Lynn’s Rushins helps Fenwick beat Georgetown

PEABODY – A young team needs to learn how to battle and fight back during the course of a game. A young Fenwick team earned their lesson and their first win at home on Friday night, battling to a 30-13 win over Georgetown.”This was a good win for our young football team,” said Fenwick coach Dave Woods. “Our team worked hard all week, kept up the work and effort during the game, and did not give up. This team did not give up.”Fenwick (1-3) grabbed a 7-0 lead on a Rufus Rushins 46 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. While rumbling through the open field, Rushins was able to find the endzone because of a huge and perfect block thrown by James Traversey.From there the flow of the game became a pendulum swinging back and forth. For every momentum swing that went against the Crusaders, they fought back as a team to create their own swing.A Fenwick fumble and turnover would turn into a defensive stand. When Georgetown blocked a Fenwick punt, Charlie Maistrellis came up with an interception for the Crusaders.A second Fenwick fumble and turnover resulted in Georgetown tying the score at seven late in the second quarter. The Crusaders turned around and moved 43 yards downfield with Rushins again finding the endzone. Fenwick took a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.At the start of the second half, the momentum swings continued. Fenwick’s opening possession fizzled and Georgetown’s Matt Prescott used the first play to go 41 yards for a touchdown. A failed two-point conversion allowed for Fenwick to hold onto a 14-13 lead.The lead was slim until Maistrellis returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Holding onto a 21-13 lead, Fenwick also held onto the momentum of the game.”As a coaching staff we have been saying that we need to get the ball to (Maistrellis),” said Woods. “Even after an early fumble, we still wanted to figure a way to get him the ball and returning kicks was one of those ways.”The Fenwick defense came up big, stifling a quick strike and potentially lethal Royals’ offense. Fran Hannon played his best during he second half for Fenwick, coming up with two interceptions to stall Georgetown’s comeback attempts.Meanwhile, the Fenwick offense was able to eat up the clock, with Rushins and Hannon grinding out yards. Late in the third quarter Rushins score his third touchdown of the evening. Rushins, a Lynn native, finished the night with 21 carries and 177 yards rushing.”(Rushins) is a special talent and he is just starting to learn the offense,” said Woods. “But the offensive line did a great job tonight, blocked well, and opened up some pretty good holes.”Fittingly, Fenwick scored their final two points of the night late in the fourth quarter when a swarming team defense force Georgetown to recover their own fumble in their endzone for a Crusader safety.