REVERE — The Lynn Classical Rams (5-1) defeated the Revere Patriots (3-4) on Friday night at the Harry Della Russo Stadium, 20-14.
Classical quarterback RJ Faessler found junior John Nasky for the game-winning touchdown with 3:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. Freshman Tyren Hoeun led the Rams in their rushing attack.
Nasky received the opening kickoff near the goal line and returned it to the 30-yard line after a broken tackle. The Rams went three and out on two rushes and a pass that was nearly intercepted by Revere’s Sami Elasri.
The Patriots punted after three straight rushes, leading to Hoeun taking a handoff 50 yards down the right sideline during the Rams’ next possession.
Three plays later, Hoeun took a backfield toss eight yards into the endzone – stretching the ball over the goal line after escaping the defensive line to put the Classical ahead, 6-0. The two-point conversion was no good on a Hoeun handoff.
Revere quarterback Carlos Rizo’s first pass of the game was a bomb to Elasri down the right sideline for a 59-yard touchdown that tied the game, 6-6. The point after attempt was blocked.
Nasky picked up 16 yards on a handoff for Classical, jetting to the left side of the field before side-stepping a defender for a first down. The scoreboard read 6-6 after the first quarter.
The Rams were denied on fourth down after Faessier was taken down on a quarterback keeper.
Both teams struggled to establish the run in the waning minutes of the second quarter and the halftime score remained 6-6. Hoeun rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
“My hat’s off to him [Hoeun]. I put the game on his shoulders and he answered,” Classical Head Coach Brian Vaughan said.
Revere’s Christopher Cassidy raced for a 55-yard touchdown on the Patriots’ first drive of the second half, but a holding penalty brought it back. Plays later, Revere captain Davi Baretto ran for a 43-yard touchdown but was ruled out of bounds earlier in the run.
Elasri leaped to haul in a 29-yard reception for the Patriots, setting up Baretto finding the endzone on the ground from three yards out. On the two-point conversion, Baretto bolted to the left and scored. The Patriots took a 14-6 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Hoeun began Classical’s drive with a 20-yard rush, but on the Rams’ next set of downs, their fourth down pass to Peter Jean was swatted away.
Maykin Funez Gonzalez established the run on the Patriots’ next drive, but a 15-yard penalty stopped Revere’s momentum that led to a punt.
Nasky took a handoff 22 yards for Classical on a designed misdirection play. Faessier found Nasky through the air a few plays later for nine yards. Hoeun followed, racing 44 yards into the redzone on the ground.
Hoeun took a handoff to the endzone on a cutback move, then rushed for the two-point conversion to tie the game for Classical, 14-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, Classical recovered the ball on Revere’s 36-yard line after a Patriot touched the ball. Unsportsmanlike conduct and facemask penalties hurt the Patriots, and Classical found themselves two yards from the endzone.
Hoeun was stopped for negative yardage on back-to-back plays, creating a fourth down situation for Classical.
Faessler found Nasky for 13 yards on a slant route in the endzone, putting the Rams up 20-14 with just over three minutes remaining. Hoeun failed to convert the two-point conversion on the ground.
“I told them [Classical players] at halftime – finish the drives, finish your blocks, finish tackles, and finish the game. And I thought at the end, we did that,” Vaughan said.
With one final chance for Revere, the Patriots were shut down on the ground and failed to keep the chains moving. Hoeun put the game away for Classical with a first down run as time expired for Revere on its Senior Night. The Rams defeated the Patriots, 20-14.
Classical hosts Everett next Friday at Manning Field with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
