MacDonald, Rogers lead way for English in win over Winthrop

LYNN – Give the Bulldogs credit. They give their fans some bang for their buck.The English football team threw everything but the kitchen sink at Winthrop in a 33-21 win Friday night at Manning Bowl. Quarterback Tyllor MacDonald put on an aerial attack with 224 yards passing and Travonne Berry-Rogers put on a show of his own with three touchdown receptions.Click here for a photo gallery of last night’s gameAfter the Bulldogs found the end zone on a three-yard run by MacDonald six plays into the game, it looked like the run-and-gun English team that beat Lawrence 40-38 last week was ready to do it again.When Winthrop’s Nick McCarthy had a spectacular 83-yard touchdown run called back on a penalty and English turned around scored on its next possession (a three-play series capped by MacDonald’s 21-yard TD pass to Berry-Rogers) you knew the Vikings were in for a long night.English went up 20-0 on its next drive (4 plays highlighted by a 29-yard reception by Ryan Woumn and a 12-yard TD catch by Berry-Rogers), but Winthrop, which beat Salem 31-0 at week ago, woke up and decided to give the Bulldogs a game.It was McCarthy working his magic again only this time, his 81-yard kick return for a touchdown didn’t go to waste. Although the extra point was blocked, the Vikings had served notice they weren’t ready to roll over and play dead.After the Bulldogs racked up more seemingly more yards in penalties and sacks than there were yardmarkers on the field, Winthrop came up with another big play. This tiem it was McCarthy running back a punt return for 59 yards. The conversion was good and the Vikings were back in the hunt, 20-14.”Winthrop played a gutsy game,” English coach Peter Holey said. “They came back. We could never relax.”Although the Vikings were in this one most of the way, the Bulldog never let them get too close. English opened up the lead again on its first possession of the second half when MacDonald found Berry-Rogers with an 18-yard touchdown strike (Corey Burt’s kick was good for a 27-14 lead. Once again, the Vikings struck back, this time it was Robert Deeb logging the miles when he reeled in a pass by William Milano and took it 66 yards for the touchdown. The kick was good and the Vikings were back in the game at 27-21.English finally put the game on ice on it next posses with a 20-yard run by Christian Figueroa setting the stage for MacDonald, who hit Ryan Woumn with a 39-yard strike, giving English a 33-12 lead.with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter.The Bulldogs dodged another bullet when McCarthy had another big run, this time a 78-yarder, called back to retain the cushion the rest of the way.English is 2-0 and Winthrop is 1-1.Although his offense was in overdrive, Holey praised his defense as well, particularly Derek Stevens and Jared Dwyer.”Derek’s going to emerge as a power in the conference,” Holey said. “At 6-2, 220, he runs like a deer.”Holey called Sam Hill the general on defense and he was very happy with MacDonald’s progress.”He’s growing every game,” Holey said.