NORTH ANDOVER — As the seconds ticked down in regulation during a fierce Merrimack Valley Conference battle at North Andover, visiting Billerica never panicked.
Trailing by a field goal, the Indians stuck with the double-wing rushing attack that has become the program’s identity, working the ball methodically into Scarlet Knights’ territory before burning their final timeout.
Billerica didn’t need to get into the end zone, because senior Danny Venezia drilled a 32-yard kick that would’ve been good from 50-plus yards, forcing overtime, where Billerica prevailed, 26-20.
“There were people kind of looking at me sideways,” Billerica coach Shawn Theriault said after running the ball consistently in the final two minutes. “But I was thinking if we could just pound it and get to around the 20-yard line, Danny [Venezia] was good.”
Venezia added 119 rushing yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, but fumbled in the first half to give No. 17 North Andover (3-1) a lifeline. The Scarlet Knights struggled to stop Billerica’s rushing attack with road graders Prince Mahey, Thomas Arsenault, Jason Leipow, William Marshall, and Nicholas Cloutier blocking up front.
“The kids pride themselves on toughness,” Theriault said. “They’re Billerica kids. So they get excited when we call for the double wing.”
Billerica (4-0) forced a fourth-down fumble to open the overtime, then Jackson Gearin (13 carries, 76 yards) showcased his toughness by pushing the pile into the end zone for the clinching score, marking the program’s sixth straight conference win.
Senior quarterback Austin Allen rushed for 98 yards with electric touchdown runs of 36 and 32 yards to pace the Scarlet Knights. Allen found Jason Meaney on a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a 13-10 lead through three quarters.
But Erik Knight led Billerica back with a 50-yard kick return, followed by a 13-yard touchdown run, to put the Indians back in front. Allen answered with his second touchdown run, but leaving 3 minutes, 38 seconds on the clock proved too much time for Billerica to counter.
“We played well. We played tough. We just didn’t get that stop late in the game,” said North Andover second-year coach Matt Cerullo. “It’s all perspective for us. Last year at this time we were 0-4. We’re 3-1 and we played well against a very good team. It just wasn’t our night.”
Nate Weitzer can be reached at nweitzer7@gmail.com. Follow him on X @nweitzer7.