Some great, some gritty performances

LYNN – The choice of Bulldogs and Rams as mascots indicates a certain tenacity, a certain reluctance to give in. And there were as many of those qualities on display on Thanksgiving morning as there were turkeys, cranberries and stuffing on the dinner table afterwards.One player who epitomized these qualities in English’s 13-12 win is Chris Tinkham, a senior lineman who stands 6-3, weighs 275 pounds, and is one of four captains (along with Chris Lessard, Zach Lozzi and Danny Kane).?The final minutes were crazy,” said Tinkham, who finished his final high school game with seven tackles and one sack. “There were a lot of tears and smiles.”English had reason to smile at the end, when Lessard caught two big fourth-quarter passes from quarterback Lucas Harris ? a 31-yarder to get the ball to the Rams 19, and the game-tying touchdown, which went for 28 yards, with 42.9 seconds left. He even kicked the PAT for the winning point.?Lucas completed that pass to Chris,” Tinkham said. “It was an exhilarating feeling. Nothing better.”?In the end, it was Chris Lessard and the seniors,” Bulldogs coach Peter Holey reflected. “All the frustration and disappointment was washed away from the final months.”On the fourth-quarter score, the coach said, “We had to put it up ? Lucas went to the center of the goalpost, and (Chris) went up and got it.?Great players make great plays. That?s what Chris Lessard is, a fantastic athlete. He played the entire season with a torn labrum and will have surgery in two weeks.?I?m just happy for our seniors. They?ve worked so hard for four consecutive (years).”The Turkey Day win marked a four-year sweep for the English Class of 2014. After the game, Tinkham celebrated on the field, exclaiming, “Four in a row!”However, there were plenty of gutsy performances on the Classical side on Thanksgiving as well.Tinkham and the defense had to come up big against the Rams’ offense, led by quarterback Jordan Brown and running back Devin Crayton.?Devin Crayton and Jordan Brown are heck of a players,” Tinkham said.He added, “Devin is tough to tackle. He?s kind of big for a running back. You?ve got to get low.”?Crayton, we couldn?t stop him on their final (scoring) drive,” Holey said. “Their quarterback was outstanding. They had a shot at the end.”After Lessard?s go-ahead PAT, Classical took over at its 8-yard line. On first down, C.J. Hernandez sacked Brown to push the Rams back to their five. Yet the signal-caller found Crayton for 20 yards. On the next play, Brown unloaded, finding Justin Avery at the Bulldogs? 20. However, a penalty canceled the play (the ball was thrown after the line of scrimmage).?Jordan made a nice play on the ball,” Rams coach Tim Phelps said. “All you can do is ask the kids to play hard.”Brown?s fellow Classical captains also received praise from Phelps.?Kenny Khun had good coverage, Brad (Scuzzarella) played a good game and Romario Louidhon (played well) on both sides of the ball,” Phelps said.At the end of the game, both sides were emotional.?I don?t ever want to leave this field!” Holey exclaimed, adding, “Let me have Thanksgiving dinner right here.”Tinkham noted, “I was raised in the program since seventh grade ? For everyone in the Bulldog family, Thanksgiving and winning, it means the world to me.”On the other side of the field, Phelps reflected, “Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose, unfortunately.”Asked about the game being the 100th meeting between the Rams and Bulldogs, Phelps said, “I wish we?d won it. It?s an English-Classical game.”Perhaps both sides can be thankful they got great, and gritty, performances by their players on Turkey Day.