Thanksgiving preview: English has soldiered on through tough season

This season, the Lynn English football team absorbed quite a few losses to its roster.View season’s photos from throughout the fall season on the North ShoreEven before the games began, two contributors from last season, Desmond Wilhelmsen and Isaiah Davis, left for other schools. Davis was the Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Northeastern Conference in 2012.”They were a significant part of our offense,” Bulldogs head coach Peter Holey said.The coach did note that “the kids have stepped up.”However, that wasn’t the only loss the Bulldogs sustained. In their playoff game against Haverhill, quarterback Jordan (Javier) Lark injured his knee.”He’s a tremendous athlete,” Holey said. “He has a cannon for an arm. He brought a dimension to our game. He’s missed. There are few people in high school football who can throw that fast and accurate.”Ironically, Lark transferred to English from Haverhill. He did much for the Bulldogs this season, punting and seeing time at wide receiver in addition to his quarterback responsibilities.”He’s only a junior,” Holey said.While the Bulldogs struggled on the field this year, going 2-7 entering their Thanksgiving Day showdown with Classical, the coach did praise his team and his captains.”The season has been disappointing in terms of wins, but it has been enjoyable,” he said. “It’s been a very enjoyable season with these kids.”He saluted his captains, seniors Chris Lessard, Danny Kane, Zach Lozzi and Chris Tinkham, all of whom “did a wonderful job keeping the kids motivated despite a tough season,” he said.Tinkham plays offensive and defensive tackle. He stands 6-3 and weighs 290 pounds.”He’s probably the most dominant player I’ve ever coached,” Holey said. “He draws double, triple teams all year long. He’s done a fantastic job.”The coach added that “he’s extremely strong, aggressive, football-savvy. He reads plays off the line of scrimmage, reads blocks, knows it from there. He’s been working out since eighth grade.”UMass-Amherst, UNC-Charlotte and Bryant have all recruited Tinkham.Lessard is a wide receiver and strong safety who is “probably the best athlete overall,” Holey said, adding that he has made “spectacular catches.”Kane and Lozzi both play middle linebacker.”They are probably the toughest pound-for-pound kids on the team,” Holey said. “They have a great nose for the ball.”Kane plays guard on offense, while Lozzi plays running back and fullback.”They are tough, tough, dependable kids,” Holey said.Lozzi and Lessard were among those who stepped up to run the ball this season, as well as sophomore Daekwon Shepard.”He’s a fantastic athlete,” Holey said of Shepard, who plays wide receiver and outside linebacker on defense. “He has a bright future. He runs through tackles. He won’t give up.”Quarterback Lucas Harris, who started last year, will call the signals against Classical this year in the historic 100th meeting between the schools on Thanksgiving.There were almost two English-Classical games this year, under the new Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association system, but Holey is grateful that didn’t pan out.”We appealed that game,” he said. “It’s the 100th game, a special event. Lynn has a special dynamic, English and Classical. You don’t want anything to diminish that. Both (schools) agreed it would not be a good idea to play before Thanksgiving.”Holey, a member of the English Class of 1981 and former Bulldog football player, said, “It’ll be a special moment, not just for me, but all our kids. It’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’m excited for our kids. They’re looking forward to it. It’s their Super Bowl, especially for our seniors. It’s the last time they’re going to play on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is a unique experience to Massachusetts. I know for a fact our kids are very excited about it.”This senior class, which consists of 12 players, has won all three of its previous meetings with Classical on Thanksgiving.”There are only very few people in the