In non-playoff action at Manning Field, the Lynn English football team (5-5) took care of the Boston Latin Wolfpack (4-5) in a 37-8 rout on Friday afternoon.
On Veterans Day, where English’s coaches sported camouflage arm sleeves, the Bulldogs ran all over the Wolfpack with more than 300 rushing yards in the first half.
Latin began with the ball, but not for long. The Bulldogs’ tight pass coverage and aggressive defensive line forced a three-and-out.
“I just like the way our guys were very physical from the start,” English Head Coach Anthony LaFratta said. “They were very physical – the way we blocked, the way we ran the ball.”
A strong running game lifted English on its first drive. Janathan Andrades, Jarvin Simon, and Jordan Em all reached double digits in rushing yards on the drive.
Quarterback Edwin Castro finished things off, keeping it himself and bolting to the left part of the endzone from 16 yards out. He ran for the two-point conversion as well, and the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 8-0 lead.
Latin’s second drive began noisy with English’s Julius Mondesir nailing a runner just moments after receiving a handoff. A tremendous pass rush from Kayden Brazzo, followed by a failed Latin screen pass, gave possession back to English.
Simon caught eyes with a forceful run a few plays later, trucking two Latin players on his way to a 31-yard rush. The first quarter ended with the Bulldogs ahead 8-0.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for the way Jarvin [Simon] has played this year,” LaFratta said. “Starting off, he wanted to be a little too flashy at times. I told him from the get-go, ‘you’re a downhill runner,’ and he’s accepted that.”
Penalties, most notably two holding calls during big English runs, hurt the Bulldogs in the first quarter. On top of his 42 rushing yards in the quarter, Simon impressed in the blocking game as well.
An untimely mistake cost the Wolfpack early in the second quarter with a lineman jumping early on fourth down to give English a new set of downs across midfield.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Simon fumbled in the redzone and the Wolfpack pounced on it.
Just like that, however, defensive lineman Mack Peters tipped a Latin screen pass before intercepting the ball and giving his team possession back just six yards from the endzone.
Castro capitalized, finding space towards the left and running calmly into the promised land for his second rushing touchdown in as many quarters. He took it himself for the two-point conversion, rushing to the right behind his blockers, and English’s lead stood at 16-0 with 9:44 remaining in the second quarter.
Em made sure things stayed that way the next possession, diving to break up a passing play on third down, forcing Latin to punt once again.
Despite the two-possession lead, flags continued to haunt English. Castro rushed 64 yards to the endzone, but two penalties were called to bring English back to within its own 30-yard line.
No touchdown, no problem. Lionel Rivera recorded a 45-yard rush down the right sideline, followed by Simon taking it himself for a 31-yard rushing touchdown where he performed a front flip into the endzone. English led 23-0 after the extra point.
On a Latin third down, English brought an all-out blitz to force a Wolfpack third down. On a pivotal play for Latin, the Bulldogs stepped up with Simon sacking quarterback Douglas George to force another punt.
Andrades entered the highlight reel on English’s next possession, spinning around a tackler before racing 33 yards down the right sideline.
Simon scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard rush after picking up 11 on a designed draw the play before. English led 29-0 after the missed extra point – a score that remained at halftime.
Familiar themes continued in the second half; Castro remained crafty on the run with misdirections and stiff arms, while Latin’s tackling woes continued.
Andrades impressed with a 47 yard rush to start the third, using his quick feet and patience to follow his blockers into the redzone. A Bulldog fumble ended the drive, however, but plays later, Simon intercepted George for a 36-yard return touchdown. English led 37-0 after Rivera squeezed into the endzone on the two-point attempt.
George connected with August Groh to put Latin on the board. The two connected on the two-point attempt on a slant route. Despite cutting the lead to 37-8, that would remain the final score as English picked up its fifth win of the season.
English’s Thanksgiving Day matchup against its foes of Lynn Classical comes closer and closer, with the rivals squaring off at Manning Field on Nov. 24 at 1o p.m.
“As great as we played today, we need to play even better against Classical,” LaFratta said. “We know what they are, and how good of a program they are.”
