Classical falls in Danvers

DANVERS – Simply put, Danvers made the plays that Classical did not on Friday night at Dr. Deering Stadium and it proved to be all the difference in the Falcons 25-14 victory.Danvers blocked a punt for a touchdown and got a Nick Andreas fourth down touchdown pass that lead to 13 of their 19 first half points while the Rams couldn’t convert on several fourth-and-short plays that prevented them from finishing drives with points.It was those missed opportunities, along with the Falcons ability to capitalize following Classical’s little mistakes, that left Rams coach Tim Phelps searching for answers afterwards.”Danvers played better than us and deserved to win,” Phelps said. “We missed some opportunities and just couldn’t make a big play when we needed to.”It wasn’t for lack of chances for the Rams (2-3, 1-2 NEC South) as Classical had drives die at the Danvers 28 and five in the first half and then at the Falcons six and 27 in the second half when they were trying to battle back into the game.The tone for the evening was set off the opening kickoff when the Rams muffed it and Chandler Laguerre was tackled at the two. Three plays later, Classical lined up to punt when John Thomas knifed in and blocked the kick. Josh Manzanillo fell on the loose pigskin and Danvers had a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.Micah Dublin (36-137) settled the Rams down when he ripped off a 45 yard gain on the next snap but the Danvers defense stiffened and eventyally forced an incomplete Matt Lauria pass on fourth down to get the ball back.Classical forced a punt on the next possession but Dublin fumbled on the next play with the Falcons recovering at the Rams 11. Three plays later, Andreas hit his younger brother, Chris, for a touchdown on fourth and goal at the five to make it 13-0.The Rams responded quickly, needing only four plays to go 74 yards as Lauria hit Ajayli Booker for a 44 yard touchdown that cut the lead ot 14-6.Classical got the ball back late in the first and grinded out a 59 yard drive that Dublin capped with a three-yard dive on the second play of the second quarter to give Classical its first lead at 14-13.That lead didn’t last long as Andreas quickly moved Danvers back down field but faced a fourth-and-15 at the Rams 25. That’s where he found his brother once again, this time on a seam route down the left hash, for a touchdown and a 19-14 lead.Classical then methodically moved the ball down field as the first half ran down and had first-and-10 at the Falcons 14. But four Dublin runs gained only nine yards and the Rams came away empty-handed once again.It was still 19-14 in the third quarter when the Falcons took advantage of a short field to deliver a knockout blo thaks to the hard running of Richie Martino and Cris Valles. Martino capped the drive with a one yard plunge that made it 25-14 late in the third.”If we want to make the playoffs, we have to win the next two weeks,” Phelps said. “We have to go back and get ready for a very good Winthrop team and then have Revere after that.”