LYNN — Sometimes it’s natural for your offense to take a step back when the team graduates a Division I player under center. But that hasn’t been the case for the Classical football team this season.
After former quarterback Keith Ridley moved on to Boston College, the Rams handed the offense to senior Daniel Gisonno. And Gisonno has flourished.
A 3-year varsity player and team captain, Gisonno has completed 99-of-148 pass attempts for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdown passes in just seven games.
“Before you even get to what he’s capable of what he’s doing as an athlete, he’s our team leader,” coach Brian Vaughan said. “He’s worked hard in the offseason. He’s worked hard the past three years, waiting for his opportunity. He’s been a leader in the weight room, in captains’ practices and it’s starting to show a little bit.”
Gisonno’s just as dangerous carrying the ball as he is throwing it. His 584 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns rank him second on the team in both categories.
“I take pride in my running game,” Gisonno said. “It helps a lot when you’re able to do both as a quarterback. It makes the defense respect you as a run threat. They have to look at us as an offense that has two running backs.”
Gisonno’s progression as a top-notch quarterback has helped the Rams to a 4-2 mark. After an exclusion loss at Catholic Memorial, Classical proceeded to lose at Revere and Danvers, after a win over Brockton in its home opener. Victories over Salem, Winthrop and Gloucester over the past three weeks have Classical back on track.
“I think our defense has stepped up in a big way,” Gisonno said. “We’re all just trying to work together and accomplish what we can. I feel we can make a good run in the playoffs. That’s everyone’s goal here, make the best run we can in the playoffs and hopefully that brings a championship.
“We got punched in the face a bit with Danvers and Revere. We got ourselves together and we started rolling from there.”
Classical’s offense carries athletes across the board. Brandon Summers (398 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and Jeffrey Hill (328 receiving yards, six touchdowns) have excelled in the passing game, with Andy DeLeon and Maurice Sequeira rounding out a deep receiving core.
“They all want the football in their hands,” Gisonno said. “When you’re working with guys who want the football, it makes it a lot easier for me out there. Jeff and Brandon are both basketball players. They’re fast when they get into space. Maurice is a big guy. He’s been playing the game for a long time. Andy’s very aggressive. Whenever I get them the ball, they make things happen.”
Running back Kalvin So has rushed for 733 yards and 10 touchdowns. And Classical’s offensive line, Gisonno said, has been key in the unit’s success.
“Our offensive line has stepped up in a big way,” Gisonno said. “We graduated a lot of guys there, and we have a few first-year varsity players. They’ve been great. They’ve helped me out a lot and they help Kalvin a lot.”
While some might feel pressure in replacing a Division I player, Gisonno never did. He spent two seasons as Ridley’s backup and made sure to learn as much as he could in preparing for his own opportunity.
“Keith helped me get ready for this,” Gisonno said. “I backed him up for two years. I came into this season more confident than nervous.
“It was good to watch him play quarterback. He could really throw the football. He simplified things for me and that really helped me a lot.”
Vaughan shared a similar take.
“We saw Danny’s progression as an athlete,” Vaughan said. “We were excited to see what he’d do with the opportunity. He can run a little bit, he makes the throws we ask him to make. We were excited to see what he could do when he got the opportunity to play.”
“We saw how hard he worked. We talk about how nothing but positive things will happen when you work hard. He believes in that. He makes plays on the field. He’s an example of what hard work can bring to the table.”
Classical concludes the regular season Saturday night (7), when the Rams host Saugus (1-5) at Manning Field. A win can only help Classical’s chances at qualifying for the Division 3 North state tournament.
“It’s a very big game for us,” Gisonno said. “It’s a must win. Last year it was out of our own control. This year we want to do everything we can to put things in our control by winning this football game. We want to give Saugus our best game.”
On Friday, St. Mary’s is at Mashpee (6), Salem travels to Revere (6:30), Winthrop’s at English (7), Swampscott visits Gloucester (7), Marblehead’s at Danvers (7), Beverly travels to Peabody (7), Williams visits Fenwick (7), KIPP’s at Essex Tech (7) and Hamilton-Wenham’s at Lynnfield (7). Tech travels to Northeast Saturday morning (10:30).
