In a wide-open game, defense was the difference

LYNN – It seems funny to say in a game that saw English and Classical combine for 61 points, 594 yards of total offense and 32 first downs, it was a defensive stand that proved to be the difference on Thursday in the Rams 34-27 win at Manning Field.After seeing a 26-13 lead disappear in what seemed like the blink of an eye thanks to the powerful English offense, the Rams fought back to take a seven-point lead with 2:40 to go. The game now hung on if the Rams could stop Tyllor McDonald and the Bulldogs.McDonald had already thrown touchdown passes of 49 and 14 yards to Melvin Tavares in the fourth quarter and when the sophomore speedster returned the kick to the Classical 32, it looked like the Bulldogs were on the way to tying the game.But the Rams had other ideas. Classical had held English to only 125 yards of total offense at the half and coach Tim Phelps knew that unit was playing a very good game.”McDonald is such a shifty, tough runner,” Phelps said. “But I thought we had done a really nice job in the first half against them.”After Tavares’ kick return, English lost three yards on the next three plays and it looked like Classical might have the Bulldogs on the ropes. But McDonald was able to elude a fierce pass rush and scramble for a 16-yard gain to keep the game alive.On the next play, he hit Ryan Woumn for a 13-yard gain to the six and it looked for all the world like English was on its way to scoring the tying points. McDonald had struggled to throw all game, but coach Peter Holey gave his quarterback a little advice in the fourth quarter.”I told him to just let it rip,” Holey said. “And if he threw an interception, it was my fault.”On first-and-goal from the six, McDonald kept the ball but was swarmed by the Classical line for a five-yard loss. The next play didn’t go much better as McDonald was tackled for a three-yard loss.The next play was a pass in the direction of Travonne Berry-Rogers, but the Rams pass rush didn’t allow McDonald to get set and the pass was low and outside.That pass rush was designed to keep McDonald from escaping the pocket.”We told the guys that we had to pass rush as a unit,” Phelps said. “We couldn’t fly up field because (McDonald) could run right past them.”Fittingly on fourth down, the entire Classical line met in the backfield and sacked McDonald to complete the spectacular stand and seal the dramatic win.