LYNN— The St. Mary’s football team recorded its fourth shutout of the season in a 12-0 win over crosstown rival Lynn Tech Thursday night at Manning Field.
Sophomore running back George Percy (110 rushing yards) did all the scoring, catching sophomore quarterback Ali Barry’s first varsity touchdown pass and running in a score in the fourth quarter.
“George did a good job on both sides of the ball,” Spartans (6-4) coach Sean Driscoll said. “He’s a young kid learning the game. He’s learning on the fly. He’s doing a nice job for us.”
Defensively, it was a total team effort for the Spartans.
“We saw Tech a couple times during the year,” Driscoll said. “We really liked their skill guys and they have some bigger guys up front. I think keeping eight in the box was good against the run, to try and make them throw a little bit.”
Penalties and missed opportunities made it a frustrating night for Tech’s offense. Gabe Perez carried the unit with 130 rushing yards.
“I appreciate the competition from Coach Driscoll’s football team,” Tigers (6-4) coach James Runner said. “They’re a tough team, they always go hard. I have to show respect.
“Every single drive we had was either a penalty or a turnover. That’s not who we are. We had two plays that basically went to the house and they got called back on holds that went 20 yards downfield. We don’t teach holding.”
The Spartans took the opening drive and moved the chains down to Tech’s 10-yard line. Their 7-minute drive stalled when Miguel Soto scooped a Spartans fumble.
Tech’s ensuing possession stopped at the Spartans’ 28 when Luis Pineiro’s pass to Carlos Mateo fell incomplete on 4th-and-15.
The Spartans found the board with 4:34 left in the half on Barry’s 15-yard touchdown toss to Percy (conversion failed).
Tech faced 4th-and-20 toward the close of the half, but Pineiro’s 19-yard throw to Perez was a yard short. The Spartans held their 6-0 lead at halftime.
Tech’s defense set its offense up with a short field in the third quarter, stopping Barry’s quarterback sneak on 4th-and-1. But the Tigers, with the ball in Spartans’ territory, hurt themselves with a muffed snap and were forced to punt a few minutes later.
“Our backs were against the wall every single series we had the ball,” Runner said. “I don’t want to say it’s a lack of discipline because I teach discipline every single day at practice. I guess it just wasn’t rolling for us the way it was supposed to. I’m proud of our defense. We made stops when we were supposed to. But offensively, I’m disappointed.”
David Brown helped seal the win in the fourth quarter. His interception near midfield with 7:41 to go, returned to Tech’s 13, gave the Spartans a golden opportunity to extend their lead. They cashed in less than a minute later with Percy’s 3-yard touchdown plunge (conversion failed).
“David’s coming along,” Driscoll said. “They’re all coming along. I think we’ll get there eventually with our young guys.”
Brown recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at St. Mary’s 48 and the Spartans ran out the last five minutes.
Both St. Mary’s (at Austin Prep, 6) and Tech (vs. KIPP, 5) close their regular seasons next Wednesday. Tech will also play in the upcoming MVADA Tournament (TBA).
“We’re not thinking about the Vocational Tournament,” Runner said. “I know KIPP has a big game against Keefe Tech (Div. 8 North final Friday) but at the end of the day, KIPP’s our main focus. We’ll be ready to play.”
