Lowell overwhelms Prep

DANVERS – While Daylight Savings officially ended in the overnight hours early Sunday, darkness descended on St. John?s Prep?s playoff quest late Saturday afternoon in a stunning 41-0 Division 1 North quarterfinal loss to Lowell at Cronin Field.The Merrimack Valley Large runner-up Red Raiders (6-2) outflanked the undermanned Eagles (4-4) with their perimeter speed, outmuscled them along the interior, and outplayed them across the board.Senior Keagan Latta enjoyed a career day with two receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown; three interceptions, one for a touchdown; and a fumble return for a touchdown. Senior back Ngaiiva Mason added 11 carries for 80 yards and three TDs and senior quarterback Brian Dolan completed 10-of-15 passes for 176 yards.Blitzing on every play, Lowell?s defense held the Eagles to 97 net yards, produced 10 negative plays for minus-51 yards – including four sacks of quarterback Mike Geaslen – and never allowed The Prep a legitimate sniff at the end zone.?They?re very skilled. We couldn?t afford to give them points on defense and we did. We?re a run-the-football, play-action team and when we get behind, it?s not good for the type of football we play,” said Prep coach Jim O?Leary.?They had more speed, especially outside. We practiced all week against their blitz but we?re shorthanded and have some inexperienced people up front. They were better in a lot of aspects. The score doesn?t get that way if they weren?t,” he added.Lowell notched the only score it required with 4:01 left in the first period. Rolling left on 3rd-and-16, Dolan found Latta on a crossing pattern for a 26-yard score. Evan McHugh?s PAT made it 7-0.The game turned for good in a 27-second span bridging the first and second periods.First, the Raiders stuffed The Prep?s 4th-and-1 attempt from its own 38 late in the first period. Dolan?s 31-yard delivery to Tom Smith (4 catches, 105 yards) set up Mason?s first score from a yard out with 16.7 seconds left in the first period.Then, on the Eagles? first play of the second period, Latta scooped up a fumble after a short pass and waltzed 26 yards for the score, making it 21-0.Mason?s 19-yard run with 6:18 left in the half and Latta?s 44-yard interception return for a score just 1:31 later sent Lowell off with a 34-0 lead at the break. Mason?s 33-yard dash capped the scoring midway through the third period.Sophomore running back Dillon Preston (9 carries, 31 yards) turned in a determined performance for the Eagles. Senior Michael Fawehinmi had a pair of long kickoff returns in the second half. Senior Sam Sutera and sophomore Jack Lambert recorded sacks.O?Leary pointed out the Eagles still have plenty of motivation to finish strong.?We still have a Catholic Conference title to play for (against Xaverian) on Thanksgiving,” he said.