Tech stifles Mystic Valley

MALDEN – Although it held a two-touchdown lead at halftime, Lynn Tech wasn’t satisfied with its first half output against Mystic Valley Regional High.The Tigers’ two turnovers, coupled with some costly penalties, cost them the chance to blow the game open in the opening two periods.In the second half, Tech made sure not to disappoint again.Dustin Rooney’s three touchdown passes, along with a stifling Tiger defense, led Lynn Tech to a convincing 36-6 victory over Mystic Valley on Saturday at Malden Catholic High School.Tech improved to 5-2 with the victory, while Mystic Valley fell to 1-5.”They gave us all we could handle in the first half,” Tech coach Gary Sverker said. “We made some plays, and we made a couple of adjustments, and we started to take control.”Tech opened the second half with a 16-0 lead, and the Tigers wasted little time putting an end to the drama. On the third play from scrimmage, Tech’s Sunny Yom tipped a pass by Mystic Valley quarterback Mike Pascal. Pedro Martinez intercepted the ball and returned it 25 yards for the touchdown, giving the Tigers a 22-0 lead.”They really made the plays they had to make to beat us today,” Mystic Valley coach Rollie Hinckley said. “I think that we made some key mistakes that took ourselves out of the game.”Mystic Valley answered, though, with its strongest drive of the game. The Eagles went 68 yards over 13 plays, draining more than seven minutes of clock time. Gardy St. Paul (12-94) capped the drive with a five-yard score to cut the deficit to 22-6. The drive accounted for more than half of the Eagles’ 135 total yards for the afternoon.Mystic Valley forced Tech into a third-and-19 on the ensuing possession, but the Tigers converted with a play that devastated the Eagles’ hopes. Rooney found Ryan Murphy along the sideline, and the big running back rumbled 69 yards for the score that gave the Tigers a 28-6 advantage entering the final period.”We made some mistakes in the secondary, and when you do, those become long plays, and touchdowns,” Hinckley said. “You can’t let that happen.”With the game firmly in hand, the Tigers added a three-yard rushing touchdown by Rooney midway through the fourth en route to the victory.The Tigers’ defense was effective all afternoon. Mystic Valley committed three turnovers; two of them resulted in Tiger touchdowns.”I think the defense did a nice job,” Sverker said. “It was a good team win. We played very well defensively.”The first half was more frustrating than the latter for the Tigers. Tech fumbled the ball away twice in Mystic Valley territory and committed some key penalties. The Tigers committed nine penalties in the contest, costing themselves 70 yards.It was Rooney and receiver Joe Brady who stole the show in the opening half, though. Rooney found Brady for touchdown passes of 20 and 57 yards, both in the second period.Next week, the Tigers will host Shawsheen, and Sverker said the game should be difficult despite Shawsheen’s 2-5 record.”They’ve had a tough schedule, so their record is deceiving,” Sverker said. “We’re going to have to play our best. We’re going to enjoy this one, but we’ll be getting ready for Shawsheen.”