Amid the excitement at last night’s Pinkerton-Manchester Central, won by Pinkerton, 30-21, in the final seconds, was the play of the quarterbacks.
Manchester Central’s QB, Scott McCurdy, sort of came out of nowhere. The 6-2, 175-pounder, looked like the second-coming of BC’s Matt Ryan. Not only was he right on, completing 15-of-23 passes for 217 yards, but his ball has zip.
“I was not happy the way they ran the ball in the middle of our defense,” said Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly. “But as far as McCurdy goes, you have to tip your cap to the kid. He made some great passes. Our defensive backs had good coverage on their receivers.”
McCurdy’s forte was throwing the ball 20 yards in the air before the receivers made their cuts.
College scouts will no doubt be checking out the Central senior.
O’Reilly’s QB, Peter Mazzola was no slouch either. He only threw six passes, but completed four of them for 75 yards. What struck me most about him was his moving in the pocket, particularly when he rolled out to his left.
A senior, Mazzola was a running back last year as Bryan Farris, now at Phillips Andover Academy for a post-graduate season, was the star.
“Peter is an athlete,” said O’Reilly. “He’s always been a very good defensive back for us. He can run as well as he can throw. He’s going to be a weapon for us.”
One side note to this rivalry came from the PA announcer who said Pinkerton and Manchester Central have been playing each other since, get this, 1893, when it was Manchester High.
In another side note, Phillips Andover football coach Leon Modeste said Farris has been outstanding thus far in the first couple of practices.
“We are going to be young, but Bryan is going to really help us,” said Modeste yesterday afternoon. “He’s a big, strong kid.”
Farris is hoping a year at Phillips Andover will help him fulfill a dream and play in the Ivy League next year.
