Football: Classical set to open conference play at Salem

For the Lynn Classical football team, the road to a playoff berth begins on Friday night (7) when the Rams travel to Bertram Field to open the Northeastern Conference/North portion of their schedule against Salem.Classical (3-3) comes in off a 19-14 win at Malden last week that saw the Rams trail 14-7 entering the fourth quarter. But Casey Johnson caught a touchdown pass from Nick Grassa and fullback Ricky Bigwood added a late 2-yard plunge.The Classical defense was outstanding again in the win, forcing five turnovers, three of them interceptions. The Rams allowed 151 yards of total offense.Keith Nance gave the Rams offense a boost, carrying eight times for 102 yards while also catching a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter from Grassa.Classical will face a Salem squad that, to say the least, has had its troubles on offense this year.The Witches (1-5, 0-1 NEC North) have scored over 12 points just twice in six games and come in off a 35-13 thumping at the hands of Marblehead last week. Quarterback Brad Skeffington threw for 132 yards and both Salem touchdowns, but he also was intercepted four times by the Magician defense.Revere at EnglishAt Manning Field (7), the Bulldogs (5-1) open NEC North play against a Revere team that is coming in off an emotional 27-25 win over Peabody in its conference opener last week.English also won last week, but had to hang on in a 37-35 decision over Swampscott. The Bulldogs had leads of 30-14 and 37-22 in the second half but needed to stop a 2-point conversion attempt with 1:55 left to seal the win.Quarterback Tyllor McDonald continued his stellar play, rushing for 114 yards and throwing for 128 yards and two touchdowns.The Patriots (2-4, 1-0 NEC North) also got a big defensive play late in their win, stuffing Peabody’s Mark D’Addario on a 2-point conversion try.Trea Weathers was outstanding for Revere, rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a fumble on the opening kickoff for a score and Soheal Arachiche added a 100-yard fumble return for a score later in the game.Saugus at MarbleheadAt Piper Field (7), after putting up a stellar 5-1 record in non-conference play, the Magicians begin the NEC South portion of the schedule against a Saugus team looking to rebound from a 45-0 loss to Winthrop in its league opener.Quarterback Hayes Richardson had another outstanding performance for the Magicians in their 35-13 win over Salem last week. The senior signal-caller threw for two touchdowns and added two more rushes for scores in the fourth quarter as Marblehead put up 19 points to break open a 16-6 game.The Sachems struggled against Winthrop last week. Saugus (1-4, 0-1) managed only 48 yards and two first downs.Gloucester at PeabodyAt Lee Field (7), the Tanners (2-4, 0-1 NEC North) will try to rebound from a heartbreaking loss to Revere against one of the top-rated teams in Eastern Mass.Peabody rushed for 272 total yards, but a pair of costly fumbles turned into 14 Revere points and the difference in the game.Gloucester faced old nemesis Masconomet and prevailed 21-14 when Gilbert Brown intercepted a Chris Splinter pass at the two-yard line with 2:00 left. The win came at a cost, though, for the 6-0 Fishermen; Chris Unis was taken off on a stretcher with a dislocated elbow and is out for at least a month.Fenwick at SpellmanAt Braintree (7), the Crusaders (3-3) begin Catholic Central League/Large play with a road trip. Fenwick comes in on the back of a 30-15 win at home over Georgetown. Senior tailback Alex Crecco was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 26 of the Crusaders’ 30 points. He rushed for 126 yards, four touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.