The Everett Crimson Tide (7-1) defeated the Lynn Classical Rams (5-2) on a cool Friday night at Manning Field, 30-0.
A botched snap and a backwards pass catastrophe put the Rams behind in the first half, and Classical never recovered en route to its second loss of the season. Rams running back Tyren Hoeun rushed for 64 yards in the loss.
Last season, the Crimson Tide handled the Rams with ease, 44-0. The teams also played in the spring as part of the delayed 2020 season – Everett won again, 42-14. With Greater Boston League implications on the line, Everett came in ranked 12th in Division I while Classical ranked 15th.
Friday’s matchups pinned two teams carrying winning streaks. Classical had won four consecutive games heading in; Everett was looking for its seventh straight victory. When the clock showed all zeros, the Crimson Tide prevailed in enemy territory.
The Rams ripped through the spirit banner and the contest of familiar foes was underway. On the first play from scrimmage, Classical quarterback RJ Faessler sent a bomb downfield to junior receiver John Nasky who hauled it in for 44 yards.
Hoeun picked up ground gains of seven and five yards to lead the Rams into the redzone. A few plays later, however, the Rams fumbled inside their own 3-yard line and turned it over on a bad snap out of the shotgun.
The Crimson Tide went three and out on their first possession with Classical’s Yoel Sosa tripping up an Everett ball-carrier behind the line of scrimmage on third down.
A failed run presence and a holding penalty halted the Rams on their next drive, resulting in another punt around midfield.
Everett quarterback Karmarri Ellerbe – who had rushed for 468 yards heading into Friday – barrelled his way for a 23-yard pickup in the waning seconds of the first quarter, which ended scoreless. Ellerbe had 14 rushes for 131 yards in total.
Screen passes and runs down the middle were Everett’s go-tos, and the Crimson Tide found themselves inside the Classical 10-yard line. Everett’s creative playcalling proved effective and running back Damien Lackland rushed to the promised land with 6:27 remaining in the second quarter. The extra kick was no good, but the visiting Crimson Tide took a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Classical attempted a backwards pass but it was knocked down and recovered – as a registered fumble – by Everett’s Angel Diaz who found the endzone after the scoop. Just like that, Everett’s lead doubled to 12-0 with the two-point attempt no good on the ground.
Nasky grabbed some momentum back, taking the following kickoff to Everett’s 43-yard line for the Rams. On a fourth down, Hoeun converted on the ground with a 4-yard burst to the left, but with Classical facing another fourth down later in the drive, a pass to Nasky was swatted away for a turnover on downs.
The halftime score favored Everett, 12-0.
Everett began its first drive of the second half across midfield after a Classical kick out of bounds. Ellerbe used his size and strength to rush to the Classical 6-yard line, then found the endzone after trucking a Ram, staying on his feet, and finding six. After a failed endaround trick play, Everett’s lead stood at 18-0 after the rushing touchdown.
“They’re [Everett] physical,” Classical Head Coach Brian Vaughan said. “At some point in the game, that stuff’s going to wear on you and, I think, as the game went on, it wore on us a little bit.”
With no success through the air or on the ground, the Rams punted again with seven minutes remaining in the third. However, Faessler got involved on the defensive end this time, intercepting Ellerbe on a bomb downfield to give the Rams another chance to cut into the 18-point deficit.
That task became more difficult a few plays later with Faessler being intercepted by Everett’s Jayden Prophete – giving the Crimson Tide more time to chew up the clock. Ellerbe exploded through the secondary and into the endzone, but a holding penalty called it back. The third quarter ended with Everett still ahead by 18.
Ellerbe followed his blockers and used his size to pick up ground yardage in the fourth and Everett reached the redzone. Nasky caught eyes with an impressive wrap tackle behind the line of scrimmage, but the clock continued to dwindle down against the trailing Rams.
With all hope seemingly lost, Faessler intercepted Ellerbe again and returned it to the 33-yard line for Classical.
For Everett’s defense, Aidan Duclos caused trouble for the Rams all evening – pushing the Classical line backwards and making key tackles. He continued his dominance in the fourth quarter.
Prophete intercepted Faessler again on yet another deep throw and Everett was 5:31 away from the road victory.
Lackland found the endzone for the Crimson Tide once more with 4:33 remaining, bolting down the right sideline untouched. After a failed two-point attempt on a direct snap, the Everett lead was 24-0.
Classical fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Everett took over just 11 yards away from the endzone. Lackland rushed for another touchdown – giving him three – and Everett 30-pieced the Rams. Everett defeated Classical, 30-0.
“I thought our guys played hard,” Classical Head Coach Brian Vaughan said. “We’re a young team and those are the types of mistakes you have with a young team.”
