McDonald shines in Agganis Classic

LYNN – The Golden Anniversary of the Agganis All-Star Football Classic turned into a showcase for the ultimate talents of a player who even the late Harry Agganis would have been proud to see play quarterback.Lynn English’s Tyllor McDonald led the South all on two touchdown drives, returned punts for nearly 50 yards; added an interception and the game’s biggest hit as the South took a 20-8 win over the North.One person who knew of McDonald’s talents all too well was South head coach Tim Phelps of Lynn Classical and having the NEC North MVP on his side was a welcome boost.”He simply did everything,” Phelps said. “He played defense, offense, returned kicks. I can’t say enough about the talent Tyllor has. And as coaches, we knew we had some good players but he was heads above everyone else.”Swampscott’s Peter Yasi wore Agganis’ No. 33 Thursday and lived up to the number with three second-half sacks to help the South stymie the North all night.”They were good,” North coach Bill Maradei of Austin Prep said. “They had a lot of great players and we knew we were up against it. They just beat us up front on offense and defense.”The South won the toss, and on the opening drive, McDonald engineered an eight-play, 62-yard drive, beginning with a 13-yard completion to English teammate Travonne Berry-Rogers, followed, later, by a 23-yard McDonald scramble that got the ball inside the North 15. One play later, Gloucester’s Gilbert Brown dashed around the right end for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.Saugus’ Ryan Kennedy intercepted a pass by Wilmington’s Sean Hanley on the next series to give the South another opportunity. Northeast’s Donato DiPietrantonio hit Berry-Rogers on a jump ball in the end zone for a 33-yard score and a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.The North tried to answer, but early in the second quarter Chelsea’s Troy Crossley intercepted a pass at the South 44. The North finally got on the board late in the half after DiPietrantonio fumbled (with the North’s Rudy Favard recovering). Lynnfield quarterback Gino Cohee cashed in, hitting Ryan Fraserwith a 35-yard pass, followed by a 30-yard TD strike to a diving Will Herbert in the end zone that made it 12-8 at the half.”We had that nice drive at the end of the half to make it a game and I thought that was going to give us some momentum,” Maradei said.However, Yasi sacked Fenwick’s Bret Kidik on three consecutive snaps at the start of the second half to set the tone.”Our defense made plays all night,” Phelps said. “That’s what you need to do in all-star games.”It was still a 12-8 game late in the third quarter when McDonald led his team on an 11-play, 69-yard drive that led to a clinching touchdown. Winthrop’s Nick McCarthy did most of the work, capping it off with a five-yard plunge to make it 20-8.Any hopes of a North comeback died on the next series when McDonald made a leaping interception of a Hanley pass.