The game was billed as a battle of the QB’s and it lived up to that with both QB’s lighting up the scoreboard as the Lowell Nor’easter (6-1) struck late to beat the Bandits (5-4) by the score of 34-31. The Bandits broke open the scoring on the sole tally of the first quarter when Andrew Nelson hit a 37 yard FG. The Bandits tried to extend the lead later in the first quarter, but Nelson’s 53yard FG attempt was blocked, setting up the Nor’easter in great field position. They would score early in the second quarter on a 1 yard plunge by LB Malcolm Wynn for a 7-3 lead. The Bandits would answer back as QB Clarzell Pearl evaded would be tacklers for an 11 yard TD scramble.  The PAT was blocked placing the score at 9-7. The Nor’easter’s Terrell Taylor would take a sweep 20 yards for the go ahead touchdown. Rich Grasso’s PAT put the score at 14-9 Nor’easter. Pearl would find Sydney Jean-Felix open for a 10 yard strike, but the 2 pt conversion left the lead at one point 15-14 at the half. The Nor’easter took the second half kick-off the length of the field when QB John Spiedel hit Chris Degree on across the middle for a 60 yard catch and run play the gave them a 20-15 lead after a failed 2 point play. The Nor’easter would up their lead when Josh Rosado plunged in from 2 yard out. The PAT placed the advantage at 27-15. The Bandits came right back to behind runs by Pearl and JD Brooks, and a catch across the middle by Olanzo Butler. Pearl would take the ball into the end zone on a 1 yard sneak to cut the lead to 27-22, after Nelson’s PAT. The Bandits defense would hold the Nor’easter to a 3 and out which allowed Pearl to find a streaking Jay Blot down the middle for a 50 yard strike. The failed 2 point conversion left the Bandits’ with a 1 point lead at 28-27. The Bandit’s would thwart the Nor’easter offense and added to their lead when Nelson hit a 36 yard FG for a 31-27 led with 4 minutes remaining. The Nor’easter converted on a fourth and 6 play at mid-field, then Spiedel hit a 4^th and 10 Hail Mary pass to Degree from the 40 yard line with a little over a minute left in the game for a 34-31 lead. The Bandits got the ball near mid-field but could not get in range for a tying field as the Nor’easter won this chapter of the many classic Bandit/Nor’easter thrillers. The Bandits next host the Weymouth Sharks at English HS on Saturday, September 15^th at 7PM.

The Boston Bandits (5-3) defeated the Weymouth Sharks (0-6) by the score of 27-7. Both teams played to a scoreless first quarter before the Bandits got on the scoreboard when JD Brooks broke through for a 20 yard touchdown scamper. The extra point was block, leaving the score at 6-0. The Bandit defense held firm and allowed the offense to get right back to it. Clarzell Pearl found Daryl Hodge open for a 27 yard touchdown reception. Pearl connected with Mike Massey on a two point conversion, upping the score to 14-0. The Sharks’ next drive ended when Hippo Goldsberg intercepted an errant Shark pass. The Bandits missed a 43 yard FG into the wind on their first possession of the second half, but got the ball back when Curtis Tatum intercepted a long pass attempt. The Bandits would take advantage when Pearl found Sydney Jean-Felix streaking down the sideline for a 35 yard pass and catch combination. Andrew Nelson’s PAT put the score at 21-0. The Sharks managed to threaten in the fourth quarter despite a big sack by Michael Rossini, eventually getting the ball to the Bandit 1 yard line, first and goal. After being stuff on their first three downs, the Sharks were able to run a wide enough into the end zone, for a 4 yard score, cutting the lead to 21-7. Their on side kicked was recovered by Jay Marshall and the Bandits consumed the rest of the clock en route to a 1 yard run by John McElrath to end the game at 27-7. The Bandits next face the Lowell Nor’easter (5-1) at Cawley Stadium in Lowell on Saturday, September 8^th at 4PM.