Classical gridders rebound in a big way

LYNN – The Classical football team used its strong running game to beat Malden, 28-6, at Manning Field on Friday night ? rebounding from a pounding the Rams took last week in Beverly.View photo galleryRunning backs Justin Avery, Devin Crayton, and Brad Scuzzarella combined for 334 of the Rams’ 354 rushing yards and all four touchdowns.”We called three different plays based on what the defense was giving us,” said Classical head coach Tim Phelps.Scuzzarella began the scoring with an eight-yard scamper in the opening quarter.In the second quarter, Scuzzarella nearly turned the ball back over to Malden after he mishandled a punt, but he was able to recover the fumble at the five-yard line. The Rams, 2-1, chewed most of the clock on a 95-yard drive, getting six first downs on the drive. Crayton (117 yards) capped the series with an eight-yard jaunt.”I told the guys we need to respond,” Phelps said. “That was a nice drive.”The Golden Tornadoes, 1-2, had a tough time moving the ball in the first half. They were hoping to stop the Rams in the second half.When the teams came out of the locker room, the story remained the same. Classical received the ball and took it downfield with authority from its two 6-foot tall running backs. Avery (142 yards) and Crayton carried the offense on the ground game for most of the second half. Avery finished with a five-yard touchdown run to build the Classical advantage to 20-0.Malden responded on the ensuing drive with a touchdown, but the Tornados were unable to produce anything else. They finished with 103 yards of total offense with most of that coming in the second half. Quarterback Jake Martino was 9-of-14 passing for 61 yards. During Malden’s lone touchdown drive, Martino completed a pass to receiver Franklin Huynh just in front of the near sideline to the Rams’ 9-yard line. Two plays later, running back Rodney Blaise took the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line.Classical’s lone passing play was a six-yard sack by the Tornadoes’ linebacker, Patrick Provitola. With Malden jamming the line of scrimmage, the Rams were forced to pick up chunks of yards on the ground. They were effective in accumulating yards and holding onto the ball.The Lynn Classical defense had three sacks.”We ran inside and outside,” explained Phelps.Classical could not be denied on offense even without an aerial attack.