Classical shuts down, shuts out Salem, 21-0

SALEM – In one of the most dominant defensive performances in school history, the Lynn Classical High football team shut down and shut out Salem, 21-0, Friday night at Bertram Field.The statistics for the Rams’ defense are sublime. Salem (1-6) picked up only one first down and was limited to just seven yards of total offense, including minus-20 yards of rushing. Classical (4-3) also intercepted three passes.”Defense is our strength,” Classical coach Tim Phelps said. “They did their job tonight.”Offensively, Classical got a pair of touchdown runs from Jaquan Huston and a 16-yard scoring pass from quarterback Nick Grassa to Keith Nance. The Rams piled up 245 yards of rushing offense, but saw some other scoring opportunities erased by penalties and some decent defense by Salem, particularly linebacker Antonio Reyes, who continues to play outstanding football.Jasper Grassa led the Rams with 114 yards on 13 carries, while Huston rushed 11 times for 62 yards.”At times we looked great offensively, and there were times we lost focus,” Phelps said. “But they (Witches) played us tough on the defensive side of the ball. I’ve always said this is a tough matchup for us because they’re a big, physical football team just like we are. It doesn’t matter what the records are, every time we play them, they give us a battle.”Classical scored on its opening drive of the game that went 78 yards in 14 plays. The Rams had first-and-goal from the Witches’ 8-yard line, but three plays went backwards eight yards and Classical needed to put the ball in the end zone. Nick Grassa lofted a high pass to Nance in the front right corner, and the Rams led, 6-0, when Nick Grassa missed the point-after kick with 2:52 left in the first quarter.”That fourth-down pass when we looked like we had them contained really hurt us,” Salem coach Scott Connolly said. “I’m proud of the way our defense played tonight. I know we had trouble moving the ball, but the players never gave up, and I’m proud of the way they kept battling.”Salem’s Chris Bozarjian returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to Classical’s 29-yard line, but a fake punt on 4th-and-18 was stuffed by Chevere Archer at the Rams’ 40. Classical then marched 60 yards in 13 plays and was helped out by a personal foul in the secondary on third-and-13 early in the drive. Huston handled the last three carries, including a 1-yard plunge off left tackle for a touchdown. Jasper Grassa’s 2-point rushing conversion made the score 14-0 with 5:42 left in the second quarter.Neither team threatened to score again until late in the third quarter. A high snap on a punt forced Salem’s Reyes to throw a desperate pass that was broken up by Classical’s Buddy Ford, and the Rams took over at the Witches’ 28-yard line. Four plays later, Huston bounced a run up the middle to the right and ran 22 yards for his second score of the game. Nick Grassa’s extra-point kick was good and the Rams led, 21-0, with eight seconds left in the third quarter.The Witches had good starting field position when Reyes intercepted a pass at the Rams’ 29-yard line with 7:44 left in the game, but three plays picked up only three yards and Brad Skeffington’s hurried pass attempt on fourth down was knocked down just beyond the line of scrimmage.Salem’s last two drives of the game ended with interceptions by Archer and Nance.”They play great defense,” Salem’s Connolly said. “They’re big and strong, and they fly to the ball. That was definitely an outstanding defensive effort by them.”