LYNN — Heading into the high school football season, Lynn Tech Athletics and football coach James Runner set a goal: “Play tougher competition across the first four games,” according to Runner.
“I told the kids that we’re going to measure where we stand after these first four games,” he said.
Well, four weeks into the fall, the Tigers are 3-1 with wins against Malden, Chelsea, and, most recently, Boston English (0-4) by a score of 36-0 Saturday afternoon at Manning Field.
“I give them a B-plus because… we lost to Saugus,” Runner said. “But, we’re excited. Now, we’re into conference play and everything we do now is legit.”
Legit, indeed. Tech awaits Manchester Essex (Friday on the road at 6:30 p.m.), Lowell Catholic, Nashoba, and Whittier in that order.
“Everything is balls-to-the-wall now,” Runner said of his postgame message. “We’ll enjoy this victory, but tomorrow afternoon, you’re going to get film on Manchester and it’s time to go to work.”
Heading into Saturday, and despite saying “I’m not one to hold a rivalry,” Runner couldn’t help but remember the 2021 season, one in which Boston English defeated Tech, 36-15.
“The last time they played us, they put 25 points on us in the first half and the kids were telling me, ‘Coach, we’re going to score 30 points in the first quarter,’” Runner said. “I have a lot of respect for Boston English and coach Ryan Conway, but it was a really good win for us as a team.”
In Runner’s first victory against the Eagles, mission (almost) accomplished. Tech led 29-0 after one behind two rushing touchdowns from Cesar Reyes (73 rushing yards), another from Ethan Prum (71), a safety, and 75-yard kick-return touchdown from Alberto Gerardo on the first play of the afternoon.
“We’ve been on the other side of the ball where we’ve lost by 36 points,” Runner said. “I’m very proud to be on this side.”
Tech’s gameplan, as said by Runner, was to switch players around and keep Boston English guessing. By halftime, Tech totaled 141 yards from scrimmage, and held the Eagles to 38.
Tech didn’t throw the ball in the first half, one that ended with the eventual final score of 36-0.
“We knew we could get to the outside with these guys, but we wanted to make our inside game work a lot,” Runner said. “I’m really proud of my offensive line. My offensive and defensive lines moved a lot of plays today.”
A lot of teams suffer from being comfortable with a lead – not Tech.
“My message today was: it’s 0-0. It didn’t matter what the score was. We were not going to stop,” Runner said. “We just wanted to keep the donut at the end.”
Boston English was sacked on its first two plays of the second half, and Tech got its donut.
Now, eyes turn to Manchester Essex at the end of the week.
“We haven’t beaten them yet and we’re going to go into their house,” Runner said. “We’ll have (starting quarterback) Jadiel (Ortega) back next week. We made the choice not to play him today. We absolutely could have played him today.”
Tech also eclipsed the 100-point mark across its first four games.
“We’re not satisfied. We want more,” Runner said.
