LYNN — Mission accomplished.
The No. 3 KIPP football team started fast and never looked back in Friday’s Division 8 North title game, rolling to a 49-13 win over No. 4 Keefe Tech at Manning Field. The win gives the third-year Panthers their first ever sectional title.
“I’m just so proud of these guys for working their way to this point,” said KIPP coach Jim Rabbitt. “Most of these guys have been here all three years and they’ve built this program into what it is. I couldn’t be any happier for them.”
The Panthers put up 19 points on offense and forced two three-and-outs and a fumble on defense in the first quarter to take a commanding lead.
“We talked all week about coming out strong and starting fast,” Rabbitt said. “We knew Keefe Tech was coming in off of a two or three-game winning streak, so we knew it would be a tough battle. But to get off to such a great start was huge, and we were able to ride that momentum.”
Quarterback Piero Canales had a big game, completing 6-of-9 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown. Taj King was Canales’ main receiver, hauling in four receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Oluwasuyi added 10 rushes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Dave Filias, Joseph Tolentino and Jonathan Caraballo rushed for one touchdown each, while Kris Merino kicked a 22-yard field goal.
After forcing a three-and-out on Keefe Tech’s first possession, KIPP’s offense took over on its own 38. It didn’t take long to get points, as Canales hit King on a quick screen than turned into a 62-yard touchdown on the very first play.
The Panthers came right back after forcing another three-and-out, this time running a 7-play drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Oluwasuyi to make it 13-0.
KIPP knocked the ball loose on the second play of the ensuing possession and recovered the fumble in Keefe Tech territory. Six plays later, Canales scampered for a 25-yard touchdown run to make it 19-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Keefe Tech got off to a solid start in the second quarter, running a 14-play drive that took up 9:04 of game time and culminated in a 6-yard touchdown run from Jaydon Francy-Weber, closing the gap to 19-7.
But the Panthers weren’t phased. After a 37-yard connection between Canales and King put KIPP in position, Oluwasuyi capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 27-7 with 1:32 left in the half.
KIPP wasn’t done. After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, the Panthers blocked a punt and got the ball at the Keefe Tech 17. It only took two plays for KIPP to punch it in, as Filias ran one in from three yards out to take a 33-7 lead into the break.
KIPP got the ball at the half and made quick work of the drive, going up 40-7 after Canales hit Tolentino with a 10-yard touchdown pass. Merino added a field goal at the end of the third quarter to make it 43-7, and Caraballo finished the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. Francy-Weber rushed for a 39-yard touchdown as time expired to round out the scoring.
Next up for KIPP (8-2) is the Division 8 state semifinal, where the Panthers will go up against undefeated West Bridgewater next weekend (TBA), the Division 8 South champion.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game, and West Bridgewater was in (the state semifinal) last year as well so they’re probably itching to get a chance to go to Gillette (Stadium),” Rabbitt said. “But as far as we’re concerned, they’re standing in our way and we’re going to have to get through them to reach our goals. It’s going to be a tough battle, but we’ll be ready for it.”
