LYNN — Anytime the Tech football team has the running back duo of Keoni Gaskin and Steffan Gravely on it’s A-game, the Tigers are tough to beat. KIPP learned that the hard way Friday night at Manning Field.
Gaskin and Gravely each scored three touchdowns to lead a Tech running game that totalled 370 yards on its way to a 47-0 win over the Panthers.
“My hats off to KIPP and what they’re trying to do as a program,” Tech coach James Runner said. “It was a CAC conference game and our job was to get the win. My coaches talked about finishing the game the right way and I’m proud of us.”
The win had an extra incentive for Gravely, who reached a milestone by breaking the school record for career touchdowns with 66. The record was previously held by Tech assistant coach Kennedy Gomes.
“It’s a testament to Coach Gomes, and he did it in three years,” Runner said. “For Steffan to have the opportunity to do it in four years is huge for our program. He’s a great athlete and a game changer. He makes a lot of things happen for us.”
With the win, Tech remains undefeated at 5-0 while the Panthers fall to 1-4.
“Tech’s the class of the CAC,” KIPP coach James Rabbitt said. “They have two unbelievable running backs. We worked all week on tackling, pursuing, but those guys were tough to handle.”
Tech’s offense got rolling early and never looked back. On the third play of the game, Tigers quarterback David Barrios connected with Gravely on a 51-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing PAT attempt failed but Tech held a 6-0 lead just 90 seconds in.
Five minutes later, Gaskin capped off a Tigers drive with a five-yard touchdown run, boosting the lead to 12-0. With 1:50 remaining in the opening period, Gravely provided the highlight of the night with a 91-yard touchdown run. The senior running back hurdled over a KIPP defender and broke a handful of tackles en route to the end zone. Tech added the two-point conversion, putting the Panthers in a 20-0 hole.
“That was the start I was looking for,” Runner said. “I’m proud of the way the guys played. Carrying the lead into the second quarter allowed us to try some different things on offense.”
A Tomi Oladunjoye sack forced Tech to punt on its first drive of the second quarter. The Tigers bounced back with a pair of Gaskin touchdown runs in the final three minutes of the period. Gaskin plowed his way into the end zone on a two-yard rush and then added a 16-yard carry to his performance, boosting Tech to a 32-0 advantage at halftime.
“We came out a little slow in the first half,” Rabbitt said. “We moved the ball a little bit in the second half. We had a few guys go down with injuries but our backups played hard and we played for pride.”
Gravely’s 34-yard touchdown carry with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter put the Tigers in the driver’s seat, ahead 39-0. Freshman Angelo Person, Gravely’s younger brother, concluded the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter for the 47-0 win.
“My offensive line coach, Jason McCuish, he works the daylights out of our offensive line,” Runner said. “I think the dynamic part of our offense is that you don’t know who’s going to get the ball.”
Panthers quarterback Kymani Morrison finished with 105 rushing yards.
“He’s been a phenomenal player for us,” Rabbitt said. “We’re a young, building team and hopefully we follow his leadership and work ethic as the program continues.”
Both teams are back in action next Saturday as Tech visits Northeast and KIPP aims to bounce back at Nashoba Valley.
