Classical football shuts down Peabody

PEABODY ? Avoiding the so-called “trap game,” the Lynn Classical High football team held Peabody to just 18 yards of total offense and routed the Tanners, 28-0, Friday night, at Lee Field.Classical28Peabody0 The win sets up a showdown between the Rams (8-1) and Gloucester next week in Gloucester for command of the Northeastern Conference’s North division.Classical’s Eric Sisson (121 yards-15 carries) scored on the Rams’ last play of scrimmage in the first half, and Nick Grassa found Keith Nance for a 69-yard touchdown strike on their first play from scrimmage in the second half to put Classical in control.Nance also scored on a 27-yard run in the first quarter while Tyler Alicudo added a 28-yard scoring run in the third quarter for the Rams.”We were a little concerned (about looking ahead to Gloucester), but the kids had a good week of practice and focused on Peabody,” Classical coach Tim Phelps said. “That’s a good football team over there. They’re well-coached and they’ve improved over the last two years.”The Tanners (4-5; 2-2) just couldn’t muster any sustained offense against the Rams. Peabody only crossed midfield once, in the second quarter when Brady Doyle’s 33-yard punt return gave the Tanners the ball at Classical’s 28-yard line, but they eventually had to settle for a 30-yard field goal attempt from Sean Wlasuk that was no good.The Rams allowed Peabody just three first downs, all in the first half, and the Tanners were held to minus-17 yards of offense in the second half. Calvin Ebieshieva was particularly busy for Classical, making a pair of quarterback sacks and several other tackles behind the line of scrimmage.”They’re big, strong and fast,” Peabody coach Scott Wlasuk said. “They have a lot of speed on the perimeter. That number 12 (Ebieshieva) is a heck of an athlete.”The Rams scored on their second possession of the game, an 8-play, 81-yard drive that was methodical until Nance took an option pitch around left end for his first score.After Peabody’s missed field goal with 3:18 left in the first half, Classical took the ball 80 yards in eight plays. Grassa connected with Nance for a 17-yard gain, and on the next play Grassa kept an option to the right for 37 yards to the Tanners’ 13-yard line. Sisson rammed the ball into the end zone with 34 seconds left in the half.Classical’s first play of the second half was a long pass down the right sideline that despite the presence of another receiver in the area Nance hauled in at about the Peabody 40 and took the distance.”We had worked on their wheel route all week, but we just got beat on that play,” coach Wlasuk said. “I don’t know if we’re jinxed or what, but we’ve been giving up touchdowns late in the first half. Then they hit us with that big play to start the second half.”The Rams scored again on their next possession, a drive of 60 yards in five plays. Alicudo took a handoff, swept around right end and beat a couple of defenders into the end zone.Classical killed almost the entire fourth quarter with one drive. Starting at their own 40, the Rams marched to the Peabody 5 before turning the ball over on downs, but there was only enough time for the Tanners to run three plays.