Instant Classic: Redmen Fall Short Against Andover, 51-42

Johnny Aylward had four touchdowns, Kevin Dick caught three, and Eddie Matovu ran for two.

Tewksbury High had a chance to knock off an unbeaten team for the second week in a row, but fell short in a slugfest at Doucette Field, 51-42 to Andover. “I think that this is one that will go down as one of the all-time games,” said Redmen head coach Brian Aylward. From the opening kickoff to the final gun, both teams “spilled their guts,” as Aylward said. They combined for 93 points and enough highlight reel plays to keep the healthy crowd in suspense until the finish. After beating a 3-0 Lowell squad last week, 21-0, Aylward had his squad ready to go against another powerhouse offense. “Last week was a tremendous win, one for the ages,” Aylward said. “It doesn’t matter what happens today, or 20 years from now, that’s something that no …

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Red Reign! Tewksbury Shocks Lowell, 21-0

Tewksbury pulled off a big upset in Lowell, as Johnny Aylward ran for a pair of touchdowns and the defense was spectacular.

Lowell High came into last night’s rain soaked tilt with Tewksbury High having scored 91 points in three consecutive wins. At Cawley Stadium, the Redmen defense held the vaunted Raiders to a big, fat zero, as the Redmen upset Lowell, 21-0. “We worked hard studying what they do, their formations and all of that,” said Tewksbury head coach Brian Aylward. “I thought we might have confused them a little bit." The Tewksbury defense forced four fumbles, recovered two of them, and made one interception. The Lowell offense also had five drops. On the offensive side, junior quarterback Johnny Aylward ran the show. Despite the fact that his rushing ability wasn’t a major part of the game plan, Aylward ran for a pair of touchdowns and was inches away…

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Redmen Can't Hold Late Lead In Loss To Billerica, 34-26

Billerica came to Doucette Field and stole a win, dropping Tewksbury to 1-2.

After rallying from an early deficit to take a fourth quarter lead, the Tewksbury High football committed three late turnovers, helping Billerica to a 34-26 victory on Saturday at Doucette Field. “We did some things to get back in the game and then we did some things to let them back in it,” said Redmen head coach Brian Aylward. Junior running back Eddie Matovu provided a spark with two rushing touchdowns despite battling leg cramps throughout the afternoon. “He’s been a workhorse for us,” Aylward said of Matovu. Tewksbury took its only lead of the game when Billerica gambled  and lost late in the third quarter. With the score tied at 20, the Indians went for it on fourth down and two from their own 28 yard line. Junior quarterback Jordan …

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Matovu, Sullivan Carry Redmen Past Hillies, 30-22

Tewksbury High picks up first wins of the season on the road against MVC rival.

High school students don't do any noticeable growing over just six days. But growing up? That's another story. Friday night in Haverhill, the young Tewksbury High football team did what they couldn't do at home last week against Lincoln-Sudbury -- close out a win in the fourth quarter. James Sullivan scored from five yards out with 1:39 left to play and the Redmen defense shut down the high-flying Hillies' attack, en route to a 30-22 win in the MVC opener for both teams. The game was eerily reminiscent of the Redmen's game at Haverhill, won by the Hillies in the final minute. The game Friday was tied, 14-14 at halftime and 22-22 after three quarters before Tewksbury was able put things away. "I'm hoping it was just a matter of gaining …

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Jim Wentworth

4:52 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012

Outstanding. Great job to Coach Aylward and his guys for executing down the stretch and then closing out Haverill on the final drive.   more ›

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Monday, Sept. 10

Bits of knowledge to help you be the smartest person in the coffee shop.

Here are five pieces of information designed to get your week off to a flying start and to help make you the smartest person in your carpool. 1. Your 3-Day Local Weather Forecast: According to the NWS, today will be partly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 8 to 16 mph. 2. Quote of the Day: "As talented as (Eddie) is, he's also a great kid. And he is as hard of a worker as there is on this team." Tewksbury High football Coach Brian Aylward, talking about senior Eddie Matovu, who returned the opening kickoff of the season for a touchdown in the Redmen's 15-12 loss to Lincoln-Sudbury. 3. Reader Comment of the Day: "We just got back from the tour at the "new" High School. The place is wonderful! The turn out when we were there at 11:00 …

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PHOTOS: Redmen Drop Heartbreaker On Opening Day, 15-12

Tewksbury High jumps out to an early lead but can't hold on against Lincoln-Sudbury.

What looked like a picture perfect start to the 2012 high school season turned to heartbreak, as Tewksbury High fell to Lincoln-Sudbury, 15-12, Saturday afternoon at Doucette Field. The Warriors' Chris Giorgio plowed over from two yards out with 1:20 left to play to complete a 93-yard game-winning touchdown drive and complete a rally from a 12-0 deficit. Tewksbury started the game in perfect fashion as Eddie Matovu returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and a quick 6-0 lead. Matovu also played a huge game defensively, with three sacks. "As talented as (Eddie) is, he's also a great kid," said Tewksbury Coach Brian Aylward. "And he is as hard of a worker as there is on this team." Tewksbury pushed the lead to 12-0 in the …

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South Prevails in Shriners Football Classic, 15-12

Running back Chris Bettano and linebacker Derek Tarpey represent Tewksbury on the North Squad in the annual all-star game Gillette Stadium.

The South All Stars topped the North All Stars, 15-12, in the 34th annual Shriner's Football Classic at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro Friday night. It was a surprisingly crisp and competitive game, considering that the players have only practiced together a handful of times and hadn't donned their football gear since at least last December. Running back Chris Bettano and linebacker Derek Tarpey represented Tewksbury on the North Squad. TMHS Brian Aylward served as an assistant coach for the North. The North took a 6-0 lead when John DiBiaso connected with Burlington's Kyle Shields on a three-yard pass play. The missed extra point, however, bode ominously for the North.  The South came right back, sparked by two long pass plays engineered by …

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London Takes Third At All-State Meet

Undefeated Tewksbury High wrestler Chris London's win streak was stopped at 42 but he bounced back with two more wins and took third place at the MIAA All-State meet.

When you go into battle against the best of the best, even the smallest mistake can cost you. That was the lesson Tewksbury High superstar wrestler Chris London learned Saturday afternoon at Salem High School, as a risky move back-fired and London suffered his first defeat of the season, getting pinned by unbeaten Division 1 State Champion Will Henson in the 170-pound semifinals of the MIAA All-State Tournament. "At this level, one mistake is all it takes," said Tewksbury coach Brian Aylward. "The match moved fast. I thought Chris had a great reversal on the kid and a great takedown early one, but one mistake at this level can hurt you and that's what happened." Henson struck first early in the match but London countered with a reversal to…

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Still Undefeated, London Advances To All-State Semifinals

Tewksbury High wrestler Chris London overcomes the odds and improves to 42-0 at MIAA All-State Meet.

For Tewksbury High  superstar wrestler Chris London, the situation was something new, but the results were the same as it ever was. Suffering from a skin rash that could have cost him his opportunity to compete for an All-State championship, London shook off the rust from two weeks of inactivity and won two more matches on the biggest stage he’s ever competed on Friday, advancing to the semi-final round of the MIAA All-State Wrestling championships at Salem High School. London, who two weeks ago captured the MIAA Division 2 state championship at 170 pounds, was questionable even to participate in this weekend’s all-state meet after being diagnosed with a skin rash that could have resulted in an open wound had London gone through his normal…

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London Is 170-Pound Division 2 State Champ

Tewksbury High wrestler Chris London takes the 170-pound championship at the Division 2 state meet.

Chris London reinforced one old adage and disproved another this weekend. Hard work pays off, and nice guys don't always finish last. London, the humble and unassuming Tewksbury High senior 170-pounder, etched his name in stone as one of the top all-time wrestlers in Tewksbury High history, topping off an undefeated regular season by winning the 170-pound title at the MIAA Division 2 State Championships held Friday and Saturday at Reading High School. "I'm so happy for him," said an emotional TMHS coach Brian Aylward moments after London topped Marshfield's Mark Pomella, 5-2 in Saturday evening's championship match. "To see a kid spilling his guts like that, let me tell you, that kid's paid his dues. I'm so proud of him. He's done …

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