The Lynn English Bulldogs (2-4) defeated the Malden Golden Tornadoes (3-2) on Friday night at Manning Field, 8-6.
Trailing by two points with under three minutes remaining, Malden began their drive from their own 20-yard line and got deep within English territory. Two penalties on the same play halted the momentum, however, and quarterback Aiden Brett’s pass was knocked away in the endzone as time expired.
English’s Janathan Andrades returned the opening kickoff 84 yards to the house, getting through a herd of players around midfield before racing past the last line of defense. Quarterback Edwin Castro rushed for the two point-conversion on an option play to the left.
“It was a hole wide open,” Andrades said. “I just hit it.”
Malden got to English’s 27-yard line on its first drive courtesy of two Bulldog penalties, but a dropped ball on fourth down gave possession back to English.
After a Bulldog punt, Brett bombed a pass down the right sideline and was intercepted by Shane Simard Knoewlton. Jarvin Simon took a handoff 45 yards the next play for English, but fumbled a few plays later – recovered by John Lloyd.
The Bulldogs’ defensive line was effective from the start, often winning their individual line matchups as soon as the ball was snapped.
“First off, it’s just effort. They’re [defensive line] motors. We’ve preached the past couple weeks about just continuing to work hard, and you’ve got to take it to them,” English Head Coach Anthony LaFratta said.
Malden recovered a Castro fumble at the 43-yard line and ran it to English’s 7-yard line, followed by a Kevin Exilhomme touchdown on the ground. The Bulldogs’ Julius Mondesir stopped the two-point attempt with a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
The Golden Tornadoes got to the redzone after a Brett dime to Gabriel Vargas Cardoso for 35 yards, but a high snap, an offsides penalty, and a Mondesir sack prevented any points.
The halftime score favored English, 8-6, in a run-dominated first half. Both teams combined for four passes of positive yardage after two.
Andrades intercepted Brett on an off-balanced throw, sneaking behind the receiver to give his offense strong field position near the middle of the field.
Stagnant running games and penalties hurt both teams in a scoreless third quarter. The longest play of the quarter was a 9-yard connection between Castro and tight end Mitchell Purter.
To start the fourth, Malden marched past midfield, but a fourth down stop just a yard in front of the first down marker ended the drive.
A diving Alijah Wallace intercepted Brett who pump faked before firing a pass on a slant route. Brett found Alexander Avalos for 27 yards the play before.
After a botched English snap, the Bulldog’s Giovanni Batista picked up the botch and got a first down inside the Malden 40-yard line. But on the next play, they fumbled and gave the ball back to the Golden Tornadoes.
Wallace intercepted Brett on back-to-back drives, stepping in front of a blanketed receiver. English took over at Malden’s 45-yard line, but failed to move the chains as the drive went on.
After 35 and 26-yard receptions on Malden’s final drive, they got strong field position near the promised land, but English’s defense passed the test to give them their second victory of the season.
English returns to play Friday, Oct. 21 at Manning Field against Somerville at 5 p.m.
