Tech Boston Academy (4-1) defeated Lynn Tech (2-3) at Manning Field on Saturday, 38-21.
Tigers quarterback Tyler David erupted for 309 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but turnovers and an effective run game from Tech Boston lifted them to victory.
David paced the Tigers’ opening drive, rushing for 33 yards and throwing for 15. However, they were stopped on fourth down in the redzone on an out route.
For Tech Boston, Jaquin Fahnbulleh raced down the left sideline for a 27-yard pickup. They ran on eight of their first nine plays – Fahnbulleh on five of them.
Both teams were run-heavy in the first quarter; the quarter ended with the Tigers only completing one drive while Tech Boston went into the second quarter in the middle of their first drive.
Tech Boston’s Xavier Landrum dropped an open pass from quarterback Leo Bowman in the endzone on fourth down, giving possession back to the Tigers.
David ran a quarterback keep, read the defensive line, then jetted left for a 17-yard touchdown. Tech led 7-0 after the extra point.
The lead was short-lived. Fahnbulleh bounced to the outside and ran 55 yards to the promised land. On the two-point conversion, a swarm of Tigers stood tall at the goal line to keep a Tech Boston receiver from crossing. The scoreboard showed 7-6.
After a Lynn Tech punt, Bowman returned it to midfield – breaking multiple tackles on his way. On an option play at the 21-yard line, he took it to the end zone himself.. The shovel pass for the two-point conversion failed.
The halftime score was 12-7 in favor of Tech Boston. Fahnbulleh collected 119 rushing yards in the half.
In the third, Tech Boston grabbed a loose ball that David had trouble handling on the snap and took it to the endzone, untouched, to extend the lead.
The Tigers answered. David looked right and found Cesar Reyes Paulino who broke two tackles and strolled into the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown. After three, Tech Boston led 18-13.
A David fumble off the snap cost the Tigers. Fahnbulleh ran through his blocks for a 13-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 25-13 after the extra kick.
Tech Boston’s Kimani Buchanan intercepted a David bomb down the right side, taking it back for a 58-yard pick-six. With the point after, the score was 32-13.
The Tigers marched to the redzone on the ensuing drive, highlighted by a juggling, off-balanced catch from David to Enyel Gonzalez to the Tech Boston 1-yard line.
David scored a 1-yard touchdown on the ground afterwards. With a successful two-point conversion, the deficit was cut to 32-21.
“I’m proud of my guys for not giving up and literally holding strong – and playing until the zeros are up,” Tigers’ Head Coach James Runner III said.
On the defensive end, David recovered a fumble with 4:34 remaining in the contest. But after an unproductive drive, Fahnbulleh raced for a 79-yard touchdown.
The Tigers’ attempt at a comeback ultimately fell short with Tech Boston anticipating the run and putting pressure on David – who submitted a brilliant performance nonetheless.
“I think the best thing about Tyler [David] is his work ethic leading into games is always high-notch,” Runner said. “It would’ve been great to just walk out of here with a W for him. That would’ve been more for him because that’s how Tyler is.”
Prior to the game, senior players, cheerleaders, and band members were honored for their time, commitment, and heart given to the program – all to a thundering applause from the fans in red.
Lynn Tech returns to play Friday, Oct. 21 at Manning Field against Georgetown at 7:30 p.m.
