Andover Splits Weekend Contests with Exeter

Andover falls short in football but picks up wins in soccer, volleyball, and cross country

November 08, 2008 --In front of a packed house of spirited Blue- and Red-clad fans at Andover’s Phelps Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Exeter football team came away with a 21-13 victory. The win represented Exeter’s first football victory over Andover  since 2004 in this great prep school rivalry that dates back to 1878.

Andover opened the scoring early in the second quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Dan Hussey to Sam Auffant. Kevin Paul added the extra point to make it 7-0 for the Blue. Later in the quarter, Exeter pounced on a fumble in Andover territory, and after a short drive, Sam Gardner scored on a 20-yard pass from Patrick Donnelly. After an Andover punt, the Red put together another drive before halftime, leading to a 7-yard touchdown pass from Donnelly to Gardner with less than a minute to play.

In the third quarter with Exeter driving in Andover territory, Anthony Morlani snared an interception at the PA 30 and ran it back across midfield. Andover then drove to the Exeter 15 where Auffant scored his second touchdown of the day on a well executed draw play. With the score at 14-13, Andover faked the extra point kick to try for a 2-point conversion, but Morlani’s pass was intercepted in the left flat. In a second half filled with turnovers for both teams, Andover’s Paul Spada recovered a fumble to set up the PA offense at the Exeter 31, but 2 plays later, Gardner intercepted at the 19 for PEA. Later in the third quarter a PA fumble gave the Red a short field at the Andover 30, and Exeter converted with Evan Sequeira scoring on the second play of the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge.

Trailing 21-13, Andover responded valiantly, putting together a drive from their own 18 to the Exeter 17, highlighted with great catches by Auffant and wideout Luke Duprey, hard running by Eddie Houghton, and gutsy play by Hussey. However, the drive ended with an interception in the end zone that gave Exeter the ball and the chance to run out the clock.

In other weekend contests, Andover fared better, picking up victories in soccer, volleyball and cross-country.

Results of the other games played at Andover:

Girls’ Varsity Soccer: PA – 4 PEA – 0
Boys’ Varsity Soccer: PA – 3 PEA – 0
Field Hockey: PA – 1 PEA – 2 (OT)
Girls’ volleyball: PA – 3 PEA – 0

Cross Country Interscholastics at Avon:

Andover Girls: First Place
Andover Boys: Second Plac