Tech makes big gains in win over Greater Lowell

LYNN ? The Lynn Tech Tigers may have started the season slowly, but after a hard-fought win over Greater Lowell, the team has an opportunity to turn things around heading into conference play.Click here to see a photo gallery from the Lynn Tech vs. Greater Lowell football game.The Tigers defeated the Gryphons, 24-14, for their second consecutive victory on Friday at Manning Field. Tech improved to 3-4 with the win, 1-0 in the Commonwealth Conference Large.”It was another great team effort,” Tech coach Gary Sverker said. “Defensively we played very well, and offensively I think we had the threat of (Mikey) Lara inside with some young, quick backs on the outside.”Tech controlled the line of scrimmage during the game, racking up 215 rushing yards. Lara (11 carries, 78 yards) led the attack, while Leroy Davis (8-46, TD), Steven Caisse (7-46) and Gerrad Fairweather (2-31, TD) all contributed.Meanwhile, the Tiger defense held the Gryphons to just 173 total yards.Early on, it seemed Greater Lowell would run against Tech all afternoon. The Gryphons took the opening drive 48 yards in 12 plays, consuming over seven minutes. On fourth-and-four, though, running back Bill Fuller was stopped two yards short of the first down marker.Tech took over and capitalized early in the second quarter. After a fourth-down conversion at midfield, Davis broke the next play 47 yards for a touchdown. His conversion rush made the score 8-0, Tech, where it stayed until halftime.Tech got its offense moving again midway through the third quarter. Starting at its own 42, Tech ran the ball eight times-including two 15-yard gains by Lara-to the Greater Lowell 10. On second-and-goal, quarterback Dustin Rooney found Wardell Barber in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Rooney’s pass to Connor Bryson made it 16-0, Tigers.On the first play of the fourth quarter, Rooney fumbled a snap at the Tiger 43 that was recovered by Greater Lowell lineman Victor Cabrera. The turnover was the break the Gryphons needed, as they drove downfield in 10 plays, capped by a four-yard scramble to pay dirt by quarterback Chris Pousland. His rush for the conversion brought Greater Lowell with a score at 16-8.Tech wasted no time answering, however. Mario Bazile returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Greater Lowell 39, and three plays later Fairweather broke off a 28-yard scoring run that put Tech back up, 24-8, after Davis’ conversion.The Tigers stonewalled Greater Lowell on the next possession, and with just over two minutes remaining, the Gryphon opted to punt rather than attempt a fourth-and-five from their own 29.”I didn’t see anything to gain because we needed five yards and we kept getting only three,” Greater Lowell coach Dennis Murphy said. “I didn’t want them to get the ball and score another touchdown.”With just two minutes left and nursing a 16-point lead, Sverker pulled his first team and allowed some of his back-ups to get playing time. The Gryphons were able to capitalize and score one final touchdown with 14 seconds left on a seven-yard rush by Pousland, but a failed conversion attempt iced the game for the Tigers.”I wanted everybody to play,” Sverker said. “I wanted them to get into part of a win, and we made it interesting.”Although they started the season 1-4, the Tigers are now 1-0 in conference play, and Sverker said he sees his team improving as the season heads towards November.”We need to prepare for our next game, but overall, we’re getting better,” Sverker said. “Of course, every team is getting better, so we have to keep improving.”