HAVERHILL — Throughout the first three quarters of Friday night’s game, the Andover tandem of running back Marcus DeJesus and quarterback Kyle Olson showed off their impressive speed, by trading off long touchdown runs.
When the game ended, DeJesus won the battle, scoring three TDs, while Olson rushed for two and threw two others, including one to his speedy buddy.
That breakaway duo, as well as the rest of the Golden Warriors, were too much for Haverhill — just like Chelmsford last week — and the Warriors improved to 3-0 with a 49-0 lopsided victory over the winless Hillies.
Andover (3-0) finished with 415 total yards of offense. DeJesus finished with 128 rushing yards on six carries, while adding a 31-yard TD reception. Olson completed 8 of 9 passes for 130 yards, while rushing for 89 yards on nine carries.
After the game, DeJesus was asked the million dollar question: Who is faster between the two of you?
“Me,” he said with the biggest smile. “All day. We have raced each other in winter track so I know for sure that I’m faster. One hundred percent bragging rights for me.”
DeJesus added that first-year head coach Jay Fielding made it a point during the off-season for the players to improve on their speed, and it certainly has shown all over the field through the first three games.
That paid off on Andover’s first play from scrimmage. Olson tossed a quick pass to his left to DeJesus, who somehow bounced off a few tackles and escaped through a scrum of players to eventually find the end zone on the 31-yard TD reception.
“I don’t even know what happened. I was just trying to stay on my feet and was able to get into the end zone. They had me, but I wasn’t ready to go down,” said DeJesus.
Just 32 seconds into the second quarter, DeJesus went untouched down the right sideline for a 74-yard score.
“It was a great block up front by my receiver Rodrigo Siqueira who gave me the lane and I got another big block by Marco Palermo,” said DeJesus.
Then it was Olson’s turn. He scored on a 45-yard run.
“I’ve played with Kyle since middle school and he has grown as a player a lot since then. It’s really showing now. He’s really good and he’s really fast,” said DeJesus.
Olson followed that TD run up with a 9-yard TD pass to Nick IIsley giving the Golden Warriors a 28-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Olson scored on a 10-yard run, followed by a 10-yarder by DeJesus before JC Jimenez closed it out with a 54-yard run late in the fourth.
“(DeJesus and Olson) can score from anyplace on the field and it’s so great for us to have those two weapons,” said Fielding. “Kyle had a touchdown called back and he’s probably had four called back already this year. He gets back in the huddle, gets his wind and he’s confident that he can go out and do it again.”
Defensively, Andover was again dominant led by linebackers Braden Sullivan (13 tackles) and Matt Lee and safety Dan Guinee.
“We have been really effective the last three games shutting down the run. I tell the kids that no matter the game hasn’t changed,” said Fielding. “If you can shut down the run, the chances of you winning really increase. It’s all about running the ball and shutting down the run on defense.”