LYNN — The Classical football team’s back on track.
After consecutive losses, Classical bounced back in style with a 48-8 win over Salem Friday at Manning Field.
“We want to win every game,” Rams coach Brian Vaughan said. “This was another game we wanted to win. We had to execute, that’s what we worked on and I feel we executed. I feel we had a good week of practice. That always helps. I think it showed a little bit. But we still have a long way to go as a football team. We want to get better every week, every day. This was a step in the right direction.”
Kalvin So carried Classical’s offense with 112 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries.
“Kalvin’s been doing it for us every game,” Vaughan said. “He’s been consistent all season. We’re going to rely heavily on Kalvin. He works hard, he runs hard. He’s someone that’s going to help us be successful.”
Vaughan credited Classical’s offensive line for dominating in the trenches.
“Luis Gonzalez got his first opportunity to start,” Vaughan said. “He did an excellent job. David Doucette makes all our line calls at center. He did an excellent job. They do a good job every week.”
Quarterback Daniel Gisonno continued his stellar season. Gisonno completed 10 of 16 pass attempts for 91 yards and ran it five times for 82 yards. Gisonno ran for two scores and hit Jeffrey Hill for a touchdown pass. Nico Galeazzi logged 46 rushing yards on three carries and finished Classical’s scoring with a 41-yard touchdown run in the closing stages.
The Rams found the end zone on each of their first four possessions. After a Salem squib kick, Classical marched its way down the field. So sealed a 53-yard drive with a 2-yard rumble and added the 2-point conversion, putting Classical up 8-0 out of the gate. On the next drive, Gisonno scored from 16 yards out on a keeper. Gisonno hit Maurice Sequeira on the 2-point conversion.
Gisonno then added a 49-yard touchdown run before the end of the quarter (conversion failed) and the Rams led 22-0.
A muffed punt to start the second quarter gave Classical a short field at Salem’s 10. Gisonno connected with Eusebio Quintana for nine yards and hit Hill for a 1-yard touchdown pass (Kyle Durant PAT).
Salem picked up steam on its next possession. The Witches moved the chains inside Classical’s 30, with a 26-yard toss from quarterback Jeffrey Holloway to Jeandavis Cardenas as the key play of the drive. But Rams linebacker Galeazzi sacked Holloway on 4th-and-long to end the threat.
“We tackled much better than we’ve been tackling in the past,” Vaughan said. “That’s something we want to continue getting better at and hopefully we do get better at it.”
So’s 1-yard touchdown run (PAT missed) gave Classical a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Touchdown runs from So (12 yards in the third quarter, Durant PAT) and Galeazzi (41 yards in the fourth quarter, PAT blocked) sealed Classical’s scoring. Salem’s Devin Tolbert returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown to avoid the shutout, with Holloway adding the conversion via rush.
Classical, now at 2-2 on the season, hosts Winthrop next Friday (7:30).
“(Winthrop) coach (Johnathan) Cadigan’s a good friend of mine,” Vaughan said. “He does an outstanding job over there. It’s going to be a great matchup. I coached there in 2007 and I understand their culture. It’s a special culture. Those kids are always ready to play on Friday nights.”
