LYNN — Down by two, KIPP quarterback Juan Setalsingh looks, holds onto the ball, runs left, and finds the endzone for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Panthers escape with a 54-48 win over Lynn Tech.
With one more chance in front of rival fans at Manning Field on Wednesday, Tech quarterback Tyler David threw a deep pass downfield on fourth down. The pass was knocked down by KIPP’s Jovan Machado to seal the Panthers’ eighth win of the season.
“Overall, there were some things in the game I probably wasn’t happy with that we’ll watch on film, but we’ll take the win,” KIPP Head Coach Jim Rabbitt said.
KIPP surpassed 500 yards in the victory and Setalsingh eclipsed 2,000 passing yards on the season. On Wednesday, he recorded over 400 passing yards and six total touchdowns.
Setalsingh did his thing in the first quarter, launching a bomb down the right sideline to a wide open Vic Mafo who eluded a Tiger before running into the endzone for a 73-yard touchdown. KIPP took an early 7-0 lead after the extra point.
Then came the response. After picking up rushes of 13 and 20 yards on the drive, David kept it himself for Tech on a 1-yard rushing touchdown towards the right side. For a Thanksgiving cherry on top, the Tiger mascot cheered and the Lynn All-City Band of course played “Welcome to the Jungle.”
The first quarter ended 7-7, and the second quarter began with a bang. Setalsingh fired a perfect drop pass, to the left this time, to Morenel Castro for his second passing touchdown of 70+ yards to put KIPP back on top.
The Tigers clawed their way back again. David threw deep to Alberto Gerardo who positioned himself well against his defender before coming down with it and running into the endzone. The response tied things at 14 with 7:33 remaining in the second.
“Tech, give them credit. They move the ball well,” Rabbitt said.
Like they’ve been doing all season, the Panthers showed off their offensive prowess. Machado scored a rushing touchdown, untouched, and Setalsingh picked up two more touchdowns through the air – one on a jump pass to Mafo and another to Castro in the back of the endzone.
Cesar Reyes Paulino scored for Tech in the first half as well, bolting to the promised land for a 49-yard touchdown. Despite the Tiger highlights in the half, KIPP held a 34-21 lead at the break.
The points didn’t stop in the third quarter. David ran one in for Tech, followed by Setalsingh finding Castro in the endzone again.
Then, a flash at Manning Field. Reyes Paulino escaped the secondary for an 82-yard rushing touchdown that was never in question. The highlight cut KIPP’s lead to 40-34. On Tech’s next drive, David followed with a 22-yard rushing touchdown, tip-toeing down the right sideline to tie the game 40-40 as the third quarter expired.
Points to end the third, points to start the fourth. The quarter began with a 68-yard kick return touchdown from Castro to give KIPP a 46-40 lead, but the extra point was no good.
In the back-and-forth affair, Reyes Paulino did it again, rushing for a 75-yard touchdown – much to the delight of the Tech bleachers to his left. After David rushed for two, Tech led 48-46 with 11:11 remaining.
In a heartbreaker for Tech, Setalsingh’s rushing touchdown and Machado’s knockdown sealed the deal. The final score favored KIPP 54-48 in one of the all-time classics at Manning Field.
