensively and were able to get into a rhythm on both sides of the ball. "Three home games (to start the season), three wins, we're absolutely happy. But it's also what we prepared for." The Falcons hit the road for the first time this season next Friday night when they travel to Manning Field for a date with Lynn English (7 p.m.). |